Python: Visual QuickStart Guide

I usually avoid "visual" computer books because they often have too many screen shots and little information. However, this book is different. I picked it up in a bookstore and found that it looked reasonable, so I bought it. I was right.So don't expect lots of screen shots or other visual aids. The book shows mainly very short code snippets in a Python command shell interpreter. Only where required (for example modules) complete scripts are given. But it works well, giving you just enough code to solve your problem.It is a very useful, nearly complete introduction and reference to core Python, including the installation. For special purpose libraries (Tkinter, other GUIs, regular expressions, integrating C/C++, number crunching, communication, Web) short hints are given where to look or you have to look yourself.One extremely important issue covered in this book is how to make deep copies of nested lists, which is hard to find in some other Python books.It covers Python up to 2.1, some features of 2.2 are mentioned.The book has a good value for the price.

For an amateur programmer with some experience in other languages this is an excellent first book on python. I have to admit I like to read a fair amount about the programming language before I actually sit down and write some code and I read about half the book in a weekend (while interacting with my two kids ages 1.5 and 3 years). I liked the way the book was organized, the numerous examples on each section ranging from simple to difficult, and the various tips. In a week's time I went from not knowing anything about python to writing real life utility modules to process lists and communicate with other programs. The only criticism I have is the attempt to force this book into a visual quick start format. There is nothing "visual" about this book. The so called "visual" portions are code examples arranged as "figures". Also this book does not cover GUIs, and other useful python libraries such as NumPy, although it does tell you how to get the information from websites. I cannot disagree with the reviewer who stated that this book does not give any more information than that available online. I am not sure if that is true because I have only briefly scanned the online documentation. For someone like me who prefers to read books on paper, this is well worth the price.

Previous reviewers have noted that this book is lucid and well organized. True, but what really sets it apart are the numerous and clever examples (along with resulting output) that accompany each topic. The examples progress from simple to challenging and I found myself covering the answers and mentally figuring each result as I worked my way down each page. I found this "piecemeal" approach a much more effective (and entertaining) way of learning the mechanics of a programming language than traditional (and often impractical) line-by-line expositions of page-long programs.

Incredibly well written and insightful. This book was *exactly* what I needed to learn python quickly. Instead of filling the book with useless examples that no one would ever use in `real' life, Mr. Fehily has refreshingly provided just the right amount of code and commentary that got me up to speed with the language so that I could focus on using python in my own development.Mr. Fehily has found just the right balance between a tutorial style teaching book and a well-organized reference book. Not only was it great while I was learning the language, but now it's the first place that I look when I run into trouble.While not for first time programmers, this is definitely the book to buy if you need (or want) to learn python.

" Visual Quickstart Guide Python" is the title of the book, not "Python for the WWW, etc" as this site calls it. In fact, there is nothing in it about the WWW. I am not a professional programmer, so this is one of several titles that I purchased to learn the language, and am I glad I did.I am also sorry that it was not my first book, because it would have saved me money and time to get to speed with learning Python. It's the clearest, most attractive( and illustrated, too)and well written book that I've seen so far. Every topic is presented with a sense of order and clarity . For example, when I glanced at the table of contents, I found chapter 10 was dedicated entirely to "Files", some 40 pages covering everything from "opening a file" to "Saving Objects As Files". And when I opened the book to the "Opening a file" page, the first sentence,"Python file operations are done by using file objects rather than file names", told me how intelligently and yet gently the author introduces the student to new and important concepts of the Python language. The page includes "Tips" and a complete code example, neatly separated from the book text, for the student to enter in the computer. I did not have to chase the examples through the text as in some other books. As the author cautions, this book is not intended to be exaustive, especially for advanced programming topics. The 400 pages, however, are a delight to read and use as you learn Python. I've set aside all the other books for now. Thank you Mr. Fehily.