Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (Paperback)

~ Michael Dawson (Author) "Staring back at me on the screen was an image I recognized: a face-my face..." (more)
Key Phrases: res package, def talk, falling pizzas, Michael Dawson, Setting Up the Program, Mad Lib (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If you are new to programming with Python and are looking for a solid introduction, this is the book for you. Developed by computer science instructors, books in the for the absolute beginner series teach the principles of programming through simple game creation. You will acquire the skills that you need for more practical Python programming applications and you will learn how these skills can be put to use in real- world scenarios. Best of all, by the time you finish this book you will be able to apply the basic principles you've learned to the next programming language you tackle.

About the Author

Michael Dawson, from Santa Monica, CA, is a professional writer and has worked as a programmer and game industry designer and producer. He is the author of "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner" (Premier Press, 1592000738), which teaches newcomers programming by using games as examples. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and has worked as a programmer for a large Internet services company. He also has experience in the television industry as a staff writer for a popular sitcom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (August 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592000738
• ISBN-13: 978-1592000739
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #713,186 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Course PTR Absolute Beginners Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Painless way to learn programming, September 4, 2003

By A Customer

Have you wanted to try writing computer programs, but didn't know how to begin? Or maybe those huge, menacing looking tomes in the computer section of your local B&N store frightened the bejeezes out of you? Well, you may wish to take a serious look at the Python programming language. It is extremely easy to get started and there has been a huge community of on-line fans using it and helping each other ... Python is a great language to teach to school kids. It is also used by NASA, HP, Google and serious programmers all over the world.

This book is for the real beginner. If you know anything at all about python don't buy this book (consider LEARNING PYTHON, by Lutz and Asher). If you know something about programming, but nothing about python then don't buy this book (consider PYTHON CORE PROGRAMMING by Wesley Chun). If you are a Pythonista already, then stop reading. For all the rest of you I recommend PYTHON PROGRAMMING by Dawson. It will provide the most gentle introduction to programming in general, and python specifically, that you will find anywhere. Dawson is an excellent writer. This book is NOT the typical massive "programmer's bible," but rather, a slim primer - the basics. Dawson will take you by the hand and lead you down the garden path. Work through the easy exercises and play with the programs on the CD. At the end of the path you should be pleasantly surprised at how easily you learned the rudiments of a powerful computer language. You'll have all the knowledge needed to move on to Wesley Chun's enormous tutorial or the slim, but dense LEARNING PYTHON.

The book's cover says "for the absolute beginner" and I can't emphasize enough that this book is really for the programmer neophyte. I'd recommend it to any of my computer phobic friends. There is very little jargon; the reading level would be appropriate for junior high school students. I think Michael Dawson hit upon a real gem of a pedagogical idea: each major concept is introduced through writing a computer game. They are simple in concept and even simpler when written in python. He ends the book with an arcade shootem-up complete with animated graphics, sound effects, and music! The reader should by that point, feel comfortable modifying and adding to it. The book is nicely laid out and appears to have very few typos.

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best first Python Book (and not just for beginners), October 12, 2003

By	Robert (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews

If you're a beginning or intermediate programmer (with a year or less of programming under your belt), then this is the best, first Python book you can find. Not only is it the best intro to Python out there, but it's one of the best intros to programming in general I've ever read.

The book is clear, well-written and won't put you to sleep like many other technical books. The author knows how to teach and keep things interesting. And while the book is entertaining, it still covers the Python basics, including:
* Variables
* Branching
* Strings
* Lists, Tuples and Dictionaries
* Functions
* Files
* Exceptions
* Classes (including new-style classes)

But the book goes beyond the fundamentals to cover more advanced topics that most other intro to Python books don't, including:
* Program Design
* Object-Oriented Programming
* GUI Programming
* Multimedia Programming (including graphics, sound and animation)

If you're already a programming whiz, with years of coding experience and mutlti-language fluency, then this book may be too basic for you. In that case, I recommend the Python Visual Quick Start Guide. It's aimed at readers with a solid programming background. And while it doesn't have extensive OOP coverage, it will get an expert programmer up and running with the Python fast.

Finally, once you've got some Python experience, I highly recommend Python in a Nutshell to take you from Python programmer to Python guru.

Hope this helps you on your Pythonic journey!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a refreshing approach to python!, October 2, 2003

By	David Goldsmith (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Michael dawson happens to get it. Not only the language he writes of, but the language he uses to educate. I am new to Python and this book really helped open the doors for me. Because of this book, Python is not a huge scary beast... it's a friendly and helpful pet! Thanks for such a great read!