A Beginners Guide to Python 3 Programming

by John Hunt

This textbook is aimed at readers who have little or no knowledge of computer programming but want to learn to program in Python. It starts from the very basics including how to install your Python environment, how to write a very simple program and run it, what a variable is, what an if statement is, how iteration works using for and while loops as well as important key concepts such as functions, classes and modules. Each subject area is prefaced with an introductory chapter, before continuing with how these ideas work in Python. The second edition has been completely updated for the latest versions of Python including Python 3.11 and Python 3.12. New chapters have been added such as those that consider where and how Python is used, the use of Frozensets, how data can be sorted, enumerated types in Python, structural pattern matching and how (and why) Python Virtual Environments are configured. A new chapter ‘The Python Bites back’ is introduced to present the fourteen most common / biggest gotchas for someone new to Python. Other sections have been updated with new features such as Exception Groups, string operations and dictionary operations.
A Beginners Guide to Python 3 Programming second Edition provides all you need to know about Python, with numerous examples provided throughout including several larger worked case studies illustrating the ideas presented in the previous chapters.

Genres: Programming, Nonfiction, Computer Science

555 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Hunt (1964), Software specialist.

Reviews

[Massimiliano Volpi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book and its companion (the Advanced Guide to Python 3 Programming) are good introductions to Python.
I liked it as an introduction, because it introduces concepts gradually.
It focuses on the programming side of things, rather than on data science: data structures are presented towards the end of the book, and for importing/exporting the data you will need to read the Advanced book. This makes it feel a bit "academic". I would not say it is well suited to someone in a rush with a project, but it helps you get the foundations for a project.
The book has two main limitations, in my opinion: there are many typos, which affect the clarity of the book, and it does not have an index, which makes learning from it and referring more difficult, as there is nowhere to go to retrieve a concept whose definition you forgot.
Overall, a good one, though not perfect.

Crash Course to Python (Matthes) might address some of the limitations in this book: in fact, I read it before reading this one.

[Daniel Lema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introductory guide to Python 3. The author approach is very clear and academic. A good read for someone just learning Python as a first language as well as programmers familiarized with other languages that want to understand particularities of Python.

[Klaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Python book! My goal with this one was to keep up with Python 3 (after being away for a while from Python development), and it fulfilled all my expectations. This book can be a good one for you if you are new to Python and want a more in-depth introduction.

[Saleh N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of editing is required, but totally it is a good and easy going book. Especially the organization and TOC are well-thought.
کتاب اشکالات ویرایشی زیادی داره، ولی در کتاب خوبی بزا فراگرفتن هست. خصوصا سازماندهی و فهرست مطالب بسیار فکر شده هست.

[Aakif Vasid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for intro to intermediate level

[Joel Júnior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for beginners and intermediates who wants know more about this practical language

[Samichtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so long I just can't wait to use every inch of it.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it for a course

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well organised book and beginner oriented; for someone who is is jumping into programming it's a nice addition to your Arsenal.