Python Programming Books?

[John Salerno]

Brian wrote:

> One book that I think you should definitely look at is Beginning Python
> from Novice to Professional.  I think that it is one of the best books
> out there on the subject, is an easy read, has clear and concise
> examples, and does a great job of explaining the whys without making
> you think you are reading a PhD thesis.

I disagree, and I'm surprised so many people think this book is that 
great. I found it to be way too cursory of an introduction to the 
language. Fortunately I had already read Learning Python, so Beginning 
Python made sense to me, but even still, as I was reading it I kept 
saying to myself "I know this passage here, or this sentence there, 
would make no sense to me if I didn't already understand it from LP." 
Beginning Python does not do a good job of explaining how Python works, 
it only introduces all the parts of it, rather too quickly, IMO, for 
someone just learning the language.