Customer Reviews

Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

I really wanted to learn a programming language badly. Through some design of fate I chose Python. And only afterwards got to know that I had made the best choice for a beginning programmer. Since I cannot stand to read "tutorials" on the internet, flipping HTML pages, I prefer to learn through reading curled up with a book, I had to get a book or books.

Even though Learning Python 2nd edition seemed to be the most popular, there was something about it I didn't like while reading the index. Then I saw this book, read the index, the reviews (even though only 4) can't lie, and if this book was more popular this column would be full of 100 5 star reviews undoubtedly.

After only a week, I am writing programs that would have caused me to quit a week ago if he had said I have to write such and such a program by a certain time.
You don't have to go as fast as me, you can take your time, I am just putting in a lot of hours.

Anyway, what I found good about this book, is he explains each line of code while introducing a new topic/technique/syntax etc... And the progression of topics combined with learning is excellent. At the end of every chapter you are given 4 challenge programs to write on your own to put into practice mainly what you learned in the chapter. This helps you put into practicality what you read and see if you really know what method or code you need to write the program.

Like the book says, at times you will be challenged but never overwhelmed. This book is true to topic. It is for the absolute beginner, if you have NEVER programmed before this book is for you. It holds your hand if it has to, and you can walk on your own soon. It is a solid introduction to Python. Right now I am looking for my second book which I believe will be Dive into Python and Python Cookbook.

This book is almost exactly like Michael Dawson's other book Beginning C++ Game Programming. Which like this book as received a great response from reviewers and users. It's funny because I can't tell which one was conceived first. This book teaches you programming and Python by using small simple games, like hang-man, tic-tac-toe and others, but is in the "Absolute Beginner Series" and just uses the games as a fun tool to learn.

So either he used this idea for his C++ book and wrote it for the game development series for a specific marketing purpose, or he wrote the C++ one first and used its idea for this Absolute Beginner series.

Regardless of what you want to learn programming for, or this Python language specifically, you have to start at the beginning. Don't go thinking you can create the next Windows or 3d game engine, because a book talks about game programming... and this book Learning Python for the absolute beginner is the most solid foundation you can get for programming and learning Python, to go onto more complicated stuff applications or games.

Sorry for the long winded- fluffy review. The point is

If you == Beginner
get this book.

If you want fastest easiest most fun creative way to learn Python as a beginner get this book. Hope this helps.

== is a comparison operator from Python :)

I learned Python in three months using this book. I don't usually post reviews but felt the need to do so because of another reviewer's claim that this book is only for windows users. The cd that comes with this book is unfortunately for windows users but the chapter lessons and challenges work for any operating system. In fact, I used this book exclusively under linux and OS X.

I bought this book because I wanted to learn a programming language and a programmer friend of mine recommended Python as a good "first language". I'm about half-way through the book now and so far it's been excellent. Everything is clearly explained and logically layed out. I'm having no trouble at all understanding everything discussed.

The author uses games as examples to introduce each new programming concept. You start with things as simple as hangman (and simpler) and end up being able to create a simple asteroids -type game. However, the concepts learned are not just good for game programming, they are applicable to all programming. The "game" part just makes it more entertaining to learn the concepts.

Another thing I like about the book is all the boxes with practical notes in them; things about common mistakes, or recurring boxes titled "In The Real World...". Also included are small programs with bugs...he shows you common programming errors/typos and how to locate them, and of course, fix them.

My background is in web design. I know XHTML, CSS, and small amounts (very small) of Javascript and MySQL. So, coming from that background, I'm finding this book to be a perfect place to start programming. I'm almost ready to go out andbuy my second Python book! I'd highly recommend this book if you've never programmed before. You could probably give this to a 7th grader. It's that easy to follow.

Just keep in mind that this is a beginning, "how to" book. It's not a reference of any kind. One chapter builds on another... However, I'm sure I'll be going back to a section here and there...my memory will need refreshing, I'm sure. :-)

The only prior programming I had before this book was that of using SQL (very simple compared to `regular' languages since it's a query language).

I'm basically going to repeat what everyone else has said, saying that it is very easy to read through and it's also easy to pick through the language to understand EXACTLY what is going on. I have always been afraid to delve into programming because of the immense math etc. and the fact of having no "wading pool" to get my feet wet safely, but this book is not mind boggling at all. For one who doesn't know anything about scripting, etc. this is great!

I would assume it's good for any beginning programmer, regardless of what language they are looking to specialize in. Also for anyone who uses ESRI ArcGIS products, this is definitely a must if you wish to use their scripting methods for geocoding/processing, etc. (unless you choose VB). After only reading through the first four chapters I found that running scripts with tools in ArcGIS is easily understandable now.

I thought this was a wonderful book. I already had a bit of python programming in my head, but when i read this book, it was if I didn't know any of that because the author informs you so well.

I'm a chosey person when it comes to reviewing a programming book, so let me say that if you want to learn Python and have just a little bit of programming knowledge, then this is a must have.

I would normally give this book a 4 star rating because, like so many books, it doesn't tell you that you need some experience (that's why my shelf of programming books is completely full), but the inforativeness and great teaching makes me give this one five full stars.

So that you won't make the same mistakes as me: buying a book on programming and not knowing that you need to know something else first, I'm going to tell you that you should do a good amount of research before buying any computer programming book, even if the description says you need no experience with a certain language at all, because descriptions can be deceiving and authors will sometimes make a book "scary" by starting out nicely and then all of a sudden throwing bunches of code at you to memorize, not taking the process slowly by keeping the good intro, slowly starting into small pieces of code, and then slowly adding on more.

I would definitely recommend this also to any intermediate (that was what i was when i read this) python programmers as sort of a reference book and also learning new tecniques, and to even python "masters" as a reference book if you ever forget something or want to work on a certain tecnique.

Python programming is a wonderful language to learn, but I would suggest learning some languages first, like C/C++ (you definitely need to if you want to use python as a game programming language), because it is also a good web programming language and can be used for many other wonderful uses.

It was a hasty 4 stars if not for all the great examples and the super simple format- I wasn't sure about Python, but now i'm certain.
I love it... alot! This text goes into detail as all the other reviews have stated, but doesn't offer alternatives to when the GUI and IDLE don't like to run a Tk Program that you wrote. I tried on my wife's XP machine a lot, and still couldn't get his GUI code to cooperate, and it is probably just a general python flaw for it's adherence to Tk driven programs. Plus, with the advent of Python based APIs for gaming and such (which the author has you download to write the games promised), there is no real effort in the Tk adherence regard.
All in All, if you need a place to start, and are interested in a very simple to read, simple to write language- head to python and use this book. Just be sure to use Windows when you are learning in this one or you will be left to a lot of self discovery!
Hope this Helps

This is probably the best place to start with not only Python but also with programming. Brilliant book, I would have giving it 5 stars if the had included at least Linux and MAC software as well. Python is a great language which works on most platforms and it should be reflected by including more (there is certainly enough space left on the CD...) I am not slagging Windows or there users, but I think it should be included. OK it is easy enough to download the stuff from the net, but then again so it is for Wintel users...

Summary, buy it to learn the easy way. Ignore the ignorance from the publisher with the CD and download what you need...