The books on this page are all general introductions to the Python language. Most of these books will contain a few chapters on particular applications such as GUI interfaces or Web programming, but won't go into great detail on any one topic; refer to the PythonBooks page for lists of application-specific books. Experienced programmers who prefer a brief and condensed introduction should look at the list of ReferenceBooks.

An Introduction to Python (version 2.5)

• Guido van Rossum, and Fred L. Drake, Jr. (Editor)

0954161769, Network Theory Ltd, 164 pages (November 2006)

This is a printed edition of the official Python tutorial by Guido van Rossum. For each copy sold $1 will be donated to the Python Software Foundation.

[http://www.network-theory.co.uk/python/manual/ Home Page] (includes electronic version)

Python for Dummies (version 2.5) Stef Maruch and Aahz Maruch

0471778648, For Dummies, 410 pages (August 2006)

[http://www.pythonfood.com/ Home Page]

Following the usual Dummies style, this book takes a light-hearted approach to introducing Python. In addition to Python itself, Python for Dummies also gives lots of advice about good programming practices.

Core Python Programming

• Wesley J. Chun

ISBN: 0132269937 (2nd ed.); 0130260363 (1st ed.)

Prentice Hall PTR / Pearson Education

~1120 pages (Sep 2006); 810 pages (Jan 2001)

The main goal of this book is comprehensively teaching you the core of the Python language, much more than just its syntax (which you don't really need a book to learn, right?). Knowing more about how Python works under the covers, including the relationship between data objects and memory management, will make you a much more effective Python programmer coming out of the gate. The advanced topics chapters are meant as complete intros or "quick dives" into each of those distinct subjects. However, if moving towards those specific areas of development, they are more than enough to get you pointed in the right direction. We would say that the book is 40% introductory, 40% intermediate (in-depth core Python material plus advanced topics chapters), and 20% reference -- it is *not* meant to be a substitute for a pure reference such as the Python Essential Reference or Python in a Nutshell.

The new 2nd edition is expanded (300 new pages!) and updated through Python 2.5 as well as confirmed functionality for future versions! Also added are a few new chapters of advanced material. As in the 1st edition, a plethora of easy to advanced exercises can be found at the end of every chapter to hammer the concepts home. At the moment, this is the most complete and up-to-date Python book on the market today.

From an anonymous reviewer: "Very well written. It is the clearest, friendliest book I have come across yet for explaining Python, and putting it in a wider context. It does not presume a large amount of other experience. It may be too slow for more advanced people, but it does go into some important Python topics carefully and in depth. Unlike too many beginner books, it never condescends or tortures the reader with childish hide-and-seek prose games. Not too many in-depth real-world examples in the book (hopefully he will do a followup volume), it sticks to gaining a solid grasp of Python syntax and structure."

[http://corepython.com Home Page] (includes book reviews, errata, sample chapter, links to alternate editions, source code from the book, and more!)

Links regarding the 1st edition: [http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-pbook3.html IBM Developer Works review] [http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue85/4564.html Linux Journal review] [http://www.china-pub.com/computers/common/info.asp?id=3097 Chinese edition] [http://safari1.oreilly.com/main.asp?bookname=0130260363 O'Reilly Safari electronic edition] [http://www.prakashbooks.com/details.php3?id=5806 Indian edition (English)] [http://www.wowbook.com/computer/book/info/book_detail.asp?isbn=ISBN89-450-7052-4 Korean edition] [http://www.accu.org/bookreviews/public/reviews/c/c002320.htm Association of C/C++ Users review] [http://www.awaretek.com/CorePython.html Python Learning Foundation review] [http://uselesspython.com/gettingstarted.html Mississippi Python users group (Useless Python) review]

Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science

• John Zelle

1887902996, Franklin Beedle & Associates, December 2003

This is a textbook for a "traditional" introduction to computer science course (CS1) using Python.

[http://mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python Home Page]

How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python

• Allen Downey, Jeff Elkner and Chris Meyers

0971677506, Green Tea Press 288 pages

How to Think... is a free textbook available under the GNU Free Documentation License. It is a true beginners book. The ebook version is free and available in PDF, HTML and PostScript.

