Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#1

Post by rob » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 2:32 AM UTC

I'm looking to learn more about Python and want to buy a book to read in my spare time (and I do know of the online Python docs, the free Dive into Python website, etc). Can anyone recommend a book that is up-to-date (i.e., covers 2.5)?

Looking at Amazon, I'm leaning towards Learning Python, 3rd Edition (http://tinyurl.com/2az6zh). Any opinions on this one?

Thanks for the help.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#2

Post by inklesspen » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 3:02 AM UTC

Why not read Dive into Python -- it's excellent -- and then learn about the new stuff in 2.5 later. The new stuff gives minor efficiency improvements, but Dive into Python is plenty good.

http://docs.python.org/whatsnew/whatsnew25.html

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#3

Post by mronge » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 3:49 AM UTC

I found Learning Python + the python tutorial by Guido on python.org to be a great way to start

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#4

Post by ivankirigin » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:01 AM UTC

Dive into Python is great.

I started learning Python from a Mark Lutz seminar actually. He is a great teacher.

You'll find a limit to your knowledge of python if you just start hacking. Knowing C and how python is built help build an intuition for how things really work. I find it invaluable.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#5

Post by maheshcr » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:28 AM UTC

Dive into Python by far, for me at least!

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#6

Post by makecheck » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:33 AM UTC

The Wikibooks article has quite a few useful sections, including at least one link to a page of free Python books.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Programming:Python

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#7

Post by ghiotion » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:33 AM UTC

Yep, I know what you mean. I've got the O'Reilly "Learning Python" book, but I'd love something that covered soup to nuts. Start with a python interpreter, suggest and IDE (EasyEclipse for LAMP?) and get me to Django.

Maybe I'm being lazy, but more practical, show me, types of tutorials work best for me.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#8

Post by juanpablo » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:39 AM UTC

"Beginning Python - From Novice to Professional"

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#9

Post by prakash » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 4:52 AM UTC

inklesspen wrote: post #2

Why not read Dive into Python -- it's excellent -- and then learn about the new stuff in 2.5 later. The new stuff gives minor efficiency improvements, but Dive into Python is plenty good. http://docs.python.org/whatsnew/whatsnew25.html

here's the web link to the book: http://www.diveintopython.org

Re: Ask YC: What is the best Python book for a beginner?

#10

Post by dedalus » Sat, Feb 23, 2008, 5:03 AM UTC

http://www.pythonchallenge.com/ is also a great way to learn (albeit secondary to a standard book)