I'm actually a Delphi developer and I want to learn the Win32 API as well as Winsock programming. Eventually I'd also like to learn C# (.NET) since it seems like that is where everything is moving ...

Currently I'm learning Java through Comp Sci classes at Texas A&M, but I want to expand my skillset, and would like to pick up C++, probably Microsoft Visual C++/.Net, as well as some form of SQL.

A book, on the other hand, can be advised by the community of the language you want to learn. You need to be sure you can trust its teaching: you should ask around in forums and discussion groups what ...