Pointers on C

Name: Pointers on C
ISBN: 0673999866

by Kenneth A. Reek · first published 1998

10mentions

8recommended by

10HN commenters

2009–2026first – last mentioned

80% recommend20% neutral

Why HN recommends it

Focused, beginner-friendly C book that covers the basics but concentrates on pointers, dynamic allocation, and linked lists; recommended for learners who found other C books skimmed pointers.

Summarised by Claude from recommending comments

Programming

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Mentions per year

What Hacker News says

JeremyChase · Apr 27, 2009 · Recommends

If you can program well in C, everything else seems like both a blessing and a compromise. While K&R is great, my copy is far less used than Pointers on C by Ken Reek. If you can find a cheap copy I highly recommend it. If you are working through K&R make sure to do each of the sample problems. The text is just the support to let you figure out how to do…
on “Ask HN: Learning C” ↗
snorkel · Sep 22, 2009 · Recommends

…most glossed over topic in C textbooks how to avoid using fixed-sized buffers and arrays, and instead use dynamic allocation of string buffers, arrays, and dynamic list structures. Kenneth Reek's book "Pointers on C" is excellent for understanding this in vivid detail. You can not read that book and then claim to be confused by pointers ever again.
on “30 years of C” ↗
Apreche · Mar 23, 2010 · Recommends

Pointers on C helped me really understand pointers like no other book was able to do. http://www.amazon.com/Pointers-C-Kenneth-Reek/dp/0673999866/...
on “Ask HN: I use and love Python. What's the best book to learn C ?” ↗
SloopJon · Jun 26, 2018 · Recommends

While I haven't read either of them, Pointers on C and Understanding and Using C Pointers both have good reviews.
on “Massacring C Pointers” ↗
teleforce · Feb 23, 2026 · Recommends

…exercise problems [1],[2]. It's an old website for C programming from Stanford Uni by Nick Parlante [3]. For full blown treatment on linked list and doubly linked list please check this an excellent book Pointers on C by Kenneth Reek (1998) [4]. [1] Linked List Basics http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/103/ [2] Linked List Problems: http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/105/ [3] Essential C: http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/101/…
on “Show HN: Iron-Wolf – Wolfenstein 3D source port in Rust” ↗
kasperset · Apr 7, 2015 · Recommends

Also try Pointers on C - Kenneth A. Reek
on “Ask HN: Should I use K&R to learn C?” ↗
trippplezz · Nov 16, 2012 · Recommends

…It's a hefty tome but that's not necessarily bad if you want to (re-)learn the language and the tricks in a proper way. Easily in my personal Top 5 books for C (The others are in no particular order: "Pointers on C", "Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets", "The Standard C Library", "C Interfaces and Implementations".)
on “21st Century C (new book)” ↗
cptnapalm · Dec 23, 2022 · Recommends

When I was learning C, I found most books only skimmed pointers, a topic I was having a hard time with. Reek's Pointers on C is a beginner C book in that it goes over all the novice stuff, but it has a concentrated focus on getting you to understand pointers. I recommend it.
on “Ask HN: Learn C in 2023?” ↗
nickfox · Jan 27, 2009 · Mentions

Today, I just finished a book called "Pointers on C" by Kenneth Reek. I read it to come up to speed on pointers and now feel comfortable with that. That's why I posted today, I am now at the fork in the road...
on “Ask HN: c++ or iPhone?” ↗
sea6ear · May 10, 2011 · Mentions

You are looking at the cubical of an average systems administrator. You notice a few items scattered around the desk (the computer is locked down and cannot be taken) Random Books: Pointers on C C Programing Language Unix Power Tools Sed and Awk Classic Shell Scripting Unix in a Nutshell A set of index cards (half size 2.5x3) with lists for next tasks for each project/issue being tracked.…
on “Ask HN: What is on your desk besides your computer (and components), and phone?” ↗