Regardless of the perspective held by programmers—that Python is an excellent first language to learn or that it’s an excellent last language to learn—it is undeniable that Python is one of the most widely used programming languages available today. The TIOBE Index places Python among the top three most popular programming languages worldwide, and this phenomenal rise is expected to continue. With that in mind, there are a plethora of Python Books for Beginners on the market for those who wish to learn Python, including books and even online courses.
Python is a well-known object-oriented, dynamic, high-level programming language that has robust built-in data structures, dynamic typing, and dynamic binding. These features make Python appealing for Rapid Application Development, and it can also be used as a scripting language or as a glue language to join disparate components.
Popular Python Books for Beginners
1. Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming by Eric Matthes
Do not worry if you want a crash course on Python! An excellent introduction to Python that will have you building programs and solving issues in no time is provided by The Python Crash Course. You will learn about several Python libraries and tools (such as NumPy and Pygal) as you go through this book. You will also be able to develop simple 2-D games in Python, customize web applications, and more.
The Python Crash Course is essentially split into two sections. The first section covers developing proper programs and including them in projects. It’s considerably more fun in the second portion! It focuses on more useful uses of Python with three large projects: an arcade game akin to Space Invaders, data visualizations made possible by Python tools, and a simple web application.
Available on: Amazon, MIT Press Bookstore.
Price: $24.68 (Paperback).
2. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart
One of the finest characteristics of Python Books for Beginners is Sweigart’s approach to teaching since he makes it simple for novices and people without previous coding knowledge. He even offers a similar Udemy Python course. This book on Python takes you step-by-step through every program, with new projects to test your knowledge after each chapter.
This always makes me happy since there’s no better way to learn Python than by doing it, and there’s no better way to do it than with projects that are relevant to the real world. You also have the benefit of having more time for yourself. This book aims to teach you to code in a way that will increase your productivity and efficiency.
Available on: Amazon, Bookswagon.
Price:
- E-Book: $23.99.
- Paperback: $24.85.
- Spiral-bound: $42.98.
3. Head-First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide by Paul Barry
If you’re tired of reading tedious Python how-to guides, Head-First Python is the best option! As the name implies, this book is a brain-friendly guide that uses a more visual style to stimulate your brain as opposed to a text-heavy approach that can easily become dull.
Priority One Beginning with built-in data structures and functions, Python is used to create web applications, manage databases, handle exceptions, manipulate data, and more. Interesting subjects like comprehension, context managers, decorators, and generators are all accessible for you to study.
In essence, Head-First Python is a multimodal learning environment that will assist you in becoming a competent Python programmer.
Available on: Amazon, Goodreads.
Price: $29.99 (Paperback).
4. Learning Python (5th Edition) by Mark Lutz
Not only for beginners, this one can serve as a Python Book for Experts. This is not a cheap brochure or Python reference guide! We are discussing an extensive exploration of Python spanning more than 1600 pages. This book is a true gold mine for any Python developer, regardless of experience level, who wants to improve their skills.
Furthermore, even though the book was written a few years ago, the main ideas still hold true today. It is not only jam-packed with exercises, quizzes, and visuals, but Lutz’s method of instruction is also interactive and self-paced. It takes a lot of time to complete given its very long length, but if you’re serious about Python, the effort will pay off.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $16.57.
- Paperback: $53.99.
5. Learn Python the Hard Way: 3rd Edition by Zed Shaw
The effort of learning Python the hard way is worthwhile! This bone of the popular Python Books for Beginners will teach you Python with fifty-two masterfully designed exercises. For these exercises, you must input the code exactly (without copying and pasting!), correct any errors, and then execute the code. This will show you how to create clean code and the shortcuts that experienced programmers utilize to make errors disappear.
Installing a full Python environment is the first step in Learning Python the Hard Way. From there, you’ll learn about variables, strings, data structures, basic arithmetic, object-oriented programming, and other essential subjects. This book promises that you will learn one of the most powerful and well-liked programming languages in the world in the end, rewarding you for every minute you invest in it.
Available on: Amazon, Goodreads.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $17.27.
- Paperback: $21.48.
6. Introducing Python (2nd Edition) by Bill Lubanovic
For those who are new to programming and either wish to start with Python or are enrolled in a Python course, this is a great option. The author’s meticulous but approachable style is what makes this Python book stand out.
With a focus on novices, you’ll go from the fundamentals to more advanced topics via a combination of lessons and code recipes in the form of cookbooks. All things considered, this Python book is exceptional in that it imparts a strong foundation, along with best practices related to testing, debugging, and code reuse.
Available on: Amazon, GoodReads.
Price:
- Audio book: Free with Audible premium.
- Kindle edition: $12.42.
- Audio CD: $41.99.
- Paperback: $30.99.
7. Python Cookbook: Recipes for Mastering Python 3 by David Beazley and Brian Jones
The Python Cookbook offers a delectable assortment of Python recipes that will enable you to brush up on your Python 2 skills or learn how to program in Python 3. These delicious dishes will help you become a proficient Python chef, emphasizing both the fundamentals of the language and the typical chores associated with Python applications.
One of the greatest Python Books for Experts, it includes recipes for a variety of subjects like functions, classes and objects, concurrency, data structures and algorithms, iterators and generators, data encoding and processing, and much more. For easier comprehension, each of these recipes includes code examples in addition to an issue and its solution. Additionally, an explanation of the solution and its operation is given.
Available on: Amazon, AbeBooks.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $14.03.
- Paperback: $27.84.
8. Introduction to Machine Learning with Python: A Guide for Data Scientists by Andreas Müller and Sarah Guido
These days, machine learning is all the rage, with many applications that are only limited by your creativity. To help you use Python and the scikit-learn framework to construct your machine learning solutions, Introduction to Machine Learning with Python aims to broaden your creativity.
The foundations of machine learning are covered in this book before moving on to the benefits and drawbacks of different machine learning methods. After that, it covers a variety of advanced subjects including pipelines, model assessment, data processing, etc. To put it simply, Python will be used to enhance your machine-learning abilities.
Available on: Amazon, WorldCat.
Price:
- Kindle edition: $13.20.
- Paperback: $46.96.
How To Choose The Best Python Book
Selecting the finest Python learning books may be challenging, particularly for newcomers. However, the following are the factors to take into account if you’re looking for advice on how to locate Python Books for Beginners:
Assess your proficiency level: If you are just starting, search for Python textbooks that provide the fundamentals. If you’re an accomplished coder, seek out advanced literature on certain functionalities.
Verify the author’s qualifications: Pay attention to Python books authored by those who have taught and programmed in Python.
Examine reviews: See what other people think by reading the reviews of the Python book on the internet. This is often a wealth of knowledge.
Think about your preferred method of learning: If you are more of a hands-on learner, look for Python books with exercises and projects included.
FAQ
Q: Is Learning Python Still Valuable?
A: Python remains a valuable language to learn because of its adaptability and capacity to improve developers’ coding abilities.
Q: Is it possible to learn Python from books?
A: If you are just beginning to acquire a skill, it is crucial that you locate a suitable resource and then get in touch with an instructor. You may also utilize a ton of fantastic books to get the necessary expertise.
Q: Can these books be found in thrift stores?
A: You may need to look hard, but you can find these books in a thrift store.