Think Python: An Introduction to Software Design [Paperback]

Allen Downey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2011

The goal of this book is to teach you to think like a computer scientist. This way of thinking combines some of the best features of mathematics, engineering, and natural science. Like mathematicians, computer scientists use formal languages to denote ideas (specifically computations). Like engineers, they design things, assembling components into systems and evaluating tradeoffs among alternatives. Like scientists, they observe the behavior of complex systems, form hypotheses, and test predictions. The single most important skill for a computer scientist is problem solving. Problem solving means the ability to formulate problems, think creatively about solutions, and express a solution clearly and accurately. As it turns out, the process of learning to program is an excellent opportunity to practice problem-solving skills. That’s why this chapter is called, “The way of the program.” On one level, you will be learning to program, a useful skill by itself. On another level, you will use programming as a means to an end. As we go along, that end will become clearer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The most current version of this book is available from Green Tea Press. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Allen B. Downey is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. He has written several books, including Computational Modeling and Complexity Science, How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, The Little Book of Semaphores, Physical Modeling in MATLAB, and Learning Perl the Hard Way. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (September 21, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1466367296
• ISBN-13: 978-1466367296
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Allen Downey is a Professor of Computer Science at Olin College and a former Visiting Scientist at Google, Inc.

He is the author of Think Stats, Think Python, the How to Think Like a Computer Scientist series (in Java, C++, OCaml, and more), The Little Book of Semaphores, and other computer science books, all available free at greenteapress.com.

Allen is an avid runner, gardener and cook. He ran the Boston Marathon for the first time in 2011, finishing in 3:45.

Allen lives in Needham, MA with his wife, two daughters, and two cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book!, September 24, 2010

By 

Nija Mashruwala (Bay Area, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Think Python: An Introduction to Software Design: How To Think Like A Computer Scientist (Paperback)

This is a great book for learning how to think about Python and basic object-oriented computer science in general. A friend and I have been using it as a self-directed study text, and find the exercises fun and enlightening. The exercises often illustrate python gotchas in a memorable way, which I definitely appreciate. To get the most out of this book, I have found it helpful to have the PDF version of this book open in one window, a python interpreter open in a second window, and a text editor open in a third. As I read, I type examples into the interactive interpreter so I can play with the code and see how to get it to fail. For the exercises, I type my guess in the text editor and check it by running it in the interpreter to see if my guess is correct. This is definitely one of the best books out there for beginners or beginners to Python, and I'm not surprised to learn MIT recently switched around its curriculum to use it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best text book for first CS class. Great value., October 6, 2011

By 

Bonnie Twain - See all my reviews

This review is from: Think Python: An Introduction to Software Design (Paperback)

Get this even if your professor is using another text book. One of the best values in introductory python books. It not only teaches python, but also introduces computer science and software engineering concepts.The print size of the 11 x 8.5 edition (ISBN-10: 1466367296) is quite easy to read. The negative one star reviewer must be complaining about another version of the book.

Most people will find that they can start with this book, but if you are a total non programmer you may want to start with :

Non-Programmers Tutorial For Python: An introduction to the Python programming language for non programmers

For more specific and detailed information about how to use python try:

A Python Book: Beginning Python, Advanced Python, and Python Exercises

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great start for the novice reader, March 19, 2011

By 

MedIT - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Think Python: An Introduction to Software Design: How To Think Like A Computer Scientist (Paperback)

This book should be retitled ThinkPython: An Introduction to Scripting.

I would whole heartedly recommend this book to readers looking for a quick 0-60 self study in (Python) scripting. It's a great place to start for someone with really zero or next to zero experience who is looking to get up and running as quickly as possible. This book does not spend much/any time on computer science. It spends very little time on software design over and above splitting scripts into modules and basic OOP.

When my 13 year old cousin expressed some interest in programming I gave him this book without a second thought. For a high school class / intro college course for non(-committed) CS majors looking to cover the same ground in more detail I'd recommend Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science by Zelle. (These recommendations assume you are committed to Python if not look at How to Design Programs by F, F, F, & K)

Bottom Line: If you are looking to cultivate an interest before crushing it with big O notation or have zero interest in CS but want to automate something using Python this is a good starting place.


N.B. This book is freely available online.