5 comments about Python Essential Reference (3rd Edition) (Developer's Library).

1. This book is a highly detailed reference to the Python language. The introductory chapters build on one another and give the reader a decent introduction to the language. The later chapters need not be read sequentially as they are a reference on more advanced features.
   
   The book has superb coverage of distutils, C extensions, network I/O, and introspection. The index is well organized so you can find text on obscure, subtle concepts easily. Need to know how to raise an IOError in C? Not a problem, it's in there. Need to know how to quickly generate a tuple from C? Not a problem, it's in there. Need to know how to split apart or join paths and filenames in a platform-independent way? It's in there too. How about creating a memory mapped file? Or parsing a date? Or resolving the IP address of a hostname? Parsing a python string? Running a python expression as a string? Grabbing the caller's call stack? All of these nifty and possibly dangerous features are all covered in this wonderful book.
   
   Normally, I'm a fan of O'Reilly books but O'Reilly's Programming Python (OPP) is disappointingly basic, and you'll quickly outgrow it. I found OPP very unhelpful as a reference for writing large, scientific simulations in Python. In such situations, the data sets are often large, and thus, one must be careful not to gratuitously waste memory with range() when looping over several arrays in the same loop. For example, there is no mention of the xrange construct, which creates a generator object used for incrementally generating numbers over a range. However, it is extremely rare I find an omission in Beazley's Python, and the omission always involves an extremely obscure and uncommon feature.



2. Very concise and precise information. I would recommend for anyone who wants advance book on python for reference and learning.



3. This little book isn't missing a thing! It's extremely well organized; I find it faster to get answers from this book than from the Internet. Can't say that too often!



4. I say Outstanding Reference, because that's what this book is. While there are examples, they are short and concise - this is not a "how to" book (though the introduction provides an excellent overview). Rather, this is a text to keep alongside a book like Learning Python. It's dimensions are smaller than your typical computer book, so it fits nicely on my desk. Also, the index is the best you'll find (Dave actually generated it from a Python script). It's faster than looking stuff up online.



5. I love the book. Use it with Python in a Nutshell. Use the Nutshell as a more comprehensive reference and this book to get exactly what I need when I have a general idea of what is needed. I see Python Essentials as more of a 'nutshell book' than the actual nutshell book. It is clear and concise and I find the print size to be very acceptable. The book is a maverick when it comes to being able to compare different approaches/elements. It will not do it for you, but since it is so precisely laid out, it is easy to think in terms of: "If I used this then I could do this; If I used that then I could do that, but not this, etc." If you have a basic background in python or other language, you will likely be able to frame up your ideas/knowledge into specifics and start coding to learn more or if you are already an accomplished programmer you can check and refine code in progress or established code projects.

5 comments about Core Python Programming (2nd Edition) (Core Series).

1. Fellow Programmers,
   I am new to Python and found this book to be a comprehensive source of information. I started off with Java a few years ago in my spare time, however; Core Python is an excellent book for an understanding concepts in OOP for both languages. I thoroughly enjoy the book and the Python Language itself. My only criticism is that most of the programs are short, but from cover to cover; the reader will walk away with a rock solid foundation in python programming.
   
   L.R. Young



2. This book has small snippets of insight, unfortunately they are scattered across over 1000 pages. The book seems to take a general format of: 1) "Here is an idea or concept - not sure why I introduced it now;" 2) "The concept just seems to have a logical grouping with these other concepts;" 3) "But we will not go into the concept or the other concepts now;" 5) "We will save them for another section that will then refer you back to this section as a reference for those concepts;" 6) "By the way, did you know that C, C++, Java, Java Script have this vague similarity of implementation but use this code" 7) "Don't bother that this aside has no value for understanding python (if you are literate in other languages, you will get the similarities and differences - if you are not, then why bother introducing irrelevant material)."
   
   In essence, the book seems to say - I have 1000+ pages to write in, therefore organization and relevancy are secondary to filling them up. Also, there tends to be numerous mistakes in the prose as well as in the code. A trip to the book's website shows that, apparently, it took the author three tries (plus a .diff file) to get the MakeTextFile script correct. There are better books out there (along with the python online documentation).



