   Reading and learning
  Since started reading the book: C++ Programming In Easy Steps I have had no way to take in new information. What I mean is I learn something but forget it later because I learn too many things too fast and there is no explanation to where the code might be used in a program. Any comments?   
  Use the code. Write programs, do the excersizes in the book. Try to expand them to be useful.You will learn by doing, most people cannot hope to keep the information otherwise.   ;  Yes. You read, but didn't practice enough. I had that same problem when I first started to learn C++. The only way to get better at programming and to remember it, is to practice, practice, practice.Hope this helps.   ;  Kenny,It sounds like you're moving too quickly, without having a full understanding of the material.  Its important as you're learning a new programming language (just like natural languages) that you USE what you learn quickly, or the information stands to be lost.  I've not read the specific book you're referring to, but if it has questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, make sure to read/do those, make alterations to them, and just make sure you're comfortable pulling from memory what you just learned in the chapter into the code.With all of that being said, there is a new workshop on C++ here on GameDev.net, beginning June 1st.  I dont believe we will be using your textbook, but if you dont mind getting another textbook, or just want to follow along you're more then welcome to.  The workshop will be about 15-20 weeks long, depending on the textbook and will help those who are interested in learning C++ for the first time.  No previous programming experience is required.There is a thread discussing this new workshop on C++ Here.Cheers!   ;  i have to agree. i started with tutorials and no compiler when i started. i didnt retain much i was reading .. but the second i was able to start implemmenting what i learned i retained it pretty well. once you learn about random numbers for example .. do the excercises in the book.after that go a step further  and make a slot machine game (text based) try to match 3 numbers and deduct or add a players tokens. once you get to arrays .. maybe update the slots to a 3 x 3 machine with many ways to score matches and maybe even allow the player to bet a certain number of tokens.try to implement thingsg constantly as you learn em. i used that slot machine idea for awhile lol .. when i started to learn allegro i updated the game use bmps and made it graphical.the key is to keep working on stuff no matter how cheesy. feel free to PM me or IM me if you need some help. im no guru but ill try my best to help.   ;  Thanks for the help, I guess I will start from the beginning and try to make a program out of each lesson.   ;  You can't read books on programming languages how you read a mystery novel, and just plow forward.  Take each bit one at a time, and don't just know what it is as a peice of trivia, but understand it as a component of the machine that is the language as a whole.  Sometimes it takes a bit of reading before you get to the point of understanding, but most [certainly not all] programming languages have a certain poetic form to them once you have an understanding of them.   