Our editors have compiled this directory of the best Python books based on Amazon user reviews, rating, and ability to add business value.
There are loads of free resources available online (such as Solutions Review’s Data Analytics Software Buyer’s Guide, visual comparison matrix, and best practices section) and those are great, but sometimes it’s best to do things the old fashioned way. There are few resources that can match the in-depth, comprehensive detail of one of the best Power BI books.
The editors at Solutions Review have done much of the work for you, curating this comprehensive directory of the best Python books on Amazon. Titles have been selected based on the total number and quality of reader user reviews and ability to add business value. Each of the books listed in the first section of this compilation have met a minimum criteria of 15 reviews and a 4-star-or-better ranking.
Below you will find a library of titles from recognized industry analysts, experienced practitioners, and subject matter experts spanning the depths of Python coding for beginners all the way to advanced data science best practices for Python users. This compilation includes publications for practitioners of all skill levels.
Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming
“Python Crash Course is the world’s best-selling guide to the Python programming language. In the first half of the book, you’ll learn basic programming concepts, such as variables, lists, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean code with exercises for each topic. You’ll also learn how to make your programs interactive and test your code safely before adding it to a project. In the second half, you’ll put your new knowledge into practice with three substantial projects: a Space Invaders-inspired arcade game, a set of data visualizations with Python’s handy libraries, and a simple web app you can deploy online.”
Learning Python, 5th Edition
“Get a comprehensive, in-depth introduction to the core Python language with this hands-on book. Based on author Mark Lutz’s popular training course, this updated fifth edition will help you quickly write efficient, high-quality code with Python. It’s an ideal way to begin, whether you’re new to programming or a professional developer versed in other languages. Complete with quizzes, exercises, and helpful illustrations, this easy-to-follow, self-paced tutorial gets you started with both Python 2.7 and 3.3— the latest releases in the 3.X and 2.X lines—plus all other releases in common use today.”
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition: Practical Programming for Total Beginners
“In this fully revised second edition of the best-selling classic Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, you’ll learn how to use Python to write programs that do in minutes what would take you hours to do by hand–no prior programming experience required. 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.”
Intro to Python for Computer Science and Data Science: Learning to Program with AI, Big Data and The Cloud
“[This title] offers a unique approach to teaching introductory Python programming, appropriate for both computer-science and data-science audiences. Providing the most current coverage of topics and applications, the book is paired with extensive traditional supplements as well as Jupyter Notebooks supplements. Real-world datasets and artificial-intelligence technologies allow students to work on projects making a difference in business, industry, government and academia. Hundreds of examples, exercises, projects (EEPs), and implementation case studies give students an engaging, challenging and entertaining introduction to Python programming and hands-on data science.”
Python for Data Analysis: Data Wrangling with Pandas, NumPy, and IPython
“Get complete instructions for manipulating, processing, cleaning, and crunching datasets in Python. Updated for Python 3.6, the second edition of this hands-on guide is packed with practical case studies that show you how to solve a broad set of data analysis problems effectively. You’ll learn the latest versions of pandas, NumPy, IPython, and Jupyter in the process. Written by Wes McKinney, the creator of the Python pandas project, this book is a practical, modern introduction to data science tools in Python. It’s ideal for analysts new to Python and for Python programmers new to data science and scientific computing. Data files and related material are available on GitHub.”
Head First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide
“With Head First Python, you’ll quickly grasp Python’s fundamentals, working with the built in data structures and functions. Then you’ll move on to building your very own webapp, exploring database management, exception handling, and data wrangling. If you’re intrigued by what you can do with context managers, decorators, comprehensions, and generators, it’s all here. This second edition is a complete learning experience that will help you become a bonafide Python programmer in no time.”
Python All-in-One For Dummies
“Python All-in-One For Dummies offers a starting point for those new to coding by explaining the basics of Python and demonstrating how it’s used in a variety of applications. It covers the basics of the language, explains its syntax through application in high-profile industries, and shows how Python can be applied to projects in the enterprise. It also delves into major undertakings including artificial intelligence, physical computing, machine learning, robotics, and data analysis. This book is perfect for anyone new to coding as well as experienced coders interested in adding Python to their toolbox..”
Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming
“With this hands-on guide, you’ll learn how to write effective, idiomatic Python code by leveraging its best—and possibly most neglected—features. Author Luciano Ramalho takes you through Python’s core language features and libraries, and shows you how to make your code shorter, faster, and more readable at the same time. Many experienced programmers try to bend Python to fit patterns they learned from other languages, and never discover Python features outside of their experience. With this book, those Python programmers will thoroughly learn how to become proficient in Python 3.”
