What is "THE" Python book.

Question

I was wanting to know if there is the one Python book. C has K & R, Perl has the Camel book Ruby, the pick ax book etc.

Answer 1

Dive Into Python

Online and free. (But, you should really try to give something to the author. Buy the printed version.)

Answer 2

I read O'Reilly's Python book and it was quite nice. Then I had a look at Core Python Programming, by Wesley Chun. I found it to be much better organized and the explanations in it are always straight to the point. The first (biggest) part deals only with the core features of Python, I find this part the most useful. In fact, I think they could rip off most of the second part, except for regular expressions. For example, I don't care for a GUI chapter in a 'core' book. If they'd throw away the clutter, the book would be much lighter. Still, if you can ignore the fact that this is a really heavy and thick book, I think it's the best Python book.

Answer 3

This is an online book takes a different approach, and might be more your thing:

http://homepage.mac.com/s_lott/books/python.html

Written by a StackOverflow (super) user, S.Lott

Answer 4

I used "Beginning Python" Wrox publication, when starting with python. Covers the basics and touches on some intermdeiate stuffs as well. Basically sets you up to use the online docs.

Answer 5

THE Python Book is the official tutorial at http://docs.python.org/tut/

Answer 6

I don't think there is a Python book that has the same dominance that K&R has for C or that the pickax book has for Ruby. Dive Into Python might be the closest thing.

Here's proof that Dive Into Python isn't analogous to the other books: it doesn't have a nickname. The other books are known by the initials of the authors ("K&R") or by the picture on the cover (camel, pickax).

Maybe Dive Into Python would have been more popular if it had had a more interesting cover. I can't imagine calling it "the yellow text on a black background book."

I recommend Wesley Chun's Core Python, but Dive Into Python probably has more readers.

Answer 7

I keep O'Reilly's Python Pocket Reference in a desk drawer in case I feel like leafing through a book, but usually I rely on the online documentation like ironfroggy said.