I'm an avid reader but was disappointed with the dragon book. I felt like once finished, I still couldn't write a simple interpreter! I guess it's a good reference.. or maybe a second book, but that's definitely not the best book to get started and learn compilers.

I did actually read The C++ Programming Language when I was in high school.. at that time I thought it was a very important book. Now, with the insight, how dull it was and useless!