Modern C++ Design (Generic programming and design patterns applied)
by Andrei Alexandrescu
ISBN 0-201-70431-5

This book has some amazing techniques in it, all you ever need to know (and some) about partial template specialisation and all manner of wierd and wonderful tricks you can use with templates to build generic code. The aim of the book is to show how you can develop C++ template libraries that are flexible by moving design decisions into policy classes so that the user of the library can decide on how the library does things...

Much of the more complicated template code is unlikely to work with this generation of compilers, but it's still worth understanding so that you can begin to use the idioms that are supported.

The later part of the book contain detailed design walk throughs for some common C++ problems and designs solutions using the techniques presented in the earlier part of the book. The results are flexible and powerful and it's very useful to have someone explain exactly how they get from the problem definition to a flexible solution.
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The C++ Programming Language (3rd Edition)
by Bjarne Stroustrup
ISBN 0-201-88954-4

The definitive guide. Written in an easy-to-read style the book covers the whole of the impending standard. Even experienced programmers will learn a lot from it. A "must read" for all who are serious about the language.
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The Design and Evolution of C++
by Bjarne Stroustrup
ISBN 0-201-54330-3

An excellent book that answers a lot of the "why is C++ like this and not like that" questions. Very readable and very interesting. The book chronicles the birth of C++ and the subsequent changes on the road towards standardisation. Highly recommended...
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Effective C++ (50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs)
by Scott Meyers
ISBN 0-201-56364-9

I would recommend aspiring C++ programmers to read both of the Effective C++ books as early as possible in their C++ careers. It doesn't really matter if it doesn't make sense first time around, you'll find yourself going back to them regularly. Reading these books makes you aware of some important C++ issues and even if you don't fully understand the context, knowing that the issues exist, early on, is important. Once you become proficient you can read the books again and gain a whole new level of understanding.
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More Effective C++ (35 New Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs)
by Scott Meyers
ISBN 0-201-63371-X

More of the same...
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