I read almost every published book about Python and I found Magnus' "Beginning Python" the best book to start with. As Alex said it is particularly appreciated by those who like learning by examples and by "try and error": it is actually the opposite to what Alex believed as "Beginning Python" is meant to be a sort of update of the previous book "Practical Python".
In addition and maybe before of Magnus book I would suggest "A byte of Python" http://www.byteofpython.info/ the best fast introduction to Python I have ever seen. "Alex Martelli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ha scritto nel messaggio news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Jake Emerson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > There have been lots of recommendations for the O'Reilly book, which is > > a good one. However, I would recommend "Beginning Python" by Magnus Lie > > Hetland. All I knew before starting Python was Mathematica, and this > > book was very helpful. It may seem to start out slow, but I've found > > that I'm going back to those first chapters occasionally to review and > > practice the syntax. It, and this group, have carried me through some > > pretty tough problems (for me anyway). It's been worth it. Good luck. > > Hetland's books are excellent, particularly if you like to learn by > example -- I believe the current one "Practical Python" is meant to > supersede the earlier "Beginning Python" (but I'm not sure). > > > Alex -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list