Best Python Books for Beginners & Advanced Programmers

Introduction

Python is one of the most sought-after programming languages right now. In this article, we will discuss the bestselling Python books on the market. There are various tutorials available online and offline that can help you learn Python effectively. You can easily find a lot of Python books on the internet, but not all of them are reliable. So, if you are looking for a Python book to start your new exciting programming journey, then this article will be very useful for you. We will take a look at the pros and cons of each book, and give our recommendation for a beginner as well as an intermediate/expert programmer. We have also provided links to buy these books if you find any of them useful.

Best Python Books: Beginners & Advanced Developers

1. Python Crash Course – 2nd Edition

This is a project-based, complete introduction to Python for beginners.

The book is organized into two parts: the first will teach you the fundamentals of Python programming, such as lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops, and the second will help you practice producing clean code. You’ll create three projects in the second part: a Space Invaders arcade game, a series of data visualizations, and a small web application. You’ll learn how to utilize Pygame, Matplotlib, Plotly, and Django as you progress through the book.

The book’s 544 pages are divided into two sections. The first section of the book covers Python programming fundamentals, including dictionaries, lists, loops, and classes. The book’s second half takes a more practical approach.

Prize: ₹2623.65
Author: Eric Matthes

2. Head First Python

Without needing to read the manuals, you will immediately grasp the foundations of Python using Head First Python. You’ll discover how to use data structures and built-in functions. 

In this book, you’ll learn how to build your own web application, as well as database management, exception handling, and other fundamentals. First and foremost, this book helps you learn and engage your mind by using a visual format rather than a rich textual approach.

The book will help you understand the principles of Python programming and how to deal with built-in functions and data structures quickly

Author: Paul Barry

3. Python Cookbook: Recipes for Mastering Python 3

This is another book for advanced Python programmers interested in learning about modern Python development tools. There are tutorials on the most popular programming tasks therein. Data encoding, data structures, algorithms, meta-programming, concurrency, network, web programming, testing, and exceptions are just a few of the subjects addressed in the book. The recipes mentioned in the book assume that you have the essential expertise to understand the topics covered in the book. Each recipe includes a sample code that can be used in the reader’s own projects. The code is followed by a discussion of how the code works and why the solution works.

Author: David Beazely, Brian K. Jones

4. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

AI Sweigart, the author, challenges his readers. It is one of the best-selling Python books in the world, and it teaches Python 3 to everyone from technically inclined beginners to geeks. The books lead you through each program and provide step-by-step instructions, allowing you to develop Python programs quickly and efficiently. 

You’ll master the fundamentals of Python and explore a variety of library modules for tasks such as scraping data from websites, reading PDF and Word documents, and automating clicking and typing. The book’s second edition features a brand-new chapter on input validation, as well as tutorials on automating Gmail and Google Sheets, as well as suggestions on updating CSV files automatically.

Author: Al Sweigart

5. Learn Python 3 the Hard Way

Zed A. Shaw’s ‘Learn Python 3 the Hard Way’ is a collection of 52 expertly prepared exercises. The book is ideal for absolute beginners, junior developers, and other returning professionals or seasoned experts who need to brush up on their skills. The book requires you to learn by doing real coding exercises and solving difficulties in order to better comprehend the problems. To give you a taste of coding, the author even shows you how to break, fix, and debug your code. The author of this book advises you to type the code by hand (no copy-paste) so that you may learn how to read and write code, rectify your mistakes, and recognize strong programs. The method of teaching is indeed hard, but you will gain a lot from your hard work. Several hours of videos are provided with the book to show you how to break, fix, and debug your code. 

Author: Zed A. Shaw

6. Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming (1st Edition)

Fluent Python is the book to go if you want to be fluent in Python!!  It’s a hands-on guide that will show you how to write the most efficient Python code possible by utilizing Python’s best (and sometimes overlooked!) capabilities. This is required because most programmers try to fit patterns from other languages into Python, and as a result, they never master the language’s better features. Python data model, data structures, functions as objects, object-oriented idioms, control flow, and meta-programming are among the topics covered in the book. Advanced Python programmers will learn about Python 3 and how to become proficient in this version of the language with the help of this book. The author is Luciano Ramalho, a Web Developer who has used Python to work with some of Brazil’s most important news portals and runs his own Python training company. It’s a comprehensive tour of Python’s key features and libraries, with the goal of teaching you how to write code that’s shorter, faster, and more readable. You’ll learn how to develop effectively, idiomatic Python code by exploiting Python’s best and arguably most neglected in this hands-on guide.

