Resources

__**Back to Learning Python**__ =Recommended Resources=

The following resources are highly recommended:


 * Books:**
 * Learning Python: Powerful Object-Oriented Programming, 4th edition, O'Reilly Media
 * ISBN-10: 0596158068
 * ISBN-13: 978-0596158064
 * Python Pocket Reference: Python in Your Pocket, 4th edition, O'Reilly Media
 * ISBN-10: 0596158084
 * ISBN-13: 978-0596158088
 * Python in a Nutshell, 2nd edition, O'Reilly Media
 * ISBN-10: 0596100469
 * ISBN-13: 9780596100469

> > > >
 * Online:**
 * The Most Current Python Documentation: @http://www.python.org/doc/
 * Online Python Tutorial: @http://docs.python.org/tutorial/index.html
 * All about Python: @http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=36
 * "Learn Almost Anything For Free" at http://www.khanacademy.org/


 * Why?:**

O'Reilly books have always served me very well in the past so it is natural that I would head there first.

Starting with "Learning Python", this book starts with asking "Why Do People Use Python" and provides lots of background information about the language before getting into the syntax of programming. This book has a *significant* amount of information and has over 1200 pages.

The "Python Pocket Reference" is an excellent smaller reference book by the same author as "Learning Python", Mark Lutz. What is excellent about this book is that it is physically quite small as well as having under 200 pages. It is a very easy-to-use reference of the core language. If you are looking for a quick reference book that won't weigh you down, get this book.

O'Reilly's "Nutshell" books have always been my favourite, so it's no surprise that "Python in a Nutshell" is on this list. Where the "Pocket Reference" is fantastic for a quick reference, the "Nutshell" book is much more complete and includes "simple but illustrative examples" which are always useful. In addition to the core language itself, this book is also useful for "the most populate and important third party extensions", a tutorial, and other great information. If you were going to get only one book on Python, this would be that book.

While books are great to have in the hand, they are static and can become outdated in time.

The first online reference provided is the link to the most current documentation from the programming language's homepage.

The second online reference provided is a concise tutorial linked from the programming languages homepage.

The third online reference is an excellent source of video tutorials to help guide those who may not have as much experience with programming, or even for those who prefer anything other than reading documentation on their own.

The last online reference is useful for learning just about anything. For FREE! The main page actually states, "Watch. Practice. Learn almost anything for free." While the learning videos on Python may not be suited for the absolute beginner who has never done any programming, it does provide very useful information in an easy to understand manner. This is a fantastic reference, not only for the Python programming language, but for just about anything else you may be interested in learning.

__**Back to Learning Python**__