2 comments about Guide to Programming with Python (Book & CD Rom).

1. Most programming books seem pretty drab, in that they teach by laying out the fundamentals, and rely on the reader to see how everything fits together. This book is nice because it takes the approach of starting with a practical need (in this case, game programming), and showing how to evolve toward an understanding of a programming language (in this case, Python) through the development of small games. Time will tell how well this method works in the big scheme of things, but I found it to be a nice alternative introduction to programming. It also has review questions and projects and the end of the chapters to further enhance the teaching value of the book. All in all, a decent little book.



2. While I won't deny this is the best book out there to teach someone Python, it is pretty much Word for Word the same book as Python for the Absolute Beginner (which is by the same author). This version is packaged as an academic book, and costs 4 times as much!
   I love the author for this book, but the publisher should be shot.
   Go pick up the absolute beginner version and saves yourself $60.
   
   If it hadn't been the same book, I would happily given it 5 stars.

No comments about Python Web Development with Django (Developer's Library).

2 comments about Numerical Methods in Engineering with Python.

1. The content is typical of an undergraduate course in numerical methods. The author employs Python for that. It doesn't tell you how to use various modules available on the net. Instead, the author sticks to the standard few and explains numerical methods from the very basics. The book is very good for an introduction coursework. However, if you are a researcher looking for tools for serious numerical computation and thinking of using Python as an efficient and convenient organizer(or "glue") rather than a number cruncher, you might as well consult the book by H.P. Langtangen.
   
   This book is also useful if you want to get a hang on how a textbook numerical method would work on Python. You can then use the language for a quick algorithm prototyping in your own work.



2. Here is a book that lives up to its description:
   Numerical Methods in Engineering with Python is a text for engineering students and a reference for practicing engineers, especially those who wish to explore the power and efficiency of Python. Examples and applications were chosen for their relevance to real world problems, and where numerical solutions are most efficient.
   
   If you have a background in Numerical Methods and you have experience with Python then you are good to go, but don't expect the book to teach you either. It doesn't say it will do that and it does not do that. The python intro is highly simplified and has some carless mistakes. The numerical methods used via python assume that you know your numerical methods and how, where, when and why to use them.
   
   Great book, just be sure you know what you are getting into.

No comments about Problem Solving With Algorithms And Data Structures Using Python.

No comments about Grey Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers.

2 comments about CherryPy Essentials: Rapid Python Web Application Development.

1. I use CherryPy and had been on the fence about this book. A book about CherryPy would be a great resource for me, and I want to support the CherryPy folks.
   
   There's a sample chapter on the web. Based on that chapter, I will not order the book--The book needed to have a better editor. The text is verbose; they could have cut 50-60% of the words and not lost any meaning. Also, based on the Table of Contents, the book spends at least 50% of its content on things that are not directly CheeryPy, just related to CherryPy.
   
   The sample chapter does not reflect a book that is highly technical and geared towards highly technical people; if you're pretty savvy with the concept of Web frameworks, this book isn't going to add much to your library.
   
   I'm sorry to say that most people should stick with the online docs for now.



2. This is not a CherryPy reference manual; It is a broad introduction to a myriad of topics, intended for new web developers.
   
   There are only two chapters (chapter 3 & 4, a total of 50 pages) that really discuss the CherryPy core itself. All other chapters cover topics that somehow relate to CherryPy (for example: template engines, SSL, REST, ORM, integrating CherryPy and Apache).
   
   If there is one thing that this book is good for, it is for giving you a broad view of how CherryPy can be used. Even though I have been using CherryPy for a few years, there were many things I never knew CherryPy came included with (Template support, for example). Because I did not know this, I had re-invented many of those features myself for my websites -- I wish I had known that they were already there! This book does a good job of giving you the "big picture" view so that you do not unnecessarily re-invent any more wheels than you need to.

5 comments about Sams Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours (Teach Yourself -- 24 Hours).

1. You are better off reading the help and intro files at the python website than buying this book. There are numerous times where code is not explained and you have to figure things out more so than you would expect from a book that costs you money.
   Though you can understand what the program does, the actual meanings of script and calls are left unexplained; this book lacks the precision needed to explain programming and obscures a simple and powerful language like python. This book could not possibly teach you python in 24 hours, nor will it do anything but confuse and frustrate the inexperienced programmer.



2. This book is OK. The author gets lost in his pastimes, such as Mayan culture. I didn't mind this though because I was entertained by his tangents. There is a better one, namely Learning Python (Lutz).



3. the worst python book i have ever read. the teaching style is so scatterbrained that it useless to a beginner. the code snippets are worthless because he uses elements in the code,that have not been fully explained yet,stating that "we will discuss that in chapter whatever" then expects you to build on code you don't fully understand. this book reads like it was slapped together in a long weekend. my copy is already in the dumpster.



4. I have tried making my way through this book many times. But I cannot get past the author's incessesant penchant for the mayan calendar. I did not find any use in going through code snippets (which are very hard to read, they are screenshots in small font)that taught me how to manipulate dates (leap years, mayan calendars etc.) I found this approach extremely boring. Infusing text with an occasionally comment of marginal wit, does not make it entertaining.

   The only redeeming portion of this book it that it does include a good introduction to Tkinter. I just wish someone with a better understanding of instructional writing had written it.

