Some Darn Good Python Books
One of the things I get asked periodically is to name off a few good Python books. Personally, I love these books in my library. I find that i am always returning to them in some sort of manner.
One of the things I get asked periodically is to name off a few good Python books. Personally, I love these books in my library. I find that I am always returning to them in some sort of manner.
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
"In Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, you’ll learn how to use Python to write programs that do in minutes what would take you hours to do by hand—no prior programming experience required."
My Review:
I really love this book when I was starting out. It gave me the basics to start thinking about using Python to automate my everyday tasks at work. I find myself going back to it when I have a tedious task that I want to automate. It may not have everything at the moment, but it gets me going in the right direction.
Effective Python
Effective Python will help you harness the full power of Python to write exceptionally robust, efficient, maintainable, and well-performing code.
My Review:
The thing I like most about this book is the format and the little nuggets that make me say "Oh, didn't know you could do that with Python...".
Python Pocket Reference
Updated for both Python 3.4 and 2.7, this convenient pocket guide is the perfect on-the-job quick reference. You’ll find concise, need-to-know information on Python types and statements, special method names, built-in functions and exceptions, commonly used standard library modules, and other prominent Python tools. The handy index lets you pinpoint exactly what you need.
My Review:
Just a nice book to keep at your desk when you need a refresher on the language.
Flask Web Development
Take full creative control of your web applications with Flask, the Python-based micro-framework. With the second edition of this hands-on book, you’ll learn Flask from the ground up by developing a complete, real-world application created by author Miguel Grinberg. This refreshed edition accounts for important technology changes that have occurred in the past three years.
My Review:
Seriously, buy this book if you plan on doing anything with Flask. Flask is a simple framework that doesn't really include anything, but you can build anything with it. Miguel builds from the ground up a fully functioning web app and walks you through the 'why' of doing it in the manner described. Highly recommended!
Fluent Python
Python’s simplicity lets you become productive quickly, but this often means you aren’t using everything it has to offer. With this hands-on guide, you’ll learn how to write effective, idiomatic Python code by leveraging its best—and possibly most neglected—features.
My Review:
Another book that makes me say "Oh, didn't know you could do that with Python...". I usually end up finding some random thing in this book after I've implemented it elsewhere, and find that this book has a better explanation of it and a better way of doing it. Super reference type book, best for general guidance on things you want to search for versus reading all the way through.
Python Cookbook
Inside, you’ll find complete recipes for more than a dozen topics, covering the core Python language as well as tasks common to a wide variety of application domains. Each recipe contains code samples you can use in your projects right away, along with a discussion about how and why the solution works.
My Review:
I treat this one exactly the same as Fluent Python, in that I use it as a great reference for Python patterns. There is a ton of details in this book and I have yet to get through all of it.
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