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Learning Python
Portable, powerful, and a breeze to use, Python is the popular open source object-oriented programming language used for both standalone programs and scripting applications. Python is considered easy to learn, but there's no quicker way to mastery of the language than learning from an expert teacher. This edition of "Learning Python" puts you in the hands of two expert tea
...more
Paperback, Second Edition, 1214 pages
Published
December 30th 2003
by O'Reilly Media
(first published 1999)
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(showing 1-30)
OK, this is a computer programming textbook, not typically one would review, however there are several good reasons to read this book:
1.) At the very top of the front cover, it has the words "Powerful Object-Oriented Programming," which leads to my new favorite CS acronym.
2.) The computer language is called Python, yet there's a rat on the cover. Now *that's* ballsy.
3.) The language itself isn't named after the reptile. It's named after Monty Python. Really. All the examples in the book have to ...more
1.) At the very top of the front cover, it has the words "Powerful Object-Oriented Programming," which leads to my new favorite CS acronym.
2.) The computer language is called Python, yet there's a rat on the cover. Now *that's* ballsy.
3.) The language itself isn't named after the reptile. It's named after Monty Python. Really. All the examples in the book have to ...more
Teaching valuable things in the most boring way.
It's best to learn coding interactively, I preferred the Learn Python The Hard Way by Zed Shaw method better.
Despite all that it's been written by Mark Lutz a pioneering figure in the Python community, this book was a must read for any Python hacker.
It's best to learn coding interactively, I preferred the Learn Python The Hard Way by Zed Shaw method better.
Despite all that it's been written by Mark Lutz a pioneering figure in the Python community, this book was a must read for any Python hacker.
I'm disappointed with the start of this book. very slow at getting to the actual python, and poorly tries tries to set a backgroung knowlegde for the reader in a shallow and rushed method.
I was not pleased to read a comment that Mark Lutz lacks the funding and resources to complete his code testing against serveral OS's, including the free Linux! and seems to focus purely on the over-priced Microsoft Windows.
I don't think this book is ideal for the new programmer who is picking Python as their f ...more
I was not pleased to read a comment that Mark Lutz lacks the funding and resources to complete his code testing against serveral OS's, including the free Linux! and seems to focus purely on the over-priced Microsoft Windows.
I don't think this book is ideal for the new programmer who is picking Python as their f ...more
The book does not assume you know programming or oop its very clear and you can learn allot with it.
The only problem its that for you to know all the python stuff (not talking about becoming a guru) you will need to read the entire book and that takes allot of time.
Another important point is that although the book focus is on python3 I for example program for python2.x and had no problem regarding this.
The only problem its that for you to know all the python stuff (not talking about becoming a guru) you will need to read the entire book and that takes allot of time.
Another important point is that although the book focus is on python3 I for example program for python2.x and had no problem regarding this.
Still reading, up to the end of the debugging chapter. Here are some thoughts:
- Very complete.
- Very repetitive.
- Not good for learners. This should be read for deeper knowledge once the basics of the language are understood. I'd never recommend this to someone as the book to use for learning Python or learning to program.
- Very repetitive.
- Too many forward references.
- Very repetitive.
- Far too few exercises. Lots of small examples are given, as well as several questions at the end of each cha ...more
- Very complete.
- Very repetitive.
- Not good for learners. This should be read for deeper knowledge once the basics of the language are understood. I'd never recommend this to someone as the book to use for learning Python or learning to program.
- Very repetitive.
- Too many forward references.
- Very repetitive.
- Far too few exercises. Lots of small examples are given, as well as several questions at the end of each cha ...more
This is a great book, however there are many things I didn't like about this book including:
Too much introduction
Very less exercises
I have been used to reading books like:
C Programming Language - Brian W. Kernighan.,
The C Programming Language - Bjarne Stroustrup, etc
So I like Books which show how to do things other way around........
But this is not the case with Learning Python.........
