Ask HN: Python 2.7 book, any recommendations?

7 points by klrr 13y ago ↗ HN

Hi, I've just read trough the Python 2.7 tutorial and want to get in more deeply. I want a book targeted at beginners and it would be cool if it teaches programming too, not just the language.

Thanks.

5 comments

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daenney 13y ago ↗

Dive Into Python is a good start, you can find it at:

- http://www.diveintopython.net/toc/index.html

Of course you can also just buy the book.

If you're a bit more familiar to programming, try Zed Shaw's Learn Python The Hard Way:

- http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

Though 'The Hard Way' is obviously not for the novice completely new to programming it does teach a bit more than just the language, things that make you into a better coder.

You'll also find a comprehensive list at:

- http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers

klrr 13y ago ↗

Thanks!

shrikrishna 13y ago ↗

"A byte of Python" is the best book I've seen so far that caters to a beginner audience. All you need to know about computers to read this book is to how to save text files. Really engaging.

http://www.swaroopch.com/notes/python/

epequeno 13y ago ↗

I always recommend:

Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/

It's a pretty good overview of basic concepts of Computer Science, it's focus is Object-Oriented but does cover functional programming as well.

I would also pair any of the suggestions offered here with http://pythontutor.com/ adding the visual component of program execution will help absorb the material much quicker and get you used to the nuances of python.

intellegacy 13y ago ↗

To learn CS, Programming, and Python, I'm currently working through:

6.00x (MIT's edX Intro to CS course), Python https://www.edx.org/courses/MITx/6.00x/2012_Fall/info

CS101 (Udacity's Intro to CS course), Python http://www.udacity.com/overview/Course/cs101/CourseRev/apr20...

Python the Hard way (Zed Shaw's online book), Python http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

Code Academy, (Python track), Python http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python

I consider 6.00x and CS101 to be my CS foundation and Python Hard way and Code Academy to be brush-up on the Python/programming. Working through all these in tandem really hits my brain in 4 different but complementary angles.