Python, over the years, has remained the developer’s favorite programming language, and even to this day, its implementation is widespread. As a result, if you are new to programming and want to quickly start your journey of being a great developer, you should definitely learn Python.
There are multiple ways to learn Python, and you can find online classes and offline tuitions where you can go and learn Python. But there is one more method, the oldest way of learning anything, and it is booked. Books are a great medium to help individuals understand complex concepts. Learning from books provides a lot of advantages. You can read books anytime you want and also on the way back from the office on your commute.
So, if you are planning to learn Python, the best way to get started is with Python books.
In this article, we aim to provide you with a list of some of the best Python books that help you in your learning process. Prior to it, we shall briefly discuss the Python language, its features, and its advantages and disadvantages.
So let’s begin!
Contents
What is Python?
Python is an object-oriented programming language for developing websites and desktop software. Nowadays, it is also being used to create automation in machines and conduct data analysis. It is one of the most commonly used general-purpose languages, which means a programmer can use it to develop several programs, and it isn’t limited to developing a specific set of programs.
Python is the most-preferred language among developers because of its versatility and beginner-friendliness. In one of the surveys conducted by Redmond, it was found that Python still remains the second most popular programming language in the developer’s community. With the help of Python programming, one can do the following things:
- Data analysis and machine learning
- Web-based application development
- Creating automation or writing scripts for machines
- Software testing and prototyping
Features Of Python
Below are some of the significant features of Python which make it a unique and programmer-friendly coding language.
- First, it is an open-source programming language, meaning the language’s source code is available to everyone. One can make changes to it and use it according to their requirement.
- Although the language provides high-level programming functionalities, it is still pretty easy to learn compared to other programming languages, like C, JavaScript, Java, and others.
- Even novice programmers can understand the code written in Python, and the syntax is quite simple. The code block of Python is identified via indentations rather than semicolons or brackets.
- A programmer can make a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using Python. PyQt5 is the most popular option for developing GUI with Python.
- A code written in Python can also be merged with other programming languages like C or C++, and it will still run with no errors due to its extensibility.
- Apart from this, the Python code for Windows operating systems can also quickly run on Linux and Mac OS. This is because it is a portable language.
- When you write code in Python, it gets executed line-by-line because it is an interpreted language. As a result, there is no need to compile the Python code in the first place. It also makes debugging the Python code much easier.
Advantages Of Using Python
Now let’s see some of the advantages you get when you are programming an application using Python.
1. Used Across Various Platforms
Python is one of those few programming languages used for developing an application for the internet, Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and even for Android as well. Besides this, Python is now playing a central role in the field of automation and cross-platform shell scripting.
2. Provides Performance Bump
There are a number of specialists around the world who prefer using Python when it comes to improving the performance of their applications with the help of automation. With Python, one can automate all the boring and repetitive tasks in the applications. Some of the standard functionalities you can automate via Python are uploading files to the server, renaming files or names in a database, and many more.
3. Data Science
You don’t have to be a software developer to understand the working of Python. The language can provide finance experts with data analysis and visualization as it has one of the most extensive libraries, which gives Python the ability for data processing.
4. Big Companies prefer Python
Big MNCs are working on automating their work and trying to find the concepts of human behavior via data analysis. All of these latest technologies use Python to get the job done. Apart from this, companies like Pixar are using Python to produce their animated films; Google is using Python to automate the process of web crawling. Lastly, Netflix uses Python-based AI to deliver recommended content to its subscribers.
5. Object-oriented
Python comes with the support of both procedural and object-oriented programming. It has functions that help developers to reuse the code. At the same time, with the help of classes and objects, developers can replicate the models of the real world. Also, classes in Python allow functions and data encapsulation as one.
Disadvantages Of Using Python
Now that we have shown you the good side of Python, let’s move to the other side and discuss some of the things you need to keep in mind when using Python.
1. Low Speed
It certainly increases the performance of an application, but at the same time, it has slow execution due to Python being a dynamically typed language. Due to its dynamic nature, there is overhead during the execution process, which slows things down.
2. Inefficient Memory Consumption
Python takes a massive amount of memory even when you are writing simple code, and it does it to provide simplicity to developers. But it could be a significant drawback if you are creating an application and memory optimization is a must.
3. Prone To Runtime Errors
Due to its dynamic typing nature, a variable defined in Python can change its state anytime. A variable holding an integer can have a string value in the future. This results in a run-time error. As a result, a developer needs to perform several rounds of testing before they finally release it.
Best Python Books for Beginners
Now let’s move on to the next part of this article and look at some of the best Python books that will come in handy in the learning process for beginners.
1. Python Crash Course
Author: Eric Matthes
Starting our list of best Python books for beginners, we have a Python Crash Course. This book does what is written in the title, and it does it quite well. In the first few chapters, you will see basic Python walkthroughs, which will help you understand the importance and working of Python.
