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.
Learning Python, Mark Lutz, David Ascher, ISBN: 1565924649, O'Reilly & Associates, 300 pages (April 1998)
Learning Python is meant for true beginners, and others seeking a quick introduction to the language. It focuses on the core language, and includes numerous exercises with solutions, to guide the reader through a hands- on learning experience.
[http://rmi.net/~lutz/about-lp.html Home page] [http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/lpython/chapter/ Sample chapters] [http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue66/3541.html Review by Phil Hughes in Linux Journal]
The Quick Python Book, Daryl Harms, Kenneth McDonald, ISBN: 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/Harms/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, ISBN: 0201709384, Addison-Wesley, 270 pages (December, 2000)
This book teaches programming for true beginners using Python as the teaching language. It started as a popular Web tutorial, and been expanded into a complete book.
Programming Python (Second Edition), Mark Lutz, ISBN: 0596000855, O'Reilly & Associates, 1292 pages (March, 2001)
A massive volume, updated to cover Python 2.0. The first edition was the second Python book to be published.
[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]