Alex Martelli wrote: > BartlebyScrivener <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> On Mar 14, 3:50 pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Aahz) wrote: >> >> >>> Some people prefer shorter books -- Python for Dummies (for new >>> programmers) and Python in a Nutshell (for experienced programmers) both >>> try to give a thorough survey of Python while keeping the book easy to >>> carry. >>> > > Not for me to comment about my own books, but I can second your > recommendation for your "for Dummies" for beginners. > > >> And other people like lots of examples and code organized around >> practical projects a person might like to accomplish using Python. The >> Python Cookbook 2nd edition is great for this, and Martelli et al are >> great writers, as well as great programmers. >> > > If you like _substantial_ examples, rather than the simple/short ones > typically used in manageable-sized books, Hetland's "Practical Python" > was also a great buy (I believe it's now been replaced by "Beginning > Python" by the same author, but unfortunately I haven't seen that one). > > In general I dislike books that try to teach a language (or other > technology) via "substantial examples", because the issues with the > examples may obscure those with the language or technology; e.g., > Stroustrup tries that route in "The C++ Programming Language", as Lutz > does in "Programming Python", and to my taste the results are inferior. > > However, at least in "Practical Python" (can't speak for "Beginning > Python"), Hetland managed to pull it off -- perhaps by placing the > substantial programs he develops as successive examples in a clever > sequence, so that at each step he's not dealing with many diverse new > issues but just manageably few of them. > > > Alex > I'll vouch for "Beginning Python" This was my first Python book, and it taught me everything I needed to get started. I still refer to it from time to time. After I graduated from that, I started reading "Python Network Programming," the next book in that Apress series.
Paul
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