3. I'm relatively new to Python, having programmed in 'C' and Pascal for many years, and have found this book to be a very good first book to read. As a programmer relatively new to Python I've found that it provides me with very good coverage of the language and its most popular modules. It is not a reference book like "Python In A Nutshell", which I would also recommend. It won't be sufficient if you plan on writing complex GUI applications using wxPython, but there's another good book available for that. Thanks to this book and a couple of others I've been able to produce several useful Python applications. If you're a programmer new to Python, I would recommend this book as one of the first you read.



4. I recently changed my job. My new company uses Python as the main technology. Before starting this job, I didn't know Python at all. The project I worked on was on a tight schedule. Fortunately I got this book and I can immediately starting writing code in Python on the first day. The book is written in a very easy to read and understandable way. It covers almost everything you need to know about Python. The "Core Tip", "Core Note" and "Core Style" sections are especially useful and helpful. They are not just for the Python beginner to develop good coding skills and habits. They are also very valuable advice for the people who already know Python. If you want to learn Python quickly or if you want to expand your Python knowledge, this is a book for you.



5. A book in desperate need of an editor, in my opinion. Lots of good material; should be dropped to about one half its size by judicious editing. Would definitely fall into the "less is more" category.

5 comments about Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Second Edition (For the Absolute Beginner).

1. This is an excellent learning text that takes the reader from a beginner programmer to a gaming programmer. It starts off at the command line interface using the imperative paradigm. It goes through a detailed series of lessons and practical examples that leads the reader to using a graphical user interface and using object oriented programming. The CD comes with solutions to the exercises. Examples are very well explained. This is the text to read to comprehend the OOP paradigm.



2. If you are new to Python, this book is worth owning--it didn't disappoint. Included a disc. Problem-free, quick learning curve.



3. Very easy to understand and great for first time programmers. A bit slow for those more experienced. Still, highly recommended



4. Important update 2008-4-23 to review below: I sent the author an email through his website, and within 3 hours he had emailed back to me the modified software I needed. Yes, I still think he should have that software posted on his website, but his quick response certainly helped me out of the trouble I was in!
   
   
   My daughter is using this book to learn to program for her class project, and the CD is at school. Meanwhile, I am trying to set up the same environment for her on our home computer, which is a Mac. So I got my python up-to-date, installed Pygame, no problem, then for her to do the examples in Chapter 11 on graphics, she needs the livewires package. Only then I encounter the "TRAP" on page 330 - the livewires package on the CD that comes with the book is a modified version of the livewires package available on the web. And the example programs do not work with the standard livewires release. And the book does not give source code differences for the modified package, nor is the modified package available on the author's website or anywhere else I can find (although this entire chapter is available on-line as an assignment for a computer science course, making me feel foolish for buying the book). So I am left unable to create the programming environment at home to match what's in this book. This situation is directly against the portability/openness philosophy of Python, and is causing me a lot of trouble. Mr. Dawson should have stuck with stock, publicly-available packages as the platform for his instructional text. Failing that, he should have tried to get his changes incorporated into a livewires release. Failing that, he should distribute the modified livewires himself via the internet (livewires is BSD-licensed itself), since it is easy for book and CD to become separated, and the book is much less valuable without his own private version of livewires. If you lose the CD, you'll never be able to run his example code in the text of chapters 11 and 12. "TRAP" indeed!



5. I think there were some errors in this book. I do know it was rather distressing in a way.
   
   The book is full of lessons, and I always wondered exactly where they were going with them.. what were they going to accomplish? Everything seems so unfinished in the book.
   
   I recall a lot of emphasis on games... I don't care about games.
   
   I have a Macintosh computer, and use Poser. I am distressed because some Poser-related utilities don't come in Macintosh versions. I thought I'd try to learn Python and write some of my own.
   
   I gave up after less than 100 pages. I think these people are so caught up in their own knowledge that they forget to see things through the eyes of rank beginners who are desperate to learn programming.
   
   This book joins a collection of other books that are truly disappointing.

5 comments about Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science.

1. I've always wanted to learn how to program and with a large number of languages available, the options can be overwhelming. Python is an excellent language to learn first due to its simplicity. This book introduces the Python language and the basics of computer science. At the end of each chapter, there are exercises where you apply the topics from the chapter. Some of the exercises can be very challenging, which I think is great.
   