The following few chapters, or the middle section of the book, talk about statements and logical tests. After that comes dictionaries, input, use of while loops, functions, classes, and file handling. Apart from this, readers will also learn about how to test Python code and perform debugging.
The second half of the book is where things get interesting, and you will be creating three significant applications with the help of some clever programming techniques which are mentioned in this book. The first project is an Alien invasion game, where you will use Python’s pygame package. Second is the data visualization project which uses matplotlib, random walks, rolling dice, and a little bit of statistical analysis from the developer’s end.
2. Learning Python, 5th Edition
Author: Mark Lutz
This is a perfect combination of a portable, powerful, and easy-to-read Python book. With this book, you will learn Python from one of the expert teachers in the field of Python development. The reader-friendly, well-structured prose allows readers to build proficiency in this programming language.
The book is comprehensive not just for learning Python but also helps in understanding a lot of object-oriented programming concepts. All the new changes have been added to this edition, so you don’t have to worry about looking for updates in Python anywhere else.
In addition, this book has a new feature carried forward from the second edition. It adds new context for beginners, including fresh overviews of object-oriented programming and the use of dynamic typing. With each page of this book, you will have a deep and complete understanding of the Python language that gives you a boost to understanding the more complex concepts of Python that are being used on a larger-application level.
As a result, if you want to learn Python as efficiently as possible and in the shortest time, this book is the perfect choice for you.
3. Python For Everybody: Exploring Data In Python 3
Author: Charles Severance
This Python book introduces students to both Python programming and software development. It does this by using data-based examples, and the author has described Python as a kind of tool to solve data-related problems that are not possible by using a spreadsheet.
In this book, you will come across examples that follow the Python 3 standards. Besides this, the author has made learning Python a much easier and more fun task to do with this book. The examples in this book can help you in your project as well. The final chapter shows how to create a data visualization.
There are tons of exercises waiting for you at the end of the chapter to help you get a better grasp of the concepts you learned. You can even use this book as a companion to other books when you practice writing code in Python. If you read this as a beginner, you are more likely to make fewer mistakes while developing applications in Python and can create crisp and short lines of code which work efficiently.
4. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
Author: AI Sweigart
The writing style of this book is more of a challenge to the reader than a story-telling. But this makes it one of the best sellers and best books to learn Python. Moreover, with the help of this book, both a technically inclined beginner and a well-versed Python programmer can take specific learnings which are not available anywhere else.
Throughout this book, you will master Python fundamentals by exploring many library modules for tasks such as accessing the data from a website, reading PDF via Python code, creating a word document, and automating the clicking and typing process.
If you are in the market for the search for this Python book, then make sure to go for the latest edition. The latest edition includes a few new chapters and updated tutorials on how to write code for implementing automation to specific tasks.
Advanced Python Books for Experienced Programmers
Now let’s see some of the best Python books that help experienced programmers to gain a better insight into how to write Python code with better efficiency.
5. A Byte of Python
Author: Swaroop C.H.
This is an excellent introductory Python book for those who are new to Python but have experience writing a program in another language. It also includes some additional comments for programmers who have mastered other programming languages to compare them with Python. You will see a lot of Python examples and comparisons where the author compares them to Java or C/C++.
Overall this book offers fast reading and a pretty clear explanation of Python’s examples, concepts, and functionalities. If there were a few more exercises to test whether the reader learned the concept after reading the chapter, that would be a great addition to this already fantastic Python book for experienced programmers.
6. Python Programming – An Introduction to Computer Science (3rd Edition)
Author: John Zelle
The author has created this book in a way to help college graduates understand the concepts of Python. In order to read this book, you need to have a good understanding of Python programming. It takes a bit of a traditional approach to teaching students the functionalities of Python. This means there is a lot of problem-solving, designing, and programming that you will be doing throughout this book. It is one of the best Python books, as it helps you practice writing code in Python.
Keep in mind the main idea that the author follows while writing this book is not to teach each and every concept of Python. This Python book is more about showcasing the fundamental concepts of Python’s design and its implementation in programming.
There are a number of questions placed at the end of this book. You will have to choose between true or false for a statement, multiple choice questions, and some coding exercises as well. The only thing lacking in this book is the official answer to the questions at the back of each chapter.
Best Python Books for Kids
Coding has become an in-demand skill across the globe. As a result, kids ages 10 to 14 have become engrossed in learning programming. As Python is easy, to begin with, kids usually start learning to code with Python. So, here are the two popular Python books for kids:
7. Invent Your Own Computer Game With Python
Author: AL Sweigart
Kids are easily fascinated by the video games that they play on computers. As a result, this book puts the creation of a video game at the center. Kids interested in learning how a video game works will thoroughly enjoy this book. By the end of it, they will be able to create a game on their own with no additional help.