   Like so many other Python books, does every introduction to subjects such as funtions, classes, objects and methods have to be about spam? I know where python got its name...but enough already!




5. ...this book is garbage, and that's exactly where the book is now. In the garbage. The author needs to go back to school and get educated in the english language. He is very knowledgable in programming, he lacks the ability to put his thoughts in english that others can understand. He stops his thought half way through sentences. He has run on sentences, typo's, combined with the fact that he NEVER explains a single piece of code in the book completely, he famous lines in the book are "we'll discuss that later" which never happens, and "do you remember this?" NO, BECAUSE YOU NEVER EXPLAINED IT!!! Very frustrating, and i'm an undergrad student that has been punching out code in Java for 3 years, and I'm totally lost, how is that possible? 2 simple words for this book, don't bother. Get this book, it's much better: ISBN# 0-13-026036-3 - Core Python Programming by Wesley J. Chun

5 comments about Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner.

1. I learned Python in three months using this book. I don't usually post reviews but felt the need to do so because of another reviewer's claim that this book is only for windows users. The cd that comes with this book is unfortunately for windows users but the chapter lessons and challenges work for any operating system. In fact, I used this book exclusively under linux and OS X.



2. Years ago I wanted to learn programming, but all the books about programming were as interesting as my math school books so I lost the will to learn until I saw this book. I couldn't put it away!
   It's fun, interesting, and you will be up all night and coding like mad in very short time!
   If you want to learn how to program get this book. Don't even look at the others, get this one!
   The best programming book for beginners!



3. This is a great way to get started in python, but you're definitely gonna need a follow up book if you want to get real work done. Still it covers the basics very well. I really enjoyed how it was very game focused. I wouldn't call this a game programming book, but the fact that all the examples were games made it more interesting and fun to work through to the end. I would have been much happier if the book delved into the topic of Pygame more thoroughly instead of teaching the readers a little used wrapper for it. Still it was a great introduction and it provided me with a good foundation to start from.



4. The only prior programming I had before this book was that of using SQL (very simple compared to `regular' languages since it's a query language).
   
   I'm basically going to repeat what everyone else has said, saying that it is very easy to read through and it's also easy to pick through the language to understand EXACTLY what is going on. I have always been afraid to delve into programming because of the immense math etc. and the fact of having no "wading pool" to get my feet wet safely, but this book is not mind boggling at all. For one who doesn't know anything about scripting, etc. this is great!
   
   I would assume it's good for any beginning programmer, regardless of what language they are looking to specialize in. Also for anyone who uses ESRI ArcGIS products, this is definitely a must if you wish to use their scripting methods for geocoding/processing, etc. (unless you choose VB). After only reading through the first four chapters I found that running scripts with tools in ArcGIS is easily understandable now.



5. I am learning Python in order to make computer games so the examples in this book are exactly what I was looking for. I'm about half way through the book and I'm amazed at how quickly and painlessly the learning is going. I'm planning to get the author's C++ book too as soon as I'm able. I only hope he writes more advanced books!

No comments about Scripting with Objects: A Comparative Presentation of Object-Oriented Scripting with Perl and Python.

5 comments about Python Programming Patterns.

1. I was disappointed in this book for essentially the same reasons as Stephen Ferg (see his review dated Dec. 19/2001). I find that the book does not do justice to the 'Patterns' buzzword.

   I suggest you read Stephen's review before you buy this book. I will not rewrite the same comments here. The reason I am writing this review is to say that I find unacceptable that the author would review his own book here, not clearly identify himself as the author, give it 5 stars, and be so vain in his review. I believe in modesty and letting the readers decide for themselves (isn't this what Amazon's review system is for?) as opposed to what the author has done here. Also, as of this writing there is only one person who voted Stephen's review to be 'not helpful' -- and I would not be surprised in the least if it was the author himself put in that vote..!




2. There is a need for a decent book on Python OOP and patterns, but this is not it. This book is simply a poor intro text with a some buzzwords slapped on the front cover. I have not found any of it useful. Try a google search instead.



3. Many of the reviewers here seem rightly disappointed that Python Programming Patterns is not a Design Patterns book rewritten with Python source examples. When I bought this I was expecting something similar, and was at first dismayed that PPP wasn't that book. But as I started to read through it, I realized that this was the first book I'd seen which actually focused on *Engineering* solid and comprehensive solutions in Python. If you want to know how to write a 'Hello Python' application, look elsewhere. For all the rest of us needing some insight into how best to apply Python to problems of any complexity, there is no more appropriate book out there.



4. Alot of discussion has focused on the title of the book. So, it's not a classic "design patterns" book but if you take a second to look at the table of contents you'll figure that out pretty fast. The introduction even states the following in a section titled, "What the Book is Not" - "... this book cannot be a hard-core object-oriented design patterns book." I don't think that's a problem with this book.

   What I think this book does well is cover alot of ground on writing python with some pretty good examples that go beyond the usual intro book stuff. There is talk of threads, regular expressions, abstract data types, modules etc... stuff you need to do real work but that usually gets left out. To me this is really a kind of python for programmers type book with some very good examples. If that's what you're looking for then check out the table of contents. I liked it.




5. Even though the book is light on true examination of the 20 object oriented patterns it contains, it is a great python book. I use the book as a reference and I must tell you that I feel that you get your moneys worth with this book, thus it gets 5 stars...