Recommended technical reading 

I believe that effective computer programming should involve both technical skill and artistry.  For this reason, I continually refine my skills by studying advanced techniques in C/C++ and object-oriented programming.  My reading material in recent years has included, but is not limited to, the following: 

C++ FAQs, 2^nd Edition, by Marshall P. Cline, Greg A. Lomow and Mike Girou

Design Patterns by Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson and John Vlissides

Developing Professional Applications in Windows 95 and NT Using MFC  by Marshall Brain and Lance Lovette

Effective C++: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Design (2nd Edition) by Scott Meyers

Enough Rope to Shoot Yourself in the Foot: Rules for C and C++ Programming by Allen I. Holub

More Effective C++: 35 New Ways to Improve Your Programs and Design by Scott Meyers

STL Programming from the Ground Up by Herbert Schildt

UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language by Martin Fowler and Kendall Scott

Various issues of The C/C++ Users Journal and similar publications

Effective STL: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of the Standard Template Library  by Scott Meyers

Code Complete  by Steve McConnell