Python Books - Which one?

[Rob Andrews]

Graham Ashton wrote:

> In article <3B8CF4D9.B9D0D4 at cyberway.com.sg>, "Paul Lim"
> <paullim at cyberway.com.sg> wrote:
> 
> 
>>I am a newbie in Python programming. I hope the guru can adivse me.
>>


Here's my advise: Whatever books and tutorials you choose, take good 
advantage of the Python Tutor list 
(http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor). If you have questions 
about the material you encounter, you can ask. And when you see someone 
ask a question you just figured out, you get the joy of being able to 
answer it!


> 
> Are you a newbie to programming too, or just Python? I'd be after advice
> from somebody who has just been through the process that you are about to
> start, rather than a coding guru who won't need the same kind of book as
> you.
> 
> 
>>I would like to acquire a book for my python programming. There are
>>generally three main books in my mind
>>
>>1. Programming Python by O'Reilly
>>2. The Quick Python Book
>>
> 
> What's the third?
> 
> I've not seen the Quick Python Book so can't comment on it. I've got
> Programming Python though (second edition). I think it's a very good book
> but it's not a tutorial by any means. It is packed full of extensive
> examples however, which teach application design as well as Python syntax.
> 
> If you've got prior programming experience and understand the language
> constructs covered in the Python tutorial (http://www.python.org/doc/) and
> Dive Into Python (http://diveintopython.org/) then Programming Python
> wouldn't be a bad choice. It is very thick though and I'm finding that I
> sometimes don't have the patience to read the coverage of each topic
> fully, partly because I'm impatient, partly because the coverage (in
> parts) is a little too waffly for my taste.
> 


I tend to think of Programming Python 2nd ed. as an incredible *second* 
Python book. I'd say it does have a tutorial feel to it, but on the 
intermediate level.


> My favourite book for learning more Python is currently the Python
> Essential Reference which has an approach similar to O'Reilly's nutshell
> series (i.e. concise overview of language followed by library reference).
> It's by no means verbose but that's not usually a problem. Another
> excellent book is Python Standard Library. There is quite a bit of overlap
> between those last two though.
> 
> I hear that Wesley Chun's book is very good (I think it's called Core
> Python Programming). I nearly bought that instead of Programming Python,
> and still wonder whether I should have. I didn't get it because I didn't
> like the layout that much - I know, it shouldn't be so important to me,
> but I didn't find the text quite so accessible (personal quirkiness on my
> part).
> 


Core Python Programming seems like a dandy first Python book. I also add 
to that list Alan Gauld's Learn to Program Using Python. When it is 
released soon, Python How To Program (Prentice Hall) is also going to be 
a fine offering for beginners and introductory classes.


> 
>>Can anyone recommend to me which is better? Or is there any better book
>>out there? I am looking for a book that is reader friendly but contain
>>substantial material that will last me quite some time.
>>


 From what I've seen, any up-to-date Python book you find will have 
enough material to engage for quite some time, especially if used as a 
compliment to the many online tutorials, HOWTOs and discussion forums. 
Quality and volume of content do not seem to be problems for Python 
books right now. And a quick search for "Python" at your favorite 
bookseller's website should reveal a very healthy variety of offerings 
currently available.


> 
> Well, what level of experience do you have?
> 
> So you can gauge my comments a bit, I did Perl for five years before
> trying Python in earnest about 3 or 4 months ago.
> 
> --
> Graham
> 


-- 
Learning to program is fun again.
Useless Python!
http://www.lowerstandard.com/python