Do any of you recommend Python as a first programming language?

[Paul Rubin]

Jeff Schwab <jeff at schwabcenter.com> writes:
> I've been learning a fair amount about functional programming
> recently, mostly because compile-time C++ turns out to be a pure
> functional programming language.  Where should I go for a solid
> grounding in lambda-calculus?

For PL theory in general, try this:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rwh/plbook/book.pdf