Get started with this popular language or buff up on your coding skills with this curated book list.

Python is the hot language used for a variety of applications: program scripting, big data manipulation, web servers, and even the Raspberry Pi. Whether you are a new or experienced programmer, this path will provide you with a complete overview for coding in this exciting new language.

Learn to construct and run a simple Python program.

Analyze sample problems in Python with expert guidance.

Master core programming concepts and why they are used.

Let’s just say, it might be a good idea to get started learning more about Python soon or buffing up on your Python skills.

I didn’t break this list down into beginner books and advanced books because I recently listened to an insightful podcast about how the more experienced in a task or subject we become the more likely we are to believe we know everything about it. Yet, refreshing ourselves on the basics and performing simple acts like running through a checklist is important for all of us, for the beginner and advanced user alike.

Or, maybe you prefer to start out in the deep end. Either way, let’s dive in.

18 Python programming books
1. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
by Al Sweigart (Recommendation and review by Don Watkins)

This book is a great resource for those who want to begin to learn and use Python. It’s a practical introduction to programming and has been released with a Creative Commons license. You’ll learn the basics of Python and explore Python’s rich library of modules for performing specific tasks, like scraping data off websites, reading PDF and Word documents, and automating clicking and typing tasks.

2. Black Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Pentester
by Justin Seitz (author of the best-selling Gray Hat Python), you’ll explore the darker side of Python’s capabilities—writing network sniffers, manipulating packets, infecting virtual machines, creating stealthy trojans, and more.

3. Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming
by Luciano Ramalho (Recommended and reviewed by Daniel Oh)

With this hands-on guide, you’ll learn how to write effective, idiomatic Python code by leveraging its best features. You will go through Python’s core language features and libraries, and this book shows you how to make your code shorter, faster, and more readable at the same time. With this book, Python programmers will thoroughly learn how to become proficient in Python 3.

4. Gray Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Reverse Engineers
Gray Hat Python explains the concepts behind hacking tools and techniques like debuggers, trojans, fuzzers, and emulators. But author Justin Seitz goes beyond theory, showing you how to harness existing Python-based security tools—and how to build your own when the pre-built ones won’t cut it.

5. Hacking with Python: The Ultimate Beginners Guide
by Steve Tale This book will show you how to use Python, create your own hacking tools, and make the most out of available resources that are made using this programming language.

If you do not have experience in programming, don’t worry – this book will show guide you through understanding the basic concepts of programming and navigating Python codes.

This book will also serve as your guide in understanding common hacking methodologies and in learning how different hackers use them for exploiting vulnerabilities or improving security. You will also be able to create your own hacking scripts using Python, use modules and libraries that are available from third-party sources, and learn how to tweak existing hacking scripts to address your own computing needs.

6. Hello Web App
by Tracy Osborn (Recommended and reviewed by Katie McLaughlin)

This is a series of books that show you how to build your first web app, which happens to use Django (recently updated for Django 2.0). It is extremely accessible for beginners, has a separate book specifically on intermediate topics, and the third in the series about Design is also very good.

7. Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python
by Al Sweigart (Recommended and reviewed by Moshe Zadka)

In learning to program, motivation is often a limiting factor. What can be more motivating than, literally, programming fun? The rewards are immediate and easy to show off to friends and family.

8. Learning Python
by Mark Lutz and David Ascher (Recommended and reviewed by Greg Pittman)

When I need a command I haven’t used or haven’t used in a while, this is my go-to book. I have yet to find an online resource that helps me find things I need as fast.

9. Learn to Program with Python 3
by Irv Kalb (Recommended and reviewed by Moshe Zadka)

The two advantages of this book are that it starts from a modern technology (Python 3) and builds on the experience the author has in teaching real students. Those make it a great first programming book for people who want to learn how to program from scratch.

10. Programming Arcade Games with Python and Pygame
by Paul Craven (Recommended and reviewed by Jay LaCroix)

Programming computer games is a great way of learning Python and is perhaps the most fun way of doing so. You’ll see your code literally come to life and animate on the screen, giving you a great way to learn object-oriented programming concepts. It’s a good idea to understand the basics first (see my first recommendation) but this book also goes over the basics.

11. Python 101
by Mike Driscoll (Recommended and reviewed by Adam Miller)

This book is great for newcomers, the content is approachable and the lessons teach idiomatic Python so that when a developer breaks out into the world from simple projects to more advanced topics, they are already coding stylistically how other Pythonistas will expect and code the reader encounters will (most likely) follow similar and familiar patterns. The book does a good job of covering the basics and offering the reader a solid foundation of knowledge.

12. Python 3 Object-oriented Programming
by Dusty Phillips (Recommended and reviewed by Jay LaCroix)

After you’ve learned the basics and some intermediate Python skills, this book is a great way to take your knowledge to the next level and learn Python in greater detail. You’ll learn more advanced concepts regarding object-oriented programming.

