Python has become one of the most popular programming languages, and it’s no wonder why. This language makes it easy to write clean, readable code, which means you’ll spend less time trying to figure out what you meant and more time solving complex problems and implementing big ideas. If you want to learn this powerful language or give your coding skills a boost, check out this list of the top seven Python books for beginners in no particular order—they’re all great books that can help you get started with python!
1. Python Crash Course - Eric Matthes
Python Crash Course is a great book by Eric Matthes, it is a fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time.
In the first half of the book, you’ll learn about basic programming concepts, such as lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean and readable code with exercises for each topic. You’ll also learn how to make your programs interactive and how to test your code safely before adding it to a project. In the second half of the book, you’ll put your new knowledge into practice with three substantial projects: a Space Invaders–inspired arcade game, data visualizations with Python’s popular libraries, and a simple web app you can deploy online.
As you work through Python Crash Course you’ll learn how to:
- Use powerful Python libraries and tools, including matplotlib, NumPy, and Pygal
- Make 2D games that respond to keypresses and mouse clicks, and that grow more difficult as the game progresses
- Create and customize Web apps and deploy them safely online
- Build data visualizations with Python’s popular libraries, including seaborn, pandas, and bokeh
Whether you’re new to programming or a seasoned pro, Python Crash Course will help you get started with Python.
2. Learn Python the Hard Way, Third Edition by Zed Shaw
"Learn Python the Hard Way, Third Edition" is divided into 52 well-organized lessons, each of which builds upon the concepts learned in the previous lesson. Shaw starts with the absolute basics, such as how to install Python and write your first program, and gradually introduces more advanced topics, such as working with strings, lists, and dictionaries. By the end of the book, you'll be well-versed in all the core concepts of Python and be able to write programs to tackle real-world problems.
One of the best things about this book is that it comes with exercises at the end of each lesson to help you practice what you've learned. These exercises range from simple tasks, such as writing a program to calculate the area of a circle, to more challenging ones, such as building a basic web server. Regardless of your level of experience, you're sure to find exercises that are both enjoyable and informative.
This book is perfect for beginners with no prior programming experience, as it walks you through the basics of Python step-by-step. In addition, Shaw provides clear and concise explanations of key concepts, making this an excellent resource for those who want to learn Python the right way.
3. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Al Sweigart
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Al Sweigart shows readers how to use Python to write programs that can perform common tasks such as backing up files, searching for text patterns, and automating web browser tasks.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers the basics of programming in Python, including data types, flow control, and functions. The second part of the book is where the real fun begins. This section contains several practical projects that show how Python can be used to automate tasks. These projects include a simple program to search and replace text in a file, a program to extract data from a web page, and a program to automate the process of sending out email messages.
One of the most useful applications of Python is for automating web browser tasks. The book includes a project that shows how to use Python to fill out online forms and automate the process of downloading files.
Overall, Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is a great introduction to programming in Python. It is well-written and easy to follow. Even if you have no prior experience with Python, you should be able to work through the examples in the book and get something working.
4. Head-First Python, 2nd edition
"Head First Python" by Paul Barry is a book that tries to explain Python concepts in a way that is both entertaining and informative, with a focus on practical examples.
The book starts with a brief introduction to the Python language and then moves on to more advanced topics, such as working with databases, network communications, and threading. It also covers web development using the Django framework.
One of the things that makes this book stand out is its use of graphics and humor to explain concepts. For example, in one chapter, the author uses a comic to explain the difference between mutable and immutable objects in Python.
Overall, "Head First Python" is a well-written book that does a good job of explaining Python concepts in an easy-to-understand way.
5. Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, 2nd edition
With this book, you'll learn how to program in Python by working through 52 well-designed exercises. As you do, you'll think about what you're trying to accomplish and how best to structure and test your code. By the end of the book, you'll have a better understanding of how the software works and you'll be able to write programs to accomplish your own goals.
This second edition of Allen Downey's Think Python has been updated for Python 3 and includes all of the material from the original edition (including the exercises).
In Think Python, Second Edition, you'll learn how to:
- Program in Python 3
- Think like a computer scientist
- Solve problems efficiently
- Write programs to accomplish your goals
6. Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming (1st Edition)
Fluent Python is a book written by Luciano Ramalho and published by O'Reilly Media. The book covers basic and advanced Python programming and its various features. The book is mostly aimed at experienced Python programmers but still, it's beginner-friendly.
The book starts with an overview of the language and its syntax. It then moves on to discuss the data structures available in Python. The book covers both the built-in data structures as well as the data structures provided by the standard library. The book then moves on to discuss the various features of the language such as functions, classes, and modules. The book also covers the various libraries available for Python programming.
It is well-written and provides a good overview of the Python language. The topics are well-explained and the examples are clear. The book is a good resource for experienced Python programmers who want to learn more about the language.
- It covers the following topics:
- An overview of the Python language
- Data structures in Python
- Functions in Python
- Classes and modules in Python
- The standard library
- Third-party libraries
7. Python Cookbook: Recipes for Mastering Python 3
Python Cookbook is a book full of recipes for the Python programming language. The book is written by David Beazley and Brian K. Jones. The book was published in 2013 by O'Reilly Media.
The book is divided into sections, each section covering a different topic. The topics covered include:
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Strings and Text
- Numbers, Dates, and Time
- Files and I/O
- Data Encoding and Processing
- Functions
- Classes and Objects
- Metaprogramming
- Modules and Packages
- Network and Web Programming
- Concurrency
- Testing, Debugging, and Exceptions
- Python 2.7 And 3.3 Compatibility
Each recipe in the book includes a sample code that you can use in your own projects. The book also includes a section on Python 3.3, which is the latest version of the language.