If you mean a book that explains how Microsoft Foundation Classes work under the hood, the strongest specific match is MFC Internals: Inside the Microsoft Foundation Class Architecture by George Shepherd and Scot Wingo. The phrase “Book on MFC” is ambiguous, however, so confirm the title and ISBN before searching for a copy.
Which book on MFC is the likely match?
Google Books lists MFC Internals: Inside the Microsoft Foundation Class Architecture, published by Addison-Wesley in 1996, by George Shepherd and Scot Wingo. Its ISBN is 9780201407211 (also listed as 0-201-40721-3), and the catalog record lists 709 pages. These details identify a plausible answer to a generic query, not proof that this is the particular book you had in mind. Google Books’ catalog record is useful for checking the title and bibliographic details.
What does MFC Internals cover?
This is an under-the-hood reference, not a contemporary beginner’s introduction or a wizard-led tutorial. The book description presents it as a guide to the inner workings of Microsoft Foundation Classes, including undocumented classes, utility functions, data members, application techniques, and how the classes fit together.
Its advertised subjects span Windows GUI and supporting classes as well as OLE-related material. Topics include document/view synchronization, printing and print preview, serialization, and MFC/OLE integration. That scope makes it most relevant to a reader investigating framework architecture or legacy MFC code.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIs it still useful for MFC development?
The book explicitly focuses on MFC 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT. Its description says that many key internal concepts also applied to earlier versions, with version notes where they did not. That historical observation should not be read as a compatibility guarantee for current Visual Studio releases or modern Windows development.
For present-day work, treat it as a legacy technical reference: its explanations may help with concepts and older codebases, but verify APIs, implementation details, examples, and any accompanying media against the specific MFC and compiler version you use. No current compatibility testing has established how well its code runs today.
When is The MFC Answer Book a better fit?
The MFC Answer Book: Solutions for Effective Visual C++ Applications is a separate book aimed at readers who prefer question-and-answer organization and reusable techniques for common programming problems. InformIT says it assumes basic C++ and MFC proficiency, focuses on 32-bit MFC 4.x, and includes examples compiled and tested with Visual C++ 5.0 and 6.0, with notes about 4.x.
| Book | Best match by reader goal | Format and version context |
|---|---|---|
| MFC Internals | Understand MFC architecture and implementation details | Long-form internals reference; MFC 4.0, Windows 95 and Windows NT, 1996. Google Books |
| The MFC Answer Book | Find technique-oriented answers to specific MFC programming problems | FAQ-style reference; 32-bit MFC 4.x, with examples tested in Visual C++ 5.0 and 6.0 and notes about 4.x. InformIT |
Both titles reflect 1990s MFC and toolchains. The available descriptions support choosing by purpose and format, not ranking either as a current beginner book.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How to identify the right listing
- Check whether you want implementation internals or practical answers to specific programming questions.
- For MFC Internals, search by its full title and ISBN 9780201407211 to avoid confusing it with other MFC books.
- Before buying a used copy, inspect the edition, seller, physical condition, and whether any original companion disk is included. The book’s description mentions a disk with example code and an MFC FAQ, but that does not establish what comes with a particular listing.
Current stock, price, copy condition, and disk completeness have not been verified. For historical context, a period MFC reading list also names Inside Visual C++ and printed Microsoft Visual C++ documentation, but those period recommendations are not current buying guidance. The historical list should be treated accordingly.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
