On Fri, May 3, 2013 at 11:06 AM, TP <wing...@gmail.com> wrote: > Since I've been using Python for years, I've only skimmed new books. > Personally, I found the standard Python tutorial [1] (and reading the What's > New sections) more than adequate for originally learning Python. > > Anyway, given your constraints, here's what I've come up with (stipulating > Python 3, limits the number of available books. And requiring exercises is > even stricter):
Thanks for the tips, TP! I'll discuss these with the appropriate people over the weekend. From first glance, this is how they seem to me: > Python for Kids - A Playful Introduction to Programming - J. Briggs (No > Starch, 2013) [2]. Python 3.2? Not necessarily just for kids but definitely > slanted towards younger readers. Has "Programming Puzzles". Might skip this one. He's already tinkering with his own Linux box, so I don't think we need to go childish. > Think Python - A. Downey (O'Reilly, 2012) [3]. For Python 2 & 3. Exercises > but no answers? There is also a Python 3 specific version available. Free. That looks good. Lack of answers isn't a problem; if Dad can't figure it out, he can always ask me. (But I'm hoping to be involved as little as possible with the detaily bits.) > Beginning Python - Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1 - J. Payne (Wrox, 2010) > [4]. Has exercises but... they seem a bit simplistic to me. Answers in > Appendix A. Perhaps, but I'll keep it on the list anyway. > Head First Python - Barry (OReilly,2011) [5] Python 3. Says for people who > already know another language (and I would have to agree with that). > Exercises. Pass on that, then; Python's his first real language study. > Introduction to Programming Using Python - Y. Liang (Pearson, 2013) [6]. A > bit dull looking. Probably a college textbook? Lots of exercises. Author also > has similar books on C++ & Java. Expensive. I'll mention it, but expensive is a downside when there are a number of free and/or cheap options! > Ignoring the constraints, here's another one that looks really interesting: > > Hello Python - A. Briggs (Manning, 2012) [7]. Python 2 only. Learn by > incrementally writing and improving working programs. Less focused on syntax > and more on getting the job done. No exercises per se, but since goal is > working programs, progress can be still be checked. More about the > "batteries" (including somewhat surprisingly pyglet, twisted & django). > > "We'll be using the latest version of Python 2, because most of the > libraries that we'll use in this book don’t yet support Python 3." I'll avoid that, then; I really don't want to have to get into a discussion of raw_input() vs input() after he's befuddled himself, nor do I intend to re-argue Unicode vs bytes! Many thanks for the suggestions. Was kinda hoping for multiple people's chimings-in; I know there'll be some strong opinions around the list... it's what we do best... :) ChrisA -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
