《C++ 程序设计语言》封底提出的问题,封面并未给出解答。
The back cover of C++: The Language raises questions not answered by front cover

原始链接: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20260605-01/?p=112391

最近一篇对《C++编程语言》一书的评论指出了该书缺乏专业性,其封面竟然错误地印上了JavaScript代码。封底的简介同样存在问题,内容模糊且套用了通用模板,完全没能描述该书的实际内容。 调查显示,这并非个例。出版商Larson and Keller在各种互不相关的主题(从冶金、营养学到食品工业)上使用了几乎一模一样、重复率极高的简介。这些简介充斥着空洞、可随意替换的短语,适用于任何教科书,表明该出版商重数量而轻质量。通过重复使用库存模板而非撰写独特的描述,出版商表现出明显的编辑工作缺失,这一点从其糟糕的封面设计——一张与内容无关的通用代码素材图——也可见一斑。总之,这些教科书似乎是低投入的产品,在制作时对所声称教授的具体学科几乎毫不关心。

这篇 Hacker News 讨论聚焦于微软开发者博客发布的一篇文章,该文章批评了一本名为《C++: The Language》的书籍制作粗糙。用户指出,该书的封面设计和封底简介显得既平庸又离谱——最引人注目的是封底竟印着 JavaScript 代码。这引发了人们的指责,认为出版商试图通过误导买家来牟利,或是依赖人工智能生成的“垃圾内容”来滥竽充数。 讨论突显了对技术出版界标准下滑的普遍不满,即出版商似乎将速度和表面外观置于准确性或投入之上。许多评论者认为,这种趋势破坏了人们对亚马逊等平台的信任。 讨论还转向了关于影视作品中技术错误的一段怀旧且幽默的插曲。参与者分享了电影中刻画“黑客”形象的桥段——例如不切实际的 SQL 查询或随机滚动的代码文本——并回忆了面试官在招聘时表现出极度缺乏技术素养的趣事。归根结底,这场讨论批判了“低投入”内容(无论是出版物还是媒体)是如何变得日益泛滥,迫使消费者在评估技术资源质量时变得愈发愤世嫉俗。
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原文

A little while ago, we considered how the cover of the book C++: The Programming Language raises questions not answered by the cover, since the cover illustration for a book putatively about the C++ programming language shows code written in JavaScript.¹ But there’s also a question raised by the back cover.

According to the blurb for the book,

The topics included in it are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to students. Some of the diverse topics covered in this text address the varied branches that fall under this category. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this textbook.

This sounds like a book report written by a student who didn’t read the book! Those sentences could be used to describe pretty much any textbook.

Indeed, I found nearly identical sentences in the blurb for Casting Handbook (Hannah Wells, editor).

The topics included in this book on casting are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied branches that fall under this category. It will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and post graduate students.

And in Food Industry: Processes and Technologies (Kaden Hunt, editor):

This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about the theory and practice of the workings of food industry. Some of the diverse topics covered in this text address the varied branches that fall under this category. This textbook, with its detailed analyses and data, will prove immensely beneficial to professionals and students involved in this area at various levels.

And in Nutrition and Metabolism: Processes and Technologies (Kaden Hunt, editor):

This book provides comprehensive insights into the field of nutrition and metabolism. It provides deep insights about this field. Some of the diverse topics covered in this text address the varied branches that fall under this category. Such selected concepts that redefine this subject have been presented in it. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of this field. It is meant for students who are looking for an elaborate reference text on nutrition and metabolism.

One more example: Material Science and Engineering (Emilio McMahon, editor)

The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of materials science and engineering. It describes in detail the various concepts and theories of this field. The topics included in it are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to students. Some of the diverse topics covered in this book address the varied branches that fall under this category. This textbook is an essential guide for both graduates and post-graduates in this discipline.

The common thread is that all of these books are published by Larson and Keller. I guess they can’t be bothered to spend time crafting a blurb that suits the book, so they just use the same blurb template for all of their books.

¹ Rory Jaffe found that the book cover image it is an Alamy stock photo from 2013 with the title “Program code on a monitor.”

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