I have read a great deal about the C++ STL. I found the following resources valuable, and I have provided some comments on what you can expect from some of these resources.

The C++ Programming Language, Special Edition by Bjarne Stroustrup ISBN: 0201700735. This book is a good introduction to and reference for "Modern C++" according to the standard. The special edition is essentially the third edition with errata applied, bound in hard cover.

The C++ Standard Library : A Tutorial and Reference by Nicolai M. Josuttis ISBN: 0201379260. A great book. As the name implies, this book does not cover C++ language features such as RTTI, namespaces, etc., but it does a wonderful job of explaining the standard library.

Newsgroups

The newsgroups are a good place to go if you get stuck on a problem, but beginners and people who are asking something that can be found in a reference or a FAQ list typically get flamed or ignored. I occasionally donate 30 minutes or so to answering questions.

• alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++
• comp.lang.c++
• comp.lang.c++.moderated

World Wide Web

SGI's STL Reference. Great as a reference, but a bit too terse for those learning to use the STL. Beware: this documentation covers non-standard SGI extensions to the STL. I referred to this site often when writing documentation.

Dinkumware's STL Reference. An excellent resource.

Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++. A two-volume book on C++ that is being offered for public review before it is published. I have mixed feelings about this book, but it is definitely worth reading. It offers a "soft" introduction to some very complex topics. I will probably buy volume 2 when it is published.

Microsoft's MSDN site.