Hardcore Visual Basic 5.0 by Bruce McKinney
This is possibly the best Visual Basic book on the market. Written like a novel in a witty and entertaining style Bruce talks at length about sometimes obscure, always hardcore but definitely interesting techniques for programming in VB. It is not for a beginner and some of the reading is quite heavy duty. Nonetheless if you only ever buy one VB book I would recommend that this is it.Visual Basic Programmers 5.0 Guide to the
WIN32 API by Dan ApplemanThis book is essential if you want to get to grips with working with the WIN32 API directly from VB. Not so much a book that you read cover to cover as one that you will always keep at arms reach. This book is an ideal complement to Hardcore Visual Basic.
Developing ActiveX Components with Visual
Basic 5.0 by Dan ApplemanThis book is entirely concerned with developing ActiveX controls so obviously if you don't want to do this I would not recommend this book to you. However if you do want to develop ActiveX controls then this really is the definitive guide. If it's not in here you won't find it anywhere else!
Programming in C++ by Mark Walmsley
This book is an excellent introductory guide to C++ programming. Mark Walmsley manages to cover all the essential C++ fundamentals in 15 concise chapters. If after reading this you want to learn more then you will need to buy a more advanced and thorough text (see below) however to begin with this is a great (not to mention inexpensive) handbook. The C++ Programming Language by Bjarne
StroustrupNot for the faint hearted, this is the definitive guide to the C++ programming language written by its creator: Bjarne Stroustrup. I would not recommend this as a first book on C++ (only after 116 pages does he explain that a C++ program requires a main() function) but it is complete. If a feature is in C++ then this book will describe it. Note however that this is not a book about a specific C++ compiler (such as Microsoft Visual C++) and nor will it show you in detail how to program any particular operating system. The full 911 pages are devoted purely to the core C++ language.
Debugging the Development Process by Steve
MaguireSteve Maguire writes all about software management in this book. However, this is not a dry software engineering book, he constantly uses real life anecdotes from his experience at Microsoft (where he was a kind of trouble shooter for projects that were going pear-shaped) to maintain your interest. Anyone who is ever likely to develop software professionally should read this book. Well that's my opinion anyway...
Writing Solid Code by Steve Maguire
This is another book by Steve Maguire which he wrote long before 'Debugging the Development Process'. It contains excellent advice for C coders, most of which can be equally applied to other languages (although you will have to translate for yourself). This is a book for professional developers and will help anyone to write more robust, maintainable and reusable code.