Yet Another Suggestion could be
A suggested route to learn python would be through reading the offic ...more
Too much introduction
Very less exercises
I have been used to reading books like:
C Programming Language - Brian W. Kernighan.,
The C Programming Language - Bjarne Stroustrup, etc
So I like Books which show how to do things other way around........
But this is not the case with Learning Python.........
Yet Another Suggestion could be
A suggested route to learn python would be through reading the offic ...more
Comprehensive.
Oh, yes.
Comprehensive.
Clocking in at 2109 pages, this book beats "A Suitable Boy" as the largest tome I have ever lifted that was not a reference compendium like an encyclopaedia or dictionary. No oxen were stunned in this exercise, largely because I would be unable to lift it over my head to strike a killing blow. Actually, since it was an e-book, it may have been able to stun an electric sheep, but was not quite the wrist-breaker I make it out to be, but my GOD what a slog it was ...more
Oh, yes.
Comprehensive.
Clocking in at 2109 pages, this book beats "A Suitable Boy" as the largest tome I have ever lifted that was not a reference compendium like an encyclopaedia or dictionary. No oxen were stunned in this exercise, largely because I would be unable to lift it over my head to strike a killing blow. Actually, since it was an e-book, it may have been able to stun an electric sheep, but was not quite the wrist-breaker I make it out to be, but my GOD what a slog it was ...more
Disappointing waste of time. Too long, too wordy, badly organized, lots of useless Python code printing endless amounts of word SPAM, number 42 and their variations scattered with occasional Ni! exclamations. The author has an annoying habbit of introducing a new topic and then immediately dropping it saying that it's too complicated for now to fully explain it. Unfortunately I couldn't stand more than 200 pages so I don't know if the whole book is like this. One could expect to gain some practi
...more
I liked that the author makes comparison to other programming languages (like C or C++), it really helped me. The book covers most of the Python knowledge required for getting starting and having some idea of what is going on. What I disliked was that the rhythm is loo slow sometimes - better for beginners but it gets boring for programmers that are familiar with other languages (especially OOP).
A fantastic book for learning to program in Python or learning to program in general. It's lengthy, and somewhat repetitive, which helps to reenforce earlier concepts.
One of the best books on Python programming language. It almost covers whole python language syntax and API.
Great book. Explains everything in detail. Good to have at your side for reference.
Quite repetitive, though sometimes it was warranted... but this could have been half the length. I was forgiving for the first 700 pages but then realized I was making the same subtle notes many times.
Feb 20, 2008
Tom
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
All programmers looking to learn Python
Recommended to Tom by:
Amazon.com
The 3rd edition of Learning Python, by Mark Lutz, covers the Python programming language as of Python v2.5. With O'Reilly books, the Learning series is generally less sophisticated than the Programming series (ex/ Learning Perl is easier than Programming Perl). I would normally get the Programming version, but I think the Programming version that covered v2.5 was not yet released when I went shopping for a book on Python.
Anyway, I read this book from the perspective of a veteran programmer, havi ...more
Anyway, I read this book from the perspective of a veteran programmer, havi ...more
A decent introductory book to Python. Perhaps a tad too introductory for experienced programmers. No detailed coverage is given to the Standard Library or other popular modules. But the book is up front about this from the start.
I found the redundancy a tad annoying. The author really likes to reiterate points rather than build on them. It felt like the kind of thing an editor should cut. In one case I swear I read a foot note that was almost verbatim in the text a page or two later.
I probably c ...more
I found the redundancy a tad annoying. The author really likes to reiterate points rather than build on them. It felt like the kind of thing an editor should cut. In one case I swear I read a foot note that was almost verbatim in the text a page or two later.
I probably c ...more
Good book for deeper knowledge once the basics of the language are understood and maybe for all who want to learn programming specially Python but not from the scratch, the book doesn't assume you know programming or object oriented programming, its very clear and you can learn a lot with it.
Good points:
-The author makes comparison to other programming languages (like C or C++).
-The book covers most of the Python knowledge required for getting starting and having some ideas of what is going o ...more
Good points:
-The author makes comparison to other programming languages (like C or C++).