[http://thinkpython.com Home Page]

Dive Into Python: Python for Experienced Programmers

• Mark Pilgrim

1590593561, Apress 432 pages

Dive Into Python is a free Python ebook for experienced programmers available under the GNU Free Documentation License. A printed version has been published by Apress [http://www.apress.com/], and is available through all major outlets.

[http://diveintopython.org Home Page]

Learning Python

• Mark Lutz, David Ascher

0596002815 O'Reilly & Associates, 620 pages (December 2003)

Learning Python is meant for beginning Python programmers, and others seeking a quick introduction to the language. It focuses on core language fundamentals in depth, is based on Mark Lutz's Python training classes, and includes numerous exercises with solutions to guide the reader through a hands-on learning experience.

[http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/lpython2/ O'Reilly's catalog page] [http://rmi.net/~lutz/about-lp2e.html Author's book page] [http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/lpython2/chapter/ Sample chapters] [http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue66/3541.html Review of first edition by Phil Hughes in Linux Journal]

The Quick Python Book

• Daryl Harms, Kenneth McDonald

1884777740, Manning Publications, 275 pages (October 1999)

A clear and concise description of Python aimed at readers who are already familiar with programming in at least one other language.

[http://www.manning.com/getpage.html?project=harms&filename=Chapters.html Two sample chapters] [http://www.accu.org/bookreviews/public/reviews/q/q002082.htm Review by Francis Glassborow in _C Vu_] [http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue73/3851.html Review by Phil Hughes] [http://www.amk.ca/python/books/qpb.html Review by AMK]

Learn to Program Using Python

• Alan Gauld

0201709384, Addison-Wesley, 270 pages (December, 2000)

This book teaches programming in Python to true beginners. It started as a popular Web tutorial, and been expanded into a complete book.

Programming Python (Third Edition)

• Mark Lutz

0596009259, O'Reilly & Associates, 1596 pages (August, 2006)

A Python classic, updated and expanded to cover Python 2.5. The first edition, published in 1996, was the first Python book project to be signed. Programming Python is about what you can do with Python after you've mastered the language fundamentals - it assumes you already know the core language, and focuses on applications programming in gradual tutorial fashion. It is designed to be a natural follow-up to the book Learning Python. This book includes 300 pages on GUIs, 500 on Internet programming, and more on databases, systems programming, text processing, Python/C integration, and other topics. Also available in PDF form from O'Reilly.

[http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/python3/ O'Reilly's catalog page] [http://www.rmi.net/~lutz/about-pp3e.html Author's book page] [http://www.python.org/doc/essays/foreword.html Foreword by Guido van Rossum] [http://www.ercb.com/ddj/1997/ddj.9711.html Review of the first edition by Greg Wilson] [http://www.usenix.org/publications/login/1998-4/python.html Review of the first edition by Terry Rooker in ;login:] [http://dannyreviews.com/h/Python.html Review of the first edition by Danny Yee]

Python Pocket Reference (Third Edition)

• Mark Lutz

0596009402, O'Reilly & Associates, 160 pages (February, 2005)

This handy reference guide summarizes Python statements, built-in functions, escape and formatting codes, and other prominent Python language features.

Python Standard Library

• FredrikLundh

0596000960, O'Reilly & Associates, 250 pages (February 2001)

Based in part on 3,000 newsgroup articles written by Python veteran FredrikLundh over the last four and half years, this book provides sample scripts for all standard modules in the Python library. Also available in German.

[http://www.pythonware.com/people/fredrik/librarybook.htm Author's book page] [http://effbot.org/zone/librarybook-index.htm Electronic edition]

Web Programming in Python: Techniques for Integrating Linux, Apache, and MySQL

• George K. Thiruvathukal, John Shafaee and Thomas Christopher

0130410659, Prentice Hall, 450 pages (October 2001)

The book has introductory chapters on Python, networking, Apache, Linux, and MySQL. It is a self- contained reference to Python and open-source programming that makes use of Python to develop real applications that are also available under an open source license.