   It also helps if you know a bit of math.



2. This is an excellent intro book for python. The fact that it touches on aspects of computer science allows it to be tied to some contextual relevancy. The book is clear, concise and explains the basics in appropriate detail. The book states that it would be a candidate for a primary textbook in a college-level, first course in computing. I think the key word here is "primary", which should not be confused with "only." The book itself is fluid and can be read through (and applied) rather quickly. The author obviously had a choice of subjects and level of detail for inclusion. That being said, this book is a great jumping off point for the more varied, specific, and finer details of the language. I personally, would not want to put students through the ongoing evolution of the dice gui or some other projects that the author uses to progress the student/self-learner through the development of the material presented. But the nice thing about the book is that given the well informed context and detail of the project environment, it is very easy to apply the concepts to a project more of your choosing and still be on the same page with the author's explanation of his project. Ultimately, the author offers a very open, yet safe (for newbies) environment to learn, explore, make mistakes, get back on track and actually come away with an understanding of the language as well as quite a bit of practice (if you choose).



3. This is an excellent introduction to Python. I also looked through the book by Alan Gauld but had some difficulties implementing code that he had in the text (could be that it uses an older version of Python?). In any event, Zelle clearly and effectively communicates the fundamentals of programming, and programming with Python. He uses examples which are immediately understandable and supportive of the underlying theory. Having little experience with programming languages, I needed someone that started at square one - Zelle does this and quickly gives the reader the tools necessary to start programming.



4. I am a designer aspiring to develop stronger skills in JavaScript and ActionScript. I realized it would be helpful for me to get a better grounding in the core concepts and most general patterns of programming. I was attracted to this book for the subtitle, "An Introduction to Computer Science", and I had heard that Python is similar to the scripting type of languages that I need. I looked at a number of other books for this introductory purpose, one of which was "Learn to Program" (using Ruby) published by Pragmatic Programmers. Although "Learn to Program" is a very well done book (and Ruby similarly clear like Python), it is just a little too basic, light, and brief for what I wanted. "Python Programming" is great for beginners, but it also gives the kind of thorough grounding in clear concepts (a 'Computer Science 101') that is great for beginners to learn with and for experts to review and refresh themselves with.



5. This is an introductory CS book disguised as a python book. If you are a seasoned programmer looking to use python for advanced practical stuff, then you may want to try one of the other python references. However if you are somehwat new to CS, or are looking for a book that teaches CS principles, focusing on the fundamentals of the field instead of a reference lookup text then this is a very easy to digest book. It focuses on algorithm development and other important underlying concepts that many other references assume you already know.
   
   This is a fantastic book with lots of good "quick hitter" excercises to nail home the concepts. I highly recommend this book for newcomers.

5 comments about Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: From Novice to Professional).

1. I'm an old school VB programmer who has decided to freshen up my CV by adding Python to my skills. This book provided me with a great kick start to the wonderful world of Python and what it brings to the dynamic scripting languages table.
   The book is written so that its easy enough to grasp the concepts if you're a newbie (or old dog like me) without sounding condescending.
   Its worth a look if you are contemplating making the leap into Python.



2. This is an awesome book. I have lots of programming experience and dreaded learning another computer language as I probably know over 15 by now but this book really made learning Python fun and enjoyable. It reminded me of my early days in programming, in grade school, and how much enjoyed programming then and now. Penetration Tester's scripting language of choice.



3. After not touching any sort of programming for upwards of four years I picked up this book on a whim. Though it may not be as exhaustively thorough with respect to basics as some of the other beginners python books, I found that it still explains things well enough. It also does a really good job of surveying some of most useful modules and their specifics. It is far from an all inclusive book, however it is supposed to be an introductory book and by those standards it is excellent. I find that I still reference this book often while I am programming.



4. This is a very good Python Book. Simple for the novice and, at the same time, complete for the medium skill programmer.
   Some chapter are long and with many information that probably aren't interesting for all readers.
   However, it's a very good book that teach Python and explain to the reader some basic concepts of good programming and computer science. A must to read.
   
