Reddit reviews C++ How to Program

I like Josuttis as a standard library reference. It might not be your traditional "Learn how to program" book, but it will remain on your shelf long after you've tossed out the rest of your beginners books. (I also notice that he seems to have a C++11 book coming out soon.)

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Library-Tutorial-Reference/dp/0201379260/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324964906&sr=1-1

I learned C++ from Dietel & Dietel 1st Edition, but I noticed that by the 4th edition the book had gotten a bit obnoxious. Maybe they've corrected some of that now that they are on their 8th edition? If nothing else, at least they have been doing the C++ book thing for well over a decade.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Program-8th-Paul-Deitel/dp/0132662361/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324965103&sr=8-1

Program a simple game!

[This Roguelike tutorial] (http://codeumbra.eu/complete-roguelike-tutorial-using-c-and-libtcod-part-1-setting-up)

combined with this book

should do the trick. Both expect that you already have some programming experience, so you can jump right into useful learning techniques.