13. Python Cookbook
by David Beazley and Brian K. Jones (Recommended and reviewed by Daniel Oh)

This book is geared towards professional Python programmers. It covers, in one comprehensive volume, tutorials on the most common programming tasks. Code examples in the book show you how things are done in idiomatic Python 3 code. The book explains why and how the code works, which is very helpful. Inside, you will find guides on topics like data encoding, data structures, algorithms, meta-programming, and concurrency.

14. Python Scripting with Scribus
by Greg Pittman (Recommended and reviewed by the author)

The sources that I find most useful are those which show some detailed, concrete examples, and these examples should be useful things to do. Things like accessing a file, sorting the contents into lists, then manipulating those lists in further useful ways. To that end, I wrote a Python book of my own, which is focused on Python scripting for Scribus, taking a variety of scripts I have written and explaining what various parts of the script are accomplishing. The idea was to show a variety of Scribus Scripter commands so that people might mix and match what parts they need for their own use.

15. Python Tricks: The Book
by Dan Bader (Recommended and reviewed by Adam Miller)

This book walks programmers through some interesting and often untraveled areas of the languages syntax as well as execution side effects of the official reference Python interpreter (CPython). By going through these exercises programmers learn clever ways to make their code more performant through optimizations as well as corner cases of the language to avoid that could cause unintended behavior in software.

16. The Quick Python Book
by Naomi Ceder (Recommended and reviewed by Moshe Zadka)

Naomi has been part of the Python community for a long time, and it shows in her book. Now in its third edition, the book is a comprehensive reference to Python and full of deep insights.

17. Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist
by Allen B. Downey

If you want to learn how to program, working with Python is an excellent way to start. This hands-on guide takes you through the language a step at a time, beginning with basic programming concepts before moving on to functions, recursion, data structures, and object-oriented design. This second edition and its supporting code have been updated for Python 3.

18. Violent Python: A Cookbook for Hackers, Forensic Analysts, Penetration Testers and Security Engineers
by TJ O’Connor

Violent Python shows you how to move from a theoretical understanding of offensive computing concepts to a practical implementation. Instead of relying on another attacker’s tools, this book will teach you to forge your own weapons using the Python programming language. This book demonstrates how to write Python scripts to automate large-scale network attacks, extract metadata, and investigate forensic artifacts. It also shows how to write code to intercept and analyze network traffic using Python, craft and spoof wireless frames to attack wireless and Bluetooth devices, and how to data-mine popular social media websites and evade modern anti-virus.

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I've started with number 17.

Just wanted to get a feel of how it is before going into it proper.

Although, I find it difficult to understand some concepts, will still go for it nonetheless.

Number 17 is cool, however u can combine that with number 8.

I forgot to mention that I also started with number 17. U won't regret coding with python. As for me , am using it for pentest and sec stuff.

Nice one. Pls do you know where I can download SL4A apk

Dude in as much as Android OS comes handy, u still need to be careful what script u intent 2 run on device.

With that been said, u can download SL4A from the following trusted sites.

https://pythonspot.com/sl4a-android-python-scripting/

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sl4a/sl4a_configuring_device.htm

Good luck.

sirharry294:
Dude in as much as Android OS comes handy, u still need to be careful what script u intent 2 run on device.

With that been said, u can download SL4A from the following trusted sites.

https://pythonspot.com/sl4a-android-python-scripting/

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sl4a/sl4a_configuring_device.htm

Good luck.

Thanks man

sirharry294:
I forgot to mention that I also started with number 17. U won't regret coding with python. As for me , am using it for pentest and sec stuff.

I'm also using number 17, though I can't seem to understand a few of the concepts.

Maybe it's because I'm not using a P.C along.

What do you think?

Well it depends on why are u learning how to code. Lemme ask u, why are u learning python?. What do u intend to do with it?

Whichever reason u may have, u need a PC to practice and write ur first code.

Raalsalghul:


I'm also using number 17, though I can't seem to understand a few of the concepts.

Maybe it's because I'm not using a P.C along.

What do you think?

you mean you're reading the book without doing it practically?

Brukx:
you mean you're reading the book without doing it practically?

Unfortunately, yes.

Sounds funny right.

Don't mind me, just wanted to get a feel before I go into it proper, hopefully by next month.

Join in

If you don't have a PC you can use your phone. Download QPython or Pydroid on Google Play Store to practice as you learn.

Raalsalghul:



Unfortunately, yes.

Sounds funny right.

Don't mind me, just wanted to get a feel before I go into it proper, hopefully by next month.

I just started learning Python last week with YouTube videos. And I needed to read some Python books. Seeing this post on python books and review, now I know where to start with. Have seen no.1 recommended by many people. So I will start with it then add no.8 to it.

Thanks for this information