   Passo all'italiano. Un buon libro, facile da leggere per i principianti e allo stesso tempo completo per i programmatori mediamente avanzati.
   Alcuni capitoli sono un po' lunghi, con molte informazioni teoriche che forse possono annoiare alcuni lettori.
   Tuttavia, è un ottimo libro su Python, che riesce a spiegare al lettore anche alcuni concetti basilari di buona programmazione. Per chi vuole diventare un buon programmatore Python, un must da leggere.



5. Together with the same author's on-line tutorials, this book is a good introduction. Again, the main concepts and useful ideas are introduced in the first few chapters, but if you know nothing about programming this may become hard to follow after a while.
   The author suggests the reader to stop when it's becoming hard to follow, practice writing programs, and then come back to the book when familiarized with more programming. In a way, I find this very honest. I think this is much better than the "... for dummies" competition. The book is completed by 10 practical projects showing mainly how to implement Python for GUI, communication, file managing, and so on... I have yet to find a good introductory book on Python for science, but I have found several on-line documents complementing the book.
   
   Altogether, I recommend this for readers with some knowledge in Java/Perl and object-oriented programming languages.

5 comments about Regular Expression Pocket Reference: Regular Expressions for Perl, Ruby, PHP, Python, C, Java and .NET (Pocket Reference (O'Reilly)).

1. This book is the best reference for regular expressions. The second edition came out in July 2007 and has several updates over the previous version. The reason for the books ease-of-use lies in the organization. The chapters represent one language each. For each language, listings of the meta-characters and examples are shown. Depending on the language being displayed, there are other subjects covered such as unicode support, object orientation, and different topics unique to the language. The primary parsing engine is listed at the beggining of the chapters with the examples arranged at the ends of the chapters. I generally need to look up expression for JavaScript and [...]. Both of these are covered plus perl, java, php, python, ruby, pcre, apache, vi and shells. I just bookmark the 2 areas I need and I can lookup the expression listing in a few seconds.



2. "Regular Expression - Pocket Reference" is just as high in quality as it's big brother ("Mastering Regular Expressions.")
   
   The book begins with a very brief review of regular expression concepts and patterns. For each language/tool, the book includes tables to reference the metacharacters, a reference for the API/syntax/library and four examples. A few of the languages have additional examples tailored specifically to that language.
   
   The languages/tools included are: Perl, Java, .NET, PHP, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, PCRE, Apache Web Server, vi and awk/sed/egrep. If you use a number of these, the book is a concise reference. If you only use one, you would be better served by printing out the relevant reference charts from the website of your language of choice.
   
   If you are learning about regular expressions or only going to buy one regular expressions book, I recommend the "Mastering Regular Expressions." If you are knowledgeable about regular expressions and just need a review or reference, this book does the job nicely.



3. From the back cover of the Regular Expression Pocket Reference: "Ideal as a quick reference..." and "... makes an ideal on-the-job companion." All this is true if you are well-versed in regular expressions and use multiple programming languages (and confuse the syntax).
   
   I like the use of the same examples across programming languages (where applicable).
   
   The recipes in the cookbook section are great, although I would have liked to see additional recipes (like stripping HTML tags, matching credit card numbers etc...). Of course the examples are endless and over time one builds his/her own recipe collection. At least this is a good place to start.



4. Pocket references are not meant to teach you anything from the beginning, but to be everyday references in known and new environments. In other words, if you don't know regular expressions, then go to "Mastering Regular Expressions". If you're still here, then you'll get a cheat sheet on steroids for languages ranging from bug-prone JavaScript to the King and Queen of robustness, Perl and Python. Although everything claims to be PCRE these days, particular examples in every language available is a plus for anyone. A must for any type of user input validation.



5. You know those times when you know what you want to do, but are not sure of the correct form, this is the book to grab. It has been my book to grab as a reference rather than trying to find the right language book. This is not the book to learn the language from, however. You will find your copy will be well worn if you do lots of coding.

5 comments about Programming Python.

1. The earlier edition of this book was already 1,300 pages; this one is 300 pages longer. It is by far the largest programming book I've ever owned. (Thankfully my company bought it for me.) It aims for comprehensiveness -- everything you could possibly want to know about Python. Comprehensiveness is not a virtue. When you want to learn English, and your reader already knows all the parts of speech, you don't hand him a dictionary and send him on his way. Comprehensiveness in a programming book is what the author does when he doesn't want to take the time to teach.
   
