Effective C# (Covers C# 4.0): 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your C#

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I have both editions of "Effective C#". The older, first edition did not have lambda expressions, LINQ, or generics (though it hinted at generics towards the end). In the second edition, tips (called "Items") that have since fallen out of practice are weeded out and are replaced with fresh concepts from .NET 2.0, through 4.0. The items are written in a very clear manner. Most of the figures are illustrative of the concepts. Some of the pictures aren't quite as clear as they could be (.NET's Garbage Collector sticks out in my mind - Bill! read some Tufte! :) but for the most part, each item gave a firm understanding. I could read the first and last paragraph of each item to get a clear bird's eye explanation. Later, I would pore over the details with a highlighter and come away enlightened. This book has a sister - "More Effective C#". This was released PRIOR to "Effective C# - Second Edition". I own that copy too, and it's dog-eared by now. The two books go together like peas and carrots, though "More Effective C#" touches on more advanced .NET 3.0 concepts. "More Effective C#"'s treatment of "yield return", dependency injection, and composition in the third chapter alone are inspiring. If you really want to go all out, I'd recommend getting "C# in Depth" by John Skeet. There's a new edition coming out in the summer of 2010. Skeet's book will bring the reader up to speed on the advancements of C# in .NET 3.0 (and soon 4.0) without giving them any specific tips. The "Effective C#" series will give the reader specific tips without bringing anybody up to speed. Also, the author is a cool guy. I emailed him back in 2009 with questions about the first edition and he brought me up to speed by responding on his blog. You are encouraged to give him feedback. I consider "Effective C#" as one of the first books I reach when I want to brush up on my skill set.