This condensed yet complete syntax and grammar reference will be a good companion for C# beginners, but could just as easily serve as a good refresher for C# enthusiasts looking to brush up on the latest constructs introduced with C# 5.0.

The book starts with an introduction on compiling and running a program, which could serve as a good primer for the absolute beginner. In subsequent chapters, each syntax element is concisely explained and accompanied by sample code that exemplifies its use or highlights any peculiarity it might have. More advanced concepts such as delegates, events, generics, and asynchronous methods--all of which have been introduced in recent major revisions of the language--are covered in more detail. The index is ideal for quickly accessing particular constructs or syntax elements.

The book is an ideal introduction to the language, especially for programmers already proficient in some other language. Most programmers that need to double-check a syntax problem will look for a quick solution online instead of scanning through any book. A vocabulary of “idiomatic phrases” would have been a nice add-on to complete this 360-degree view of the language.