-The book covers most of the Python knowledge required for getting starting and having some ideas of what is going o ...more
Learning Python provides a comprehensive overview of the language. All of its features are explained in great detail, with no shortage of examples to solidify comprehension of feature functionality and use. Great for beginners to programming, as well as those who may have experience with other languages.
I would recommend reading the official Python Tutorial first: https://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/in...
It provides a quicker overview to facilitate rapid initiation. Learning Python should really ...more
I would recommend reading the official Python Tutorial first: https://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/in...
It provides a quicker overview to facilitate rapid initiation. Learning Python should really ...more
It occurred to me recently that I should rate and list this book, even though it's technical, because I read it through from beginning to end like a good novel.
If your learning style is suited to reading, this manual is an ideal intro to Python, a wonderful programming language named after the comedy troupe Monty Python. O'Reilly programming books tend to come in trinities: the Learning book (like this one) is a comprehensive introduction, the Programming book is a bit more heavy and advanced, a ...more
If your learning style is suited to reading, this manual is an ideal intro to Python, a wonderful programming language named after the comedy troupe Monty Python. O'Reilly programming books tend to come in trinities: the Learning book (like this one) is a comprehensive introduction, the Programming book is a bit more heavy and advanced, a ...more
Wow, uh yes. Extensive? Exhaustive? The most in-depth book about anything I have ever read? Yeah probably.
This book is leaps and bounds beyond just an "introduction" to the language of Python. It gives insights into how the interpreter works, loop execution speeds and class properties and built in methods that allow massive extensions of the language itself.
I finished through Chapter 32, but would advise only reading through about chapter 30 for a very detailed walkthrough of the entire language ...more
This book is leaps and bounds beyond just an "introduction" to the language of Python. It gives insights into how the interpreter works, loop execution speeds and class properties and built in methods that allow massive extensions of the language itself.
I finished through Chapter 32, but would advise only reading through about chapter 30 for a very detailed walkthrough of the entire language ...more
This book is called Learning Python, but it is most definitely not an introduction to programming. I would strongly recommend reading a Python based introduction to programming before reading this. That being said, this manual goes into extreme depth for each essential part of the language. Supplementary chapters are provided at the end focusing on byte strings, unicode, and in depth decorators for classes and metaclasses. It is a good book once you have a foot in the door and you will learn a l
...more
Happened to find a copy assorted among my fathers textbooks and other miscellany from his old job. Needless to say, was my first real introduction to programming as a hobby, if not as a craft. Wonderful introduction to Python, and alongside occasional advice, would be the first resort book I'd give to someone if they just wanted to program for the sake of programming, and didn't want to go to either low levels or a CS angled approach. (from what I've heard KhanAcademy courses and Eloquent Javasc
...more
I guess it's valuable as a reference (although it's not really organized as such), but what I was looking for here was a set of coding exercises I could follow to really learn the nuts and bolts of Python, reading passages as I went along. This was not that. It's well written enough, and I suppose I will pick it up the next time I REALLY need to understand the philosophy behind a Tuple, but the exercises were a joke; they were just a series of putting statements into the python interpreter. Not
...more
The first HALF of the book is ideas! Can't do anything until the second half. I, honestly, read this book to fall asleep and it works great. It's a good book, but . . .
The very end picks up a bit. The explanation of OOP is actually pretty easy for me to grasp - well written for someone like me (more abstract than concrete with a few examples to follow).
Basically, this book is not written for my style of learning. I would think, also, that it's more for someone who already plays in Python or is c ...more
The very end picks up a bit. The explanation of OOP is actually pretty easy for me to grasp - well written for someone like me (more abstract than concrete with a few examples to follow).