   What I want to know, when I come to a new language, is how to solve common programming problems in a) the best way possible, using b) the language's native idioms. "Programming Python" absolutely strikes out on a). It doesn't even mention Twisted Python in the index, and only mentions Zope in the context of a web CMS -- even though Zope's generic interface library is used all over the place. As for b), it's hard to tell what the idioms in Python are when they're buried in hundreds of pages of unnecessary verbiage.
   
   If you're an experienced programmer, your ordinary path will be to peruse a book like this, find some code snippets, learn some idioms, then start writing your own. From there, you're likely to turn to web documentation. So in this case, you need a book that's maybe a couple hundred pages long. If, on the other hand, you're a new programmer, you won't start with "Programming Python"; at most you'll start with "Learning Python." So whom does "Programming Python"'s bulk serve?
   
   I've grown sour on programming books, the vast majority of which just do not know their audiences and suffer from atrocious pedagogy. "Programming Python" is one such book.



2. This is my second-favorite Python book, coming in a close second behind Python in a Nutshell. Programming Python does a nice job of covering the "how" of Python, and an even better job of covering the "why" of Python. Some may give this the semi-pejorative label "advocacy," but I'd say it's acceptable when you're preaching to the converted (i.e. purchasers of Python books), and remember also that this book dates back to a time when Python advocacy was actually needed.
   
   Reading this book taught me a lot about how to write "pythonic" code -- code that not only works, but is idiomatic and follows the best practices for Python (and software engineering in general).
   
   Another great thing about this book is that it's also actually enjoyable to read. I found myself reading this one cover to cover, rather than getting in and out as quickly as possible, which is the norm with most of the programming-language references I own.



3. Programming Python by Mark Lutz was surprisingly high level. Unlike the other O'Reilly "Programming ...." books (like Programming Perl) it gives only complex examples. The reader is assumed to have considerable experience with Python to begin with. In that perspective, it is an excellent book, but it will disappoint the newcomer who expects something starting from the from ground up.



4. I bought this book a few years ago, and I think I have finally given up getting anything of use out of it. It has been with me through my entire Python learning experience, so you might think there would be a point at which I would have found it useful, even if that may not presently be the case. Unfortunately, I can say that this is easily the least useful Python book I own. In fact, out of the 6 or so Python books I own, it is the only one I wouldn't miss a bit.
   
   It's just that it never seems to have anything even close to relevant for me, when I'm working on something. I can remember several times where I thought to myself, "What's a good way to solve this problem in Python?", or, "Where can I get some background on why Python does things this way?". Invariably I have either found the answer in one of my other Python books, or on the web. It's not that I haven't tried to like the book, in fact each time a problem comes up, I think "well ok if the book can shed some light on this for me, I'll consider it a value", and yet after 3 years... nothing.
   
   Anyway, I don't want to be all negativity, so to anybody reading this, here are the other Python books I have gotten more value out of:
   
   The Quick Python Book by Harms/McDonald (Old, and yet, still really valuable beginning book)
   Python Essential Reference by Beazley (A great reference book)
   Python Cookbook by Martelli et al (what Programming Python seems like it wants to be, but in half the size and twice the value)
   Python Standard Library (I don't use this much, but it still has some value)
   Python in a Nutshell (I think that's the name, it's at work right now. Another decent reference)
   
   Finally, it pretty much goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. This is just my experience. I am sure this book has been right on the money for other readers, and that's great, but for me, I think I may be donating this behemoth to my local library soon.



5. One thing I really wish O'Reilly would have made clear on the cover is the version of Python which was current at the time of publication. In this case, it's 2.4, so if you're looking for information on things like function decorators or the new generator abilities that 2.5 brought along, you're going to be as disappointed as I was.
   
   Aside from the fact that some of the information is dated, it's still a good overview of practical solutions to realistic problems which can be solved in the language. It does tend to spend way too much time developing TkInter GUIs (which I do not personally care about one bit) and overusing the usual array of extremely unfunny Monty Python references (which I personally stopped caring about around 1984). If you cut out both of these things the book would probably require about half as much paper per copy, and it'd be a good deal more digestible to boot. There's also lots of Windows-specific silliness and the author continues to operate under the assumption that OS X does not exist (every mention of the Mac platform refers to information that hasn't been accurate for nearly 10 years at this point).

