C++ Literature

I'm in no way even a decent programmer. I'd like to become better, and have already settled on C++ as the language to begin with. I've learned quite a bit from reading documentation and online tutorials, etc, but I think it's time to read an actual book on C++.

What book(s) should I get and why?

>>5

Because starting with C++, you will spend more time wrestling with the stupidity of the language than with learning fundamental concepts about programming. The suggestion of reading SICP isn't prevalent just because people enjoy memes; Scheme is simple enough that you can actually learn the relevant parts of the language quickly, so you can learn about general concepts (which are more important at this stage anyway). If you're one of those people who thinks Scheme is for "math faggots", you should give up on becoming a programmer learn C & ASM instead. Make sure if you do that, you get a decent understand of how things work under the hood in C. Once you've finished all of this (it should take you a couple of years to become proficient in everything), you'll be ready to tackle just about anything.

Or, you could ignore my advice and just start learning C++. After enough time doing only C++, your brain will calcify and you'll be a certified code monkey, riding out your dreams until you have to learn something new that totally breaks your plastic, fragile perception of programming. Then you can get a disability and spend the rest of your miserable shitpile of a life complaining on blogs about how "FOREIGNERS TOOK OUR JOBS", all the while oblivious to just how uneducated you are, thus making you unaware that all of your problems are YOUR fault.

Basically, the choice is between being exceptional and being mediocre. Choose what you will.

Also, IHBT.