Book: "Learning Python" Is it still a good reference for a Python Beginner?

Alex Martelli aleax at aleax.it
Sun Jul 21 13:56:12 EDT 2002


Tony C wrote:

> I've searched through this newsgroup and saw several references for
> the Oreilly  book "Learning Python".
> 
> I've noticed it was originally published in 1999, and I am wondering
> if it is still a good place to start, for a programmer who wants to
> learn Python, since Python has undergone several new releases, 2.2.1
> being just a few months old.

My personal opinion: it's still good, because it's very clear and
well written.  It will teach you Python 1.5.2, but that's 80% of
the task of learning Python 2.2.1, anyway.  The understanding given
by "Learning Python" is a great basis on which to continue with
"intermediate" level books, such as (ahem) the Python Cookbook (due
out in a couple of days, at OSCON) and the forthcoming Python in
a Nutshell, due out in October (if I stop spending time on c.l.py
and go back to the task of writing it, at least!-), which cover
Python 2.2.

I do hope Ascher and Lundh find the time to update "Learning" to
2.2 very soon, of course.  But if they don't, it's still a good
book indeed.  There are other good books, but "Learning" is still
my first recommendation to a programmer experienced in other
languages who wants to get started with Python on the right foot.

(Bias warning: working with David on the Python Cookbook has made
us friends -- but I liked Learning Python even before then!-).


Alex




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