5 comments about Python Cookbook.

1. Hi whoever invented the cook book concept should be really brilliant.I have always had a liking for the cookbook series from o'reilly and this one is a clear winner.It really comes in useful as a quick reference for any small piece of code that u are trying to do to fit in to ur application and finding it difficult for and out of box idea in code.My favorites in python cookbook are the sections on Algorithms and Programs about Programs.A must have for anyone who wishes to explore the charm called python.



2. I purchased this for my son as he requested it. It was an older version so he would not be able to use it. He ordered the newer one out. It not say what the published date was when I order it.



3. This edition (2) is significantly expanded -- and modified where Python advances warrant it -- from the previous version.
   
   If you want a book that shows best Python programming practices and gets you going for virtually any programming task this is the book for you



4. This is the only Python book I've seen to date which provides detailed and practical examples of metaprogramming idioms, and it gets five stars for that chapter way in the back alone. The chapter on sockets programming also made me laugh since Guido seems to be incredibly proud of what I personally consider to be one of the worst sockets libraries I've ever used, but the Twisted guys have already sorted all of that nonsense out for us, so what the hey. Lots of cool stuff in here you probably haven't even thought of trying--like accessing the result of a list comprehension from inside the comprehension itself.



5. I like this book for two reasons. 1) If I need to get an idea on how to do something that is not necessarily obvious then it is a good place to look 2) If I have done something and want to see how others may have approached something similar then it is a good gauge on my own 'sanity check' - did I convolute some simple (or complex) logic into a working python script that could be handled in half the space and more elegantly (it has been known to happen) or did I come up with a comparable, better, or unique solution than presented (it has also been known to happen - just not as much as the former). In truth, I often find that I view a solution as 'better' because of the particulars of the application I am working on in which case some subjectivity of usefulness and elegance is based on an inherited aspect of my code and not on the abstract usefulness and elegance which much of the code snippets and explanation presents.
   
   Good idea book, keeping in mind that the authors are trying to encapsulate some wisdom to be applied to a very wide set of problems.

5 comments about Python in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)).

1. 
   The author Alex Martelli is Uber Technical Lead at Google, Inc. Martelli holds a laurea in Ingegneria Elettronica from Bologna University. He wrote Python in a Nutshell two editions, and also co-edited the Python Cookbook. He's a member of the Python Software Foundation, and won the 2002 Activators' Choice Award. Martelli spent 8 years with IBM Research, earning three Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards, and on.
   
   The book is a great reference and full of insights and good programming techniques. It moves pretty fast to make a good introductory book, but once one has a reasonable understanding of Python fundamentals, anyone wishing to advance their understanding and application of the language can benefit from Python in a Nutshell.
   
   I found that this book has been able to cover every thing from fundamentals of the Python language to a comprehensive description of some of the more esoteric newer language features and at the same time address many of the applications of the language. The presentation style is clear and very readable with concise examples, and not full of extraneous fluff. The subjects are well laid out beginning with a swift comprehensive introduction to the language, and a good description of the basic elements including classes, methods exceptions, modules, decorators and built-ins. There are sections on the Python library and extension modules, Network and web programming including some discussion of some of the existing python web frame works and socket programming. There is material on extending and embedding Python and alternate ways to extend python beyond c-extensions. The book was released just prior to the final release of Python 2.5, but there is considerable material covering most if not all of the latest 2.5 features such as the with statement.
   
   I have found Python in a nutshell 2nd edition a valuable learning tool and reference resource and would recommend it for anyone interested in using Python to its fullest.
   
   
   Reviewed by Max Slimmer user and proponent of Python since release 1.3.



2. This is simply the best reference book for Python.
   
   As a reference book it not suitable for learning Python from scratch, even if there is a not-so-short introduction to the basic language features. The book is well organized and informations can be found quickly.
   
   The only con is a bad index. It is really complete, but sub-topics are organized as a tree without any graphical feedback of the current indentation level, and often you do not understand wich topic they belong to.
   
