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Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (Paperback)

~ Michael Dawson (Author)
Key Phrases: software objects, absolute beginner, lazy buttons, Game Over, Program Development, The Astrocrash Game (more...)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

List Price:	$29.99
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Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Kindle Edition $15.83 Available for download now. Published November 8, 2005	Kindle Edition	$15.83	--	--
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ready to learn Python programming? Are you new to programming with Python? Do you need a solid introduction to the fundamental concepts? You've found it in "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Second Edition," the updated version of the successful "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner." As part of the for the absolute beginner series developed by computer science instructors exclusively for Cengage Learning Course Technology PTR, this book will teach you the basics of Python programming through simple game creation. You can then take the skills you learn and use them for more practical Python programming applications and real-world programming scenarios. Better still, 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. Create simple, fun games while you learn to program with Python.

About the Author

Mike Dawson has worked as a programmer and a computer game designer. He earned his bachelor¿s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and currently teaches game programming at UCLA Extension and The Digital Media Academy at Stanford. In addition to Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, he is also the author of Beginning C++ Through Game Programming.

Product Details

Paperback: 472 pages
Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 2 edition (November 8, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1598631128
ISBN-13: 978-1598631128
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,293 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

#5 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Languages & Tools > Python
#19 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Systems Analysis & Design
#23 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Introductory & Beginning

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
software objects, absolute beginner, lazy buttons, simple game, moving pan, plural noun, geek term, total clicks, vewi res, word jumble game, elif choice, missile fire rate, elif username, nter module, class attribute total, negative position numbers, sentry variable, def talk, pickled objects, trivia file, pizza sprite, res package, random module, def str, def die

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Game Over, Program Development, The Astrocrash Game, The Blackjack Game, The Pizza Panic Game, Object-Oriented Programming, The Guess My Number Game, Program Planning, The Hangman Game, While Loops, The Word Jumble Game, The Mad Lib Program, The Tic-Tac-Toe Game, The Useless Trivia Program, The Critter Caretaker Program, The Trivia Challenge Game, Python Programming, Dancing Baloney, Access Granted, Hero's Inventory, Movie Chooser, Getting Started, Playing Cards, Method Next, Happy Birthday

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	75% buy the item featured on this page: Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner 4.4 out of 5 stars (48) $19.79
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	8% buy Learning Python (Animal Guide) 3.9 out of 5 stars (142) $34.64
	5% buy Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science 4.4 out of 5 stars (33) $33.20

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Customer Reviews

48 Reviews

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (48 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

This review is from: Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (Paperback)

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.

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75 of 76 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

This review is from: Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (Paperback)

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!

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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

This review is from: Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner (Paperback)

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!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy!
Easy to follow and fun. I have absolutely zero programming experience, and I could keep up easily with this book.

Published 1 month ago by Daniel Thrall

5.0 out of 5 stars Like reading a story
This book is a very light and easy read. It is not like other technical books where you have to read into every single line and dig out the hidden information. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Prashanth Kumar

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and even entertaining!
I bought this because it was a prescribed text for one of my university classes. I was suprised at how easy it is to read and stay interested in it; the author writes just as if... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Joellen Cowden

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes computers fun again
Easy enough for a complete novice, following along with the book and coding makes using a computer fun again. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Sean Flynn

5.0 out of 5 stars Best intro programming book EVERY
This book should be in every high school to introduce students to programming. I have never seen a book cover material in such a wonderfully progressive fashion. Read more

Published 3 months ago by bookwurm

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for semi-beginners ( you just need basic PC knowledge)
This book is great. It's written in simple, understandable language and is great for the semi-beginner, ( I mean you must have basic PC knowledge ) if you can navigate around... Read more

Published 4 months ago by A.T. Perkins

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
My son is 13. Seems to be right at his age level. One minor typo in the first lesson took us a while to solve but other than that, he is enjoying it.

Published 6 months ago by Philip Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Investment
Very good book; whether you are learning a first computer language or OOP (Object Oriented Programming), this is a good reference book to have on your shelf.

Published 7 months ago by NWGGuy

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a beginners book
I liked the book for what it is, a beginners book as it is very elementry and a good way to learn from not knowing anything.

Published 7 months ago by J. Frantz

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!
I was trying to teach my brother a little bit of Python so that he could have a good foundation to go on on his own, but I don't have the time to write a "book" for him... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Tam T. Nguyen

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