Programming With Python

• Tim Altom with Mitch Chapman,

0761523340, Prima Publishing, (October 1999)

[http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue73/3851.html Review by Phil Hughes in Linux Journal] [http://lists.tummy.com/pipermail/frpythoneers/2000-June/000085.html Review by Cary Miller]

Python Developer's Handbook

• Andre Lessa

0672319942, Sams, 600 pages (December 2000)

Python How to Program

• Harvey M Deitel, Paul J Deitel, Jonathan Liperi, Ben Wiedermann

0130923613, Prentice Hall, 1376 pages (2002)

In the renowned Deitel series "How to Program"

[http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,0130923613,00.html description]

Text Processing in Python

• David Mertz

The free text is available at:

[http://gnosis.cx/TPiP/]

Buy the dead-trees version at:

[http://tinyurl.com/jskh]

A review by Danny Yee at: [http://dannyreviews.com/h/Text_Python.html]

See also: TextProcessingInPython

Python Programming Patterns Thomas Christopher

Prentice-Hall, 2001

ISBN: 0130409561

There's a [http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=28672&rl=1 sample chapter] at informIT

Reviews: [http://www.accu.org/bookreviews/public/reviews/p/p003210.htm ACCU review] by Francis Glasborow; one of several books in Mertz's [http://gnosis.cx/publish/programming/charming_python_b8.html book roundup #3]

Python Programming for the absolute beginner

• Michael Dawson

1592000738 Premier Press, 456 pages (2003)

Simple intro accessible for middle school age and up. Very hands-on and fun.

[http://www.premierpressbooks.com/ptr_detail.cfm?group=Programming&isbn=1%2D59200%2D073%2D8 Publisher's page]

A Byte of Python

• Swaroop C H

A Byte of Python is a book on programming using the Python language. It serves as a tutorial or guide to the Python language for anyone. If all you know is how to save text files, then you can learn Python using this book. If you are an expert programmer who loves C, Perl, Java or C#, you can also learn Python using this book.

This book can be read online or downloaded from [http://www.byteofpython.info/]

Practical Python

• Magnus Lie Hetland

1590590066, 619 pages, APress (August 2002)

The first half of this book introduces the Python language, and the second half demonstrates its usage in various practical projects such as "automated document conversion, newsgroup administration, graphical PDF document generation, remote document maintenance, the creation of a peer-to-peer system with XML-RPC, database integration, and GUI and game development." A new edition of this book is available under the title Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional.

[http://www.apress.com/book/bookDisplay.html?bID=93 Publisher's page]

Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional

• Magnus Lie Hetland

1-59059-519-x, 640 pages, APress (September 2005)

This is an update of Practical Python.

[http://www.apress.com/book/bookDisplay.html?bID=10013 Publisher's page]

Computer Programming is Fun!

• David Handy

208 pages, Handy Software and Publishing (April 2005)

Written by a homeschooling Dad for teenage youth, this introductory computer programming book is for people who have no prior programming experience. Teaches the basic principles of programming using Python, with lots of examples. Small video game project at the end. Good for self-study or classroom use.

[http://www.handysoftware.com/cpif/]

Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures

• Brad Miller and David Ranum

1590280539, Franklin Beedle & Associates, December 2005

This is a textbook for a CS2 Data Structures Course.

[http://knuth.luther.edu/~bmiller/python.html Home Page]

Python First: Introduction to Computing with Python

Atanas Radenski

The 'Python First' digital pack provides a gentle introduction to computer science. It is more than a book: Ten self-contained online chapters consist of e-texts (66,000 words), 730 slides, 62 labs (36,000 words), 58 sample programs, and 10 quizzes (280 questions). The 'Python First' pack includes a wealth of detailed self-guided labs that you can complete on your own.

[http://studypack.com/comp/mod/resource/view.php?id=2923 Home Page]

Python Programming language

Adil Aliev

Quick and short browse of Python programming language. There are basic syntax of Python, sample programs and their explaintations, about Qt and introduction to create QtApplications on Python. This documantation was created as a Course work at [http://www.bsu.az/en/index.html Baku State University].

PDF file, free for download.

[http://adil.aliev.info/python/Adil%20Aliev%20-%20python.pdf Download]