The Bottom Line
Beginning Python is currently the best book for the beginning programmer. The author takes the reader from Pythonic babysteps to fully grasping Python programming and being able to apply it to major programming tasks. The main discussion of the book is perfect for those who are new to programming and need someone to come along side them. What is more, for the faint of attention, the book also includes a rapid introduction to get you up and programming in no time.
Pros
- Comprehensive discussion of Python fundamentals
- Oriented to the beginning programmer
- Gently leads from beginning to intermediate
Cons
- A bit heavy on the mathematical and technical side
- Slightly dated (written for Python 2.4)
Description
- Paced very well for the beginning programmer
- Completeness of the discussions are helpful for learning and review
- 10 Projects offer excellent opportunities to dive further into Python programming
- Appendices make the work a good reference for future programming work.
Guide Review - Beginning Python
Born of the author's well-known "Instant Python" site, Magnus Lie Hetland's Beginning Python takes a person from very near the absolute beginner's level through to the intermediate. He starts with the basic problem of how to install Python on the sundry platforms and, in one chapter, gives the reader enough information to construct a very simple program. Eighteen chapters later, he has offered a comprehensive discussion of Python's fundamentals and a sweeping overview of more advanced materials such as CGI, SWIG, and Twisted.
The book itself is laid out very well. In the first nine chapters, the author gives an overview and then covers Python fundamentals in some depth. By the tenth chapter, the reader is introduced to the Python Library.
Subsequent discussions focus on applying Python to certain tasks: file I/O, graphic interfaces, databases, networking, and web programming. A motley but very practical set of tasks on the whole.
Then Hetland gets to what may be one of the great boons for the beginning Python programmer. The last ten chapters step through as many projects and show the novice how to apply the content of the earlier chapters to substantial programming tasks. It has not been said enough that one must program in order to learn to program. These tutorials hold the programmer's hand as s/he does just that.
In short, if I had to choose one book to give someone for learning Python and then going on to just about any general computing task, this is the book I would recommend. The discussion is in-depth and consistently high-quality. The author clearly not only knows his information but understands it (a real boon in much technical writing). If you are new to programming and want a book by your side as you learn, I would certainly recommend this one.