Comments on: Always look on the bright side of life, or Learning Python http://tdrapeau.com/2008/05/04/always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life-or-learning-python/ Yes, I am that guy from the Young Me Now Me contest Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: madkangas http://tdrapeau.com/2008/05/04/always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life-or-learning-python/#comment-2131 madkangas Mon, 05 May 2008 18:08:56 +0000 http://tdrapeau.com/?p=344#comment-2131 "Blown away" is a pretty strong word, but I'm glad to hear you're enjoying Python. :-) I think you chose the better of the O'Reilly Python books to start with. Uncharacteristically for O'Reilly, "Programming Python" is not my favorite book. It's a thick tome that tries to cover too much material and is organized poorly. Or was, circa 2003. The book I always had on my desk while writing the job import gateways was "Python Essential Reference" by David Beazley, published by New Riders. http://www.amazon.com/Python-Essential-Reference-Developers-Library/dp/0672328623 If you want a "Nutshell" style book on Python, this is the one IMO. I'll be picking up a new copy of the 3rd edition shortly, since I'm hacking on App Engine stuff these days. (Plus, my old 2nd edition looks pretty grungy...) “Blown away” is a pretty strong word, but I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying Python. :-)

I think you chose the better of the O’Reilly Python books to start with. Uncharacteristically for O’Reilly, “Programming Python” is not my favorite book. It’s a thick tome that tries to cover too much material and is organized poorly. Or was, circa 2003.

The book I always had on my desk while writing the job import gateways was “Python Essential Reference” by David Beazley, published by New Riders.

http://www.amazon.com/Python-Essential-Reference-Developers-Library/dp/0672328623

If you want a “Nutshell” style book on Python, this is the one IMO. I’ll be picking up a new copy of the 3rd edition shortly, since I’m hacking on App Engine stuff these days. (Plus, my old 2nd edition looks pretty grungy…)

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