ISO authoritative Python ref

[Paul Rubin]

bill <please_post at nomail.edu> writes:
> I have to learn Python in a hurry.  I learn fastest by reading the
> specs/reference manual, or something like it (e.g. "C: A Reference
> Manual", by Harbison and Steel).
> 
> Is there a Python book that fits this description?

The official reference manual is at:

   http://docs.python.org/ref/ref.html

Like most of the other Python docs, it has serious gaps.