Author: Luciano Ramalho

7. Programming Python: Powerful Object-Oriented Programming (4th Edition)

This book will help you receive an in-depth education about the primary application domains of Python such as system administration, GUI, web applications, databases, networking, etc. with the help of lots of examples. Programming Python covers a variety of topics, beginning with a Quick Python tour and progressing through System development, GUI programming, Internet programming, and more. All of these topics are described in a straightforward and lucid manner, with numerous examples provided to ensure that you understand them completely.

Author: Mark Lutz

8. Grokking Algorithms: An illustrated guide for programmers and other curious people (1st Edition)

Algorithms in Python don’t have to be tedious to learn! Grokking Algorithms exemplifies this, as it takes the reader away from the boredom of reading lengthy multi-page proofs seen in most algorithm textbooks. This book uses a lot of graphics to teach algorithms in a fun and engaging way.

Grokking Algorithms start with easier issues such as sorting and searching and gradually move on to far more sophisticated topics like data compression, artificial intelligence, etc.

Author:  Aditya Bhargava

 9. Learning Python, 5th Edition

Learning Python is a practical learning book that will teach you how to use Python to develop efficient, high-quality code. You’ll learn about some advanced language features including classes, decorators, descriptors, metaclasses, and Unicode processing, as well as several built-in object types like numbers, lists, and dictionaries. Whether you’re a novice programmer or a seasoned developer, this book is for you.

Author: Mark Lutz

10. Elements of Programming Interviews in Python: The insider’s Guide

The book provides you with a set of 250 problems to put your Python skills to the test. The issues are typical of interview questions asked at top software companies. 200 illustrations, 300 tested programs, and 150 extra variants are used to show the challenges, which are then followed by thorough answers. The book also includes a summary of the non-technical components of interviewing. To brush up on your expertise, a summary of data structures and algorithms is offered. The book is organized into chapters that cover both fundamental and complex data structures. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction, case study, top advice, and a summary of the most important library methods, before moving on to broad and thought-provoking problems.

Author: Adnan, Amit, and Tsung-Hsien

Conclusion

The beauty of Python is that you don’t need to memorize hundreds of lines of code in order to write your own basic programs. Much of it can be written in a terse manner, which is therefore very easy to learn and understand. The above Python books are great for beginners. They give a quick overview of the language and its features. The authors make use of simple algorithms and practical examples to help you grasp the concepts easily. I hope that this article helps you in picking the best Python book.

Additional Resources

• 10 Best Free Python Courses with Certificate (2023)
• List of Top 10 Libraries in Python (2023)
• Top 20+ Python Projects With Source Code (2023)
• 50+ Python MCQs With Answers
• Top 11 Features of Python You Must Know (2023)
• Top Python Interview Questions (2023)
• Python Commands List: With Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1: Can I learn Python from a book?

Ans. Yes, you can definitely learn Python from a book. You just have to implement what you have learned

Q.2: Can I learn Python as a Beginner?

Ans. Python is the most beginner-friendly language out there. Embarking on a well-structured Python course can provide you with the perfect foundation to fully capitalize on Python’s beginner-friendly nature and its vast range of applications.

Q.3: Is Python Hard?

Ans. In terms of syntax, Python is simple to learn, but complex to understand as a concept. But, if you are just starting out, Python should be your first choice.

Additional Resources

• How to Become a Python Developer
• Online Python Compiler
• Python MCQ
• Python Projects
• Python Interview Questions
• Python Developer Salary
• Features of Python
• Difference Between Python 2 and 3
• Python Frameworks
• Python IDE
• Python Developer Resume
• Applications of Python
• Python Developer Skills
• Python Libraries
• Python vs Java