   The 2nd edition of the book was published on July 14, 2006 and is obviously highly recommended: Python in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))



3. 'Python In A Nutshell' is one of those de facto standard O'Reilly books that is required reading/owning for anyone that develops in said language. In this case it's the long time popular scripting language Python. Originally released in 1991, this language has grown and expanded into the juggernaut it is today. With around 700 pages of material, this book will show you the ins and outs of everything yummy that Python can do. From the basics of talking about to define variables and create conditional statements to object oriented programming, you are going to quickly see why Python is popular and USABLE.
   
   This book goes further than just a teaching book and/or just a language reference. It's meant to bridge both necessities as you learn to progam in Python or want to improve your existing skillset. With this book you will achieve all your Python goalssssssssssssssssssssss (pathetic snake joke attempt here)
   
   ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED



4. The documentation that comes with Python leaves a lot to be desired. Try understanding and using internationalisation, for example. Any help that comes along will be welcome, especially in the form of examples.
   Alex Martelli really knows his stuff and it's very convenient to have the information by your side in this format, so even if it's a little condensed at times I would recommend this book as well as Python Cookbook, for advanced examples.
   I do wish that Python 2.1 Bible would come out in a new edition: it was fantastic for basic sample code.



5. I keep coming back to this book, either to clarify what other books needlessly complicate or simply don't include. As a nutshell book, I would say it is more of a fairly comprehensive reference. Its discussion and explanation of python elements, which tend to make it more of a comprehensive manual and less of a nutshell are very much appreciated. The book's well thought out layout and well self-sustained sections allow you to actually sit down and read this book to learn from and not just use as a passing reference from time to time. I pair this book with Beazley's Python, Essential Reference, which I think actually takes more of a 'nutshell spirit of presentation'. Between the two, they are my most often go-to books while in the coding process.

5 comments about Learning Python, 3rd Edition.

1. After getting a review copy of Learning Python, 3rd edition, I had forgot how much really great material was in the book. If you are interested in learning about Python 2.6 and Python 3000, and have some experience with Programming in another language this is an excellent book.
   
   This book is not a reference book like the excellent Python Essential Reference, but more of a example driven guide through features of the language. I would pick this book up even if you know Python, as it covers new language features that have not been documented in some books.



2. This book was very handy as a reference when having to learn python in depth pretty quickly, only gave it 4 stars because it didn't go deep enough in a few areas for my taste but I keep going back to it now and then and I'm glad I have it on my bookshelf.



3. If you are a top-down learner this book is not for you. You can safely pick "Dive into Python".
   However, if you are the bottom-up type, you will not regret. While the Python slogan promises "one way to do it", Mark Lutz will show you four, and explore every detail, like complex list comprehensions, closures and the diamond inheritance pattern. This is why you will wait 200 pages (exploring data types) until the introduction of the first Python statement, and 200 pages more for the first script.
   But if you cross the details, you will get excellent understandings of the core Python logic, which will save you countless debugging hours in the future.
   The OO part alone worth the entire book. It's going from the very basics of OO programming up to elementary design patterns and some advanced OO implementation issues in Python.
   One last caution: although 600 pages, this book should be really read cover to cover. It's a true tutorial, which gradually develops the major concepts (sequences, assignments, references, objects, namespaces etc) from the ground up, with (midterm?) exercises. Give yourself a few hours to really learn, exercise your brain (and fully grasp 100 ways to silently override your variables with namespace mistakes). It's a great book.



4. I'm talking about the 3rd edition. It's the first book about Python that I read, so I can't make a comparison. It may be just the best first book out there, but I'm not impressed. The book reads like a draft, not a book in its 3rd edition. The author just keeps repeating himself on minor points in subsections back and forth. It's 700 pages long, but I wish it were half the length, after cutting needless elaboration and repetition. Perhaps the older editions are more concise. On the other hand, we readers may not have a choice.



5. Python has the reputation to be a language that is easy to learn. Well, why do you need a book more than 500 pages to only learn the language then? The answer is that even if you can learn the basics very fast, it has a lot of bells and whistles that can take time to master.
   
   This book covers only the language not the libraries, but covers it very well. Highly recommended reading once you'll want to use the language to write something bigger than a script of 10 lines.
   
   4 stars only because I would have expected some exposure to the standard libraries as well for a book called "Learning Python"