Recommendations on good Python books?

I've heard good things about How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (Python), and it's free.

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Original post by Driv3MeFar I've heard good things about How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (Python), and it's free.

Thanks - I've had that recommended to me too. I've skimmed through the PDF copy and should look through it again now I've got a shaky grasp of Python basics.

However I'm still interested in a good dead-tree book to compliment it and the online references. I'm currently spending the bulk of my time reading and writing documents on the computer writing up my thesis, and I'm using learning Python as a break for parts of my brain. Being able to do some of the learning away from the monitor would be a blessing. Plus I've got this gift card to use too, and adding to my library is something I like to do.

I am not going to recommend a book, because I haven't been that impressed with most of the python books I have encountered (though there may well be plenty of good books I haven't had a chance to read).

In general, python books all seem to assume a C/C++ background (or no background at all), and teach exactly that, C++ in python. The problem with this approach is that python is not C++, and it is much more valuable to approach it as a hybrid functional/OOP language. In fact, as you start using python heavily, the pedantic OOP approach to problems can really weigh you down, as python lends itself better to a functional, event driven approach.

Thanks - I've noticed the rather functional feel to the language as I played around with the basics. It's been a while since I've used a functional language but I like the paradigm, so it's a pity if all the books out there stick to the more procedural approach. Working around with functional event driven programming would be useful (and far more fun).

If there really isn't any books worth the money then I can stick to using on-line resources, but it's a shame if there really aren't any good books for something as popular as Python.

Well this is my favorite Python book but as you can tell from the title it's highly game oriented so much that it doesn't even mention Python in it's title!
Game Programming: The L Line, The Express Line to Learning
Probably not what you want since it does cover some of the basics but picks up pretty fast in chapter 3 having you make games already using pygame/python.
You'd probably want this book then
Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional
Don't be put off by the novice in the title since it doesn't barely covers the basics of Python and has you working with the advanced aspects of Python right away. It's got 10 substantial complete Python programs that will give you some ideas to get started on your own and how to go about it.

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From Apress: Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional is the most comprehensive book on the Python ever written. Based on Practical Python, this newly revised book is both an introduction and practical reference for a swath of Python-related programming topics, including addressing language internals, database integration, network programming, and web services. Advanced topics, such as extending Python and packaging/distributing Python applications, are also covered.

Ten different projects illustrate the concepts introduced in the book. You will learn how to create a P2P file-sharing application and a web-based bulletin board, and how to remotely edit web-based documents and create games
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I've seen some other python books but these are the only one's I've actually finished and can comment on.

I quite like the Python Cookbook; it's a collection of mini-recipes for achieving certain tasks, and although on the surface it's just a reference, an edited copy of the stuff found here, you'll find that reading through it opens your mind to some of Python's power, both in terms of syntax, and in terms of the libraries that come with it.