Python Newbie

[Steve Simmons]

On 23/02/2013 18:32, Gene Heskett wrote:
> I am here because I was hoping some knowledge leakage would help me to 
> understand python, but at my age I am beginning to have to admit the 
> level of abstraction is something I may never fully grok. If I ever 
> find a python book that literally starts at square one, it _will_ come 
> home with me though. But I have too many hobbies too, I have a BP 
> rifle that needs a trip to the range this afternoon for some exercise. 
> :) Cheers, Gene 
I'm using Rapid GUI Programming with Python & Qt (Mark Summerfield ISBN 
978-0-13-235418-9) - it fits for me because I needed something that 
covered GUI development but also had an intro to the language.  The 
first 3 chapters are a Python intro at a sensible level for experienced 
coders (none of this 'here is the keyboard, there is the screen' 
nonsense) so it is enough to get you going with Python. The rest is 
about Qt/PyQt, taught via manageable examples and giving a fairly well 
thought out dialogue (monologue?) of what each line/function does.   It 
was useful enough for me to want to carry the hardback version with me 
on my 'commute' from the UK to Nigeria where I am currently working.  
I've also got two books by Wesley Chun, (Core Python Programming & Core 
Python Applications Programming) on my Kindle .  I can't give you a 
sensible verdict on those two because, while I've finally settled to 
reading fiction on the Kindle, I still like to have a real book when it 
comes to reference works (on any subject) so they haven't had the usage 
that Summerfield has.

Oh, and you're never too old for anything but most things take longer - 
gives you more time to enjoy them ;-)