Python Cookbook

Learning Python, Second Edition

Python in a Nutshell

Wxpython in Action

Dive Into Python

Python

Python Essential Reference (3rd Edition) (Developer's Library)

Format: Paperback
Author: David M. Beazley
ReleaseDate: 20 February, 2006
Publisher: Sams
Rating:

Review of 3rd edition
are all much better than in previous editions. Good points:

* Much-improved readability
The font, layout, etc.

* Lengthy coverage of important modules
Especially: optparse, logging, doctest, and unittest.

* Excellent tutorial for programmers
This (chapter 1) is the best I've seen -- very clear and succinct. Give it to anyone wanting to pick up Python fast.

* Has all the necessities.
Good index, good explanations of language usage, etc. All standard modules are at least mentioned, and all useful ones are covered.


Bad points:

* Reference section says very little that is not in the Web docs
The Nutshell book documents each function of a module with an explanation of how to use it and what to watch out for. It often provides a useful example. Beazley, on the other hand, has mostly restated the web docs, which are free.

* Lacks future feature coverage
Previous editions of this book stated the version of Python covered on the cover. This book covers 2. 4, but you have to open it to find that out. That would be a minor point, except that it has absolutely nothing about what to expect in 2. 5. The Nutshell, on the other hand, claims to cover only one version but actually reveals a great deal of what to expect in the next. Beazley could have at least mentioned relative imports, return-from-yield, and anything deprecated.

* Important points can be difficult to find
I had to look in several places before I finally learned what ellipsis is for in slicing.


Summary:

This book does not add much value beyond the web docs. However, if you need a hard-copy reference for Python2. 4, this is your only option, and it's not a bad one. It's very well-organized and very easy to read.

python essential reference is good
. Filled with examples and a comprehensive index, it's a must-have
for python programmers.

The single most useful Python book I have found
Expertise in a single programming language isn't necessarily enough background - familiarity with different types of programming language and in particular with object-oriented programming is necessary. This is an excellant book for the person who is acquainted with Python but needs to look up details or, especially, for someone with a good background in programming languages who wants to learn Python.

This book packs a great deal of information into a compact format. It contains numerous tables and charts, attractively laid out and well organized. The author's explanations are lucid. It contains sufficient detail to be useful as a reference manual, but also provides an introduction to and overview of each topic. If you already know Python well and just need to look up details, and you always have access to the on-line reference manuals, you don't need this book. For anyone else, it is extremely useful.

As an experienced programmer, I found the O'Reilly introductory book "Learning Python" rather slow going. This book was just right for learning Python and continues to be useful as a reference. Highly recommended.