Each chapter brings the reader the source code of a new game, and the example of the game showcases the concepts of Python and how it is implemented using programming.
One of the best things about this book is that you don’t need to purchase it. You can have this Python book’s PDF version for free as it is listed under the Creative Commons License. You can use this link to download Invent Your Own Computer Game With Python for free.
8. Coding Projects In Python
Author: D.K.
We know how hard it is to make a kid read a book, and when the book deals with concepts of Python, things can be a little tricky. As a result, D.K. publishing came up with this Python book for kids, which is a straightforward visual delight for kids to read.
The fun graphics and easy-to-follow instructions help young readers to create their own Python projects with ease. There is a unique project where kids will be writing a code that allows them to crack secret codes, a quiz to challenge their family, a matching game, and many more.
All the logical steps that kids have to follow while writing a code are presented in colorful pixel form. This book will help kids build whatever type of project their brilliant minds can come up with.
Best Python Books (Free)
If you don’t want to invest in buying a Python book but still want to learn from them, this section is specifically for you. Here are the two best free Python books you can download online in PDFs and start reading them from your smart devices right now.
9. Think Python: How To Think Like A Computer Scientist
Author: Allen B. Downey
This book introduces the reader to the world of computer science with a little help from Python programming. It covers all the basics of computer programming, which includes variables and values, functions, conditionals, and the understanding of the control flow.
In the later parts of this book, you will also learn about algorithms and data structures. This book benefits both new computer science learners and those who are coming from some other programming language.
Also, keep in mind this is not a fast way of learning Python. This book specifically targets those individuals who are up to the challenge of learning every single important concept and functionality of Python programming. The subtitle of this book says, “How to think like a computer scientist.”
At the end of each chapter, you are going to see debugging tips along with the glossary of terms and numerous exercises for you to practice writing the code. Common idioms are covered in addition to the various Python-related techniques and algorithms. Overall this is a great free book on Python, and if possible, everyone should read it in addition to the main book which they have purchased or the online course they are taking part in.
10. Learn More Python 3 The Hard Way The Next Step For New Python Programmers
Author: Zed A. Shaw
This is the last book in our list of the best books for Python Programming, and we are closing this list with an epic book by Zed A. Shaw, who has perfected the formula of teaching Python 3.x using this book. More than 10 million other programmers have succeeded in learning Python from this book. You only need to bring discipline and commitment to learning everything else Zed takes care of for you.
In the first few chapters, you will be learning about the basics of programming using Python 3, and there are more than 52 different projects to help you understand the programming concepts. After that, you can attend the 12 hours of online class where the author teaches you more about Python code and how you can break, fix or debug the code when needed.
The book asks for a lot of determination at the start, but if you are persistent and keep on going, things will get better, and this book will reward you appropriately for every single minute you put in to read and learn from it.
Best Python Books Conclusion
So these are some of the widespread and best Python books that you can read in order to learn to write a well-structured program using Python. The beauty of Python is that it does not require you to memorize complex syntax or coding jargon in order to create a basic application. Much of the Python code can be written in the form of a terse manner.
The Python books we have mentioned above in different categories are great for both beginners and experienced programmers. We are sure you will learn something new about Python programming after reading these books.
We hope this article has helped you find that one Python book that you are looking for to start your learning journey. If you have any questions regarding these books, or if you want to add any other Python books to this list, make sure to mention them in the comment section, and we will revert to you soon.
Till then, happy learning!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I learn Python from books?
Yes, you can absolutely learn how to code using any of the Python books that we have mentioned in this article. Take any one of these books, read it and practice writing code alongside. Even from day one, you can create a simple code using Python. And by the end of it, you will be able to develop a Python-based program for any problem that the interviewer or test puts in front of you to solve.
2. Is Python easy to learn?
Yes, Python is easy to learn, and there are a lot of reasons for that. The first one is its syntax which is quite simple and straightforward. A person with no knowledge of programming can read Python code and can tell what the program is doing. Most of the functions and syntax used in Python are written in simple English to make it easier for developers to comprehend what is written in code.
3. Which is the best Python book for beginners?
The best Python book for a beginner to read is Learn Python in 1 Day: Complete Python Guide with Examples by Krishna Rungta.
4. Which is the best Python book for kids?
Python for Kids by Jason R. Briggs is a book that helps children to learn concepts of Python in a fun way. This book is more like an introduction to programming, and it is not going too deep with Python concepts. Still, it is an excellent book for teaching kids the importance of Python programming.
5. Is there any free Python book available to read?
There are a lot of Python books that are available online for free, and you can download their PDFs from websites and read them from your mobile, desktop, laptop, and tablet. One of the free Python books that you can read for free is An Introduction To Python For Linguists.
Graduate in Computer Science, specialized in Digital Marketing. I am very fond of writing tech articles and creating my own blog to teach my audience.