Basically, this book is not written for my style of learning. I would think, also, that it's more for someone who already plays in Python or is c ...more
too fat to carry around, writing was redundant. for all its pages it didn't even have a complete language reference. the examples were tiny, isolated and of no consequence. about the opposite of a book like Kernigan and Plauger's "Software Tools In Pascal"
it was fairly thurough i guess but i still don't have a grasp on generators and iterators.
haven't finished sections on classes and exceptions yet. its lack of inspiring examples is not convincing me that classes are all that useful.
it was fairly thurough i guess but i still don't have a grasp on generators and iterators.
haven't finished sections on classes and exceptions yet. its lack of inspiring examples is not convincing me that classes are all that useful.
The author knows his stuff, writes well and has experience teaching but this is not a good book to learn Python. It may work for someone who is an absolute beginner to programming but I would not recommend it to him either.
The large number of pages (and the author trying to cover every topic) make it tough for the reader to cope with all the information received.
Bottom line: I do not recommend this book.
The large number of pages (and the author trying to cover every topic) make it tough for the reader to cope with all the information received.
Bottom line: I do not recommend this book.
We each learn differently. I tend to learn better by reading. This book was organized and written in a way which melded with my learning style. It Covered the language from the most basic to fairly high level, and included a section introducing object oriented programming in a way which simply clicked with me. If you need to learn Python from scratch, and have a little programming experience, give this book a look.
I don't know how it compares to other python books, but I've discovered it's a lot better than just trying to learn a programming language without a book.
I appreciate how (unlike a lot of books and tutorials), it actually walks you through how to install the things, where to type your program, how to run it (for windows, macs, or linux; python 2 or 3). It can get frustrating for people new to programming otherwise.
I appreciate how (unlike a lot of books and tutorials), it actually walks you through how to install the things, where to type your program, how to run it (for windows, macs, or linux; python 2 or 3). It can get frustrating for people new to programming otherwise.
I would not recommend this book for an entry-level programmer looking to learn Python as their first or second language. For someone who has experience in a few languages (Python possibly included) and especially experience in Object Oriented programming, this book offers a wonderful, detailed description of the Python language. It is easy to read and gives good, usable explanations of almost every aspect of the language.
A peculiar book, neither one thing nor another. Not a Python language reference - simply not organized in a way that would make into a reference volume. But not a tutorial - too exhaustive and exhausting to be a tutorial volume. So what is it?
On the other hand, I found it useful. It made me more fully aware of the core language and its nooks and crannies. And I can only admire the dedication it must take to produce a 1500 page volume.
On the other hand, I found it useful. It made me more fully aware of the core language and its nooks and crannies. And I can only admire the dedication it must take to produce a 1500 page volume.
Jun 02, 2016
James Mowery
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
programming,
python
This is THE book to read if you are interested in learning Python programming. It is a very well-written book that covers all the bases. It helped that I already knew quite a bit about programming in general. If you are completely new to programming, this book might be a bit of a stretch, but the Python programming language is so elegant, that I don't think any other resource is required.
Either way, this book is highly recommended.
Either way, this book is highly recommended.
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Mark Lutz is the world leader in Python training, the author of Python's earliest and best-selling texts, and a pioneering figure in the Python community.
Mark is the author of the popular O'Reilly books Programming Python, Python Pocket Reference, and Learning Python, all currently in 4th Editions. He has been using and promoting Python since 1992, started writing Python books in 1995, and began t ...more
More about Mark Lutz...
Mark is the author of the popular O'Reilly books Programming Python, Python Pocket Reference, and Learning Python, all currently in 4th Editions. He has been using and promoting Python since 1992, started writing Python books in 1995, and began t ...more
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“When people write software, they are not writing it for themselves. In fact, they are not even writing primarily for the computer. Rather, good programmers know that code is written for the next human being who has to read it in order to maintain or reuse it. If that person cannot understand the code, it’s all but useless in a realistic development scenario.”
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“As an educator, I’ve sometimes found the rate of change in Python and its libraries to be a negative, and have on occasion lamented its growth over the years. This is partly because trainers and book authors live on the front lines of such things — it’s been my job to teach the language despite its constant change, a task at times akin to chronicling the herding of cats!”
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