Good book for Python beginners

Question

I'm going to mentor a group of biologists that will be learning Python as their first programming language. I would like to provide them with a book that is written from this perspective, i.e. no expectation of previous programming experience. Any suggestions?

Duplicate:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/34570/what-is-the-best-quick-read-python-book-out-there http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17988/how-to-learn-python
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/317983/best-book-to-learn-python
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/175001/is-there-a-definitive-book-on-python

Answer 1

Check out Learning Python. It gives a smooth introduction into programming languages and the actual Python language. I haven't read this one, but I hear that Programming in Python 3: A Complete Introduction to the Python Language (note: Python 3) is good also.

Answer 2

"no expectation of previous programming experience."

That was my target audience for http://homepage.mac.com/s_lott/books/nonprogrammer.html

Answer 3

There is also how to think like a computer scientist in python which is probably aimed more at CS types than those who just need to get the job done.

Answer 4

John D. Cook recommends two Python books here. I went out and purchased "Core Python", and I can tell you that it's very good so far.