Top 5 Python Books for Beginners to Learn Programming in 2024 - Best of Lot

Python is one of the most popular programming languages, and there is a vast demand for Programmers who knows Python, and the best part is its increasing every year. If you want to learn Python in 2024 then you have come to the right place because earlier I have shared some of the free courses to learn Python and today I am going to share some of the best books to learn Python in 2024. Even though I am a Java Programmer, I am learning Python. In the real world, you often find that a big project in a bank or insurance domain leveraging several technologies together, like Java, C++, Python, UNIX, SQL, and several others.

Being a Polyglot programmer also pays off well. You also create a better impression on Interviews. I know many interviewers who prefer to interview programmer who knows more than one language.

My story of learning Python is a little bit different. A couple of years back, I was debugging an issue where we are not receiving multicast traffic via UDP. I search for a lot of commands in Linux to listen to UDP traffic and print what is coming, but couldn't find one.

I asked for help from colleagues sitting next to me and happened to be a Python expert. He wrote just a few lines of code using the Python module and boom I have a UDP listener. No, compile, no classpath issue nothing, it's just like a Linux command.

This incident inspired me to learn Python as an additional skill. Since I am a nerd and I love researching and reading a book, I have a vast collection of programming books on various topics and programming languages.

And, today I am sharing some of the best Python books which I have used to learn Python and you can also use them to learn Python from scratch in 2024.

I am still learning Python given I don't use it regularly, but these are great books to help anyone wish to learn Python in a quick time, and, if you like online courses then you can also start with The Complete Python 3 Bootcamp course on Udemy along with any of these books.

6 Best Books to Learn Python Programming in 2024

Here is my list of some of the best books and courses to learn Python programming from scratch in 2024. Book is a great source of most complete knowledge while courses are good for learning 20% important stuff which you will use 80% of your time. I have suggested a book and a relevant course you can join along to get the best of both worlds.

1. Head First Python

The Head First Python, 2nd edition by Paul Barry, is one of the best books to learn Python. There are many reasons this is the best book to learn Python, especially for beginners, but the most important one is the headfirst style. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Love the pictures, comments, diagrams, fireside chat, and everything in this book. The only issue with the book is many programmers might not find the format good. I know a couple of my friend thinks it's a comic book rather than a technical book, but that doesn't undermine how useful it is to teach Python to an absolute beginner.

If you are like me, who like silly pictures and head the original style of teaching, then this is the right book for you to start with Python. Also, the second edition of Head First Python is under the press, and it's currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

If you are just starting to learn Python, this would be a great book, to begin with, but if you prefer watching online courses on Youtube videos then you can also combine this book with The Complete Python 3 Bootcamp course on Udemy if you want to learn faster.

Top 5 Books to Learn Python for Beginners - Best of All

2. Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming

"Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition" by Eric Matthes is a highly acclaimed and bestselling programming book that serves as a comprehensive introduction to the Python programming language. With over 1,500,000 copies sold, it has established itself as a go-to resource for beginners and aspiring programmers.

The book takes a hands-on, project-based approach, allowing readers to quickly grasp fundamental programming concepts like variables, lists, classes, and loops. Through a series of engaging exercises, readers learn to write clean and efficient code.

One of the notable features is the practical application of knowledge in building a Space Invaders–inspired arcade game, creating data visualizations using Python libraries like Matplotlib and Plotly, and deploying simple applications online.

The third edition has also been updated to incorporate the latest advancements in Python, covering tools such as VS Code for text editing, the pathlib module for file handling, and pytest for code testing. It also explores the newest features of Matplotlib, Plotly, and Django.

The book's approach not only fosters a solid understanding of Python but also equips readers with the skills to develop interactive games, data visualizations, and web applications, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and those looking to enhance their Python proficiency.

If you want to learn Python quickly, I highly recommend to read this book, and if you need more practice you can also combine this book with the 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2024 by Angela Yu which contains 100+ coding exercises you can take on browser to learn Python better.

3. Learn Python the hard way

If you search on the Internet for the best book about Python, most likely, you will be routed to this book. It's one of the highly regarded books. It's also free to read online, but if you like to read a paperback book, you can also order it from Amazon.

Zed Shaws has done a great job with Learn Python, the Hardway. It is a beautiful introduction to Python, and more importantly, it's very concise, which makes for a handy review resource as well.

There are a few portions on the online book that I recall were a bit confusing, but Zed does a great job of monitoring the comments and giving extra help when necessary. In short, undoubtedly one of the top 2 books to learn Python.

The online HTML version is free, so you can read it on your iPad, and if you need a Python course to join along with this book, I suggest you check out the Python Programming MasterClass to get the best of both worlds.

4. Learning Python, 5th Edition

Learning Python by Mark Lutz is another good book to learn Python. It's a must-read for curious developers, i.e., those who want to understand the "why" as well as the "how." It provides comprehensive coverage of Python.

It covers almost everything you need to know about programming in Python: data types, operators, statements, syntax, modules, functions, packages, and much more. I really like the first chapter and Q&A session about Python and why people use Python.

If you are a beginner, this can help you a lot. One of the great things about this book is that every chapter ends with a quiz, so you need to challenge yourself all the time. In short, a must-read book for a beginner to learn Python.

5. Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, 3rd Edition

The Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, 3rd Edition By Michael Dawson, is one more highly recommended book to learn Python.

The content is exciting in this book because of its focus on video game programming. By the time you finish the magazine, you are all ready to create your own games. Since many programmers love video games, they can easily co-related with the concepts explained in this book.

I won't rate this as high as the first two books on the list, but if the game is something that inspires you and hooks you to read, then this is the right book to learn Python for you.

6. Automating Boring Stuff with Python

This is another book I had read along with Head First Python when I started learning Python a couple of years back. Since then, this is my go-to book for Python and you can also read this book in 2024 to learn Python. I started learning Python to automate a few things, and the title got me, but I didn't get disappointed as the book truly lives the title.

It will straightway teach you all practical stuff like sending an email notification, reading files, appending into XLS, scrapping data on the web, and automating trivial things using Python without you spending days and night learning sorting algorithms, object-oriented programming, and all kinds of computer science stuff.

If you are someone who learns by doing real things, then this book is for you. Another great thing is that author Al Sweigart has also created an online course on Udemy with the same title "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Programming," so if you want to listen to him for more active learning you can also join that course along with reading this book.

Top 5 Books to Learn Python in 2019 - Best of Lot

That's all in this list of the 5 best books to learn Python for beginners in 2024. Python and Java are the most popular mainstream programming language, and they are now taught in almost every college, university, and programming course. Python has recently surpassed Java as the most taught programming language in USA Universities. Learning Python pays off in a big way, it not only help you to create a quick prototype but also helps a lot in an object-oriented application in Python.

Other Python Tutorials and Resources you may like:

Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like these Python books, then please share them with your friends and colleagues. If you have any suggestions or feedback or any other text you want to share with us, then please drop a note.

P. S. - If you prefer watching over reading then you can also join one of these best Python courses from Udemy and Pluralsight to learn Python from scratch in 2024. This is one of the most complete and hands-on courses to learn Python and create your applications and games.

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Friday, January 12, 2024