Best Books for Python Beginners

Python, an interpreted and general-purpose yet powerful programming language, has become the de-facto tool for seasoned data analysts, web enthusiasts, and ML whizzes now. Even the experimental coders and beginners find it fun to discover and master Python – the uncomplicated basic syntax and dynamic semantics coupled with high-level inbuilt data structures make Python the most suitable tool to start out with coding. And with the skyrocketing popularity, Python job opportunities are also amplifying.  

Whether you are a fast-tracker or a coding enthusiast, you will find tons of quality courses and books to follow and become a bonafide Python coder.

We’ve rounded up a list of the best books for Python beginners you can go through to speed up your learning process.

Why Is Python So Popular?

While in September 2018, there were only 7+ million Python developers across the world, by 2020, this number had shot up and reached a staggering 10+ million, surpassing Java programmers. It saw a significant upsurge from 70,242 jobs in September 2019 to 79,942 jobs in February 2021. 

But why has the use and demand of Python been booming recently? Let’s dig deeper:

• Flexibility: Python is not a domain-specific coding tool, meaning that its use is not restricted to certain application types. From software development, game development, and hardware program and control to workflow automation and embedded system design, there is hardly any operation Python cannot handle. The top-notch flexibility and power coupled with the growing packages and scalability make Python the pick of experts. Even some of the biggest gainers among the Fortune 500 companies like Amazon and Google rely on Python for their mega projects.
• Ease of Use: Though the increasing number of branches, frameworks, and standard and external libraries make Python a little dense and challenging to master, the readable and simplified syntax and straightforward basics help you decipher it seamlessly. Thus both seasoned developers and beginners can get the drift of it effortlessly and enjoy a streamlined and seamless programming experience while digging into more complicated coding projects.
• Adaptable Web Application Development tools: Although Python can be used for accomplishing almost all tech tasks, its efficiency in website designing and development is worth special mention. Its open-source modules enable developers to get their web apps up and running efficiently and in no time. Plus, with Python’s high-class integration capabilities, it becomes easy for them to integrate essential third-party applications into the websites – speeding up the process of building a fully-functioning website you can rely on has never been this easy!
• Python’s burgeoning library lists help coders write clean, testable, and better codes and even streamline existent programs only by calling functions from modules into their codes. Further, being open-source, Python is envisioned to flourish more and offer more versatile modules – the coding process will be more streamlined, enabling coders to write more accurate codes in less time and effort. 

How Much Time Do You Need to Understand Python?

The time required to comprehend Python mostly depends on how much coding skill you already have and the time you can devote to learning Python. For instance, if you have just started programming with Python and have no prior coding knowledge, you may need to invest at least 4-5 hours in learning and 2 to 3 hours in practice every day for 3-4 weeks to grasp the Python basics – syntax, statements, conditions, data structures, strings, variables, and types, etc. 

It may seem overwhelming, but this much time is required if you have to pick up the workable skill of Python. 

On the other hand, if you want to get the hang of Python and work as a data analyst or data scientist, you may need months to years of continuous practice.

Best Books For Python Beginners

Seeking help from books in line with your target can help you accelerate your learning process. While you will see the internet booming with hundreds of books and courses, not all are equally effective. 

Ensure the books you pick meet the following criteria:

• Written in easy-to-comprehend and engaging language
• Emphasize the essential concepts thoroughly and comprehensively.
• Enable you to get tons of exercises and real-world coding problems under the belt.

Let’s look into the list of best books for python beginners.

Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition

If you require a crash course to comprehend Python, it’s all here!

Python Crash Course, written by Eric Matthews, is a chart-topping book for newbies. It targets to bring you up to speed and help you program like an ace coder! 

This project-based book follows an incredible pedagogical approach incorporating loads of examples with precise language instructions. 

If you only have a preliminary grasp of the tool and are required to polish up your coding skills, this handy Python book can be your ultimate pick.

It’s divided into two parts. While the first portion mainly concentrates on the basics – loops, dictionaries, libraries, variables, classes, etc., the second part comes with three implementation-based tasks – you can practice, assess your mastery and write optimized programs on your own. 

After completing this precise guide, you will:

• Apprehend the use cases of some Python cross-platform sets of modules, standard libraries, and web frameworks – Django, Matplotlib, etc.
• Build high-performance 2D games
• create data visualizations
• Design and configure web applications
• Hunt down code bugs to deal with them efficiently.

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition: Practical Programming for Total Beginners

Are you spending way too much time reworking on stacks of spreadsheet cells or retitling a folder loaded with files manually? Go through Automate the Boring Stuff with Python written by Al Sweigart, and you would be able to write codes that, in minutes, will do incredible feats of task automation for:

• Creating, editing, renaming and even transferring folders
• Drilling down several files to find a single text 
• Combining, separating and enforcing higher encryptions on mission-critical PDF files
• Formatting and editing cells in Google Sheets
• Automating email send-outs
• Filling in web records/forms, etc.

It’s a smash-hit book on Python 3 that experimental programmers to fast-trackers can get help from to nail coding. 

By leading you through every code and incorporating in-depth instructions, the book targets to train you to optimize programs seamlessly. 

After mastering it, you can keep rocking the programming world, having your PC do the boring repetitive grunt work, even if you haven’t delved into a single code ever in your life!

Head First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide

How about grasping Python language without leafing through endless documents and manuals? Head First Python, written by Paul Barry, is a brain-friendly book that can help you effortlessly drill down Python basics, functions, and inbuilt data structures. 

Its interactive pedagogical and visual-rich approach will let you get the hang of data storing, management and manipulation, SQLite, iteration, data wrangling, web application designing, development, customization, etc., as you keep going through. It’s a thought-out coding handbook that will certainly make you a Python whiz.  

Learn Python 3 the Hard Way

Don’t get intimidated by the name; Zed A. Shaw’s Learn Python 3 the Hard Way is a carefully curated Python course incorporating 52 real-world coding examples and can help newbies, intermediate, and even seasoned coders to tune up their skills. The book aims to make you write testable codes, track down and correct errors, and run them. No more copying and pasting programs – Go through Learn Python 3 the Hard Way to gain hands-on skills on Python 3. 

Even better, the book comes with 5+ hours long video content to make you a Python start by teaching you how to set a breakpoint in a code, figure out a bug and debug that code.