Introducing Python: Modern Computing in Simple Packages
“Easy to understand and fun to read, this updated edition of Introducing Python is ideal for beginning programmers as well as those new to the language. Author Bill Lubanovic takes you from the basics to more involved and varied topics, mixing tutorials with cookbook-style code recipes to explain concepts in Python 3. End-of-chapter exercises help you practice what you’ve learned. You’ll gain a strong foundation in the language, including best practices for testing, debugging, code reuse, and other development tips.”
Murach’s Python Programming
“If you want to learn how to program but don’t know where to start, this is the right book and the right language for you. From the first page, our unique self-paced approach will help you build competence and confidence in your programming skills. And Python is the best language ever for learning how to program because of its simplicity and breadth; two features that are hard to find in a single language. The book’s self-paced approach also works for experienced programmers, helping you learn faster and better than you’ve ever learned a language before. By the time you’re through, you will have mastered all of the Python skills that are needed on the job, including those for object-oriented, database, and GUI programming.”
Learn Python 3 the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code
“In Learn Python 3 the Hard Way, you’ll learn Python by working through 52 brilliantly crafted exercises. Read them. Type their code precisely. (No copying and pasting!) Fix your mistakes. Watch the programs run. As you do, you’ll learn how a computer works; what good programs look like; and how to read, write, and think about code. Zed then teaches you even more in 5+ hours of video where he shows you how to break, fix, and debug your code—live, as he’s doing the exercises. This book is perfect for total beginners with zero programming experience.”
Python Cookbook, Third Edition
“If you need help writing programs in Python 3, or want to update older Python 2 code, this book is just the ticket. Packed with practical recipes written and tested with Python 3.3, this unique cookbook is for experienced Python programmers who want to focus on modern tools and idioms. Inside, you’ll find complete recipes for more than a dozen topics, covering the core Python language as well as tasks common to a wide variety of application domains. Each recipe contains code samples you can use in your projects right away, along with a discussion about how and why the solution works.”
Python for Finance: Mastering Data-Driven Finance
“Updated for Python 3, the second edition of this hands on book helps you get started with the language, guiding developers and quantitative analysts through Python libraries and tools for building financial applications and interactive financial analytics. Using practical examples throughout the book, author Yves Hilpisch also shows you how to develop a full fledged framework for Monte Carlo simulation based derivatives and risk analytics, based on a large, realistic case study. Much of the book uses interactive IPython Notebooks.”
Classic Computer Science Problems in Python
“Classic Computer Science Problems in Python deepens your knowledge of problem-solving techniques from the realm of computer science by challenging you with time-tested scenarios, exercises, and algorithms. As you work through examples in search, clustering, graphs, and more, you’ll remember important things you’ve forgotten and discover classic solutions to your “new” problems! Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.”
Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science
“This third edition of John Zelle’s Python Programming continues the tradition of updating the text to reflect new technologies while maintaining a time-tested approach to teaching introductory computer science. An important change to this edition is the removal of most uses of eval and the addition of a discussion of its dangers. In our increasingly connected world, it’s never too early to begin considering computer security issues. This edition also uses several new graphics examples, developed throughout chapters 4-12.”
The Python Workshop: A New, Interactive Approach to Learning Python
“The Python Workshop focuses on building up your practical skills so that you can work towards building up your machine learning skills as a data scientist, write scripts that help automate your life and save you time, or even create your own games and desktop applications. You’ll build and iterate on your code like a software developer, learning along the way. This process means that you’ll find that your new skills stick, embedded as best practice. A solid foundation for the years ahead.”
Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow: Concepts, Tools, and Techniques to Build Intelligent Systems
“By using concrete examples, minimal theory, and two production-ready Python frameworks—Scikit-Learn and TensorFlow—author Aurélien Géron helps you gain an intuitive understanding of the concepts and tools for building intelligent systems. You’ll learn a range of techniques, starting with simple linear regression and progressing to deep neural networks. With exercises in each chapter to help you apply what you’ve learned, all you need is programming experience to get started.”
Python for DevOps: Learn Ruthlessly Effective Automation
“This practical resource shows you how to use Python for everyday Linux systems administration tasks with today’s most useful DevOps tools, including Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform. Learning how to interact and automate with Linux is essential for millions of professionals. Python makes it much easier. With this book, you’ll learn how to develop software and solve problems using containers, as well as how to monitor, instrument, load-test, and operationalize your software. Looking for effective ways to “get stuff done” in Python? This is your guide.”
Serious Python: Black-Belt Advice on Deployment, Scalability, Testing, and More
“You’ll cover a range of advanced topics like multithreading and memorization, get advice from experts on things like designing APIs and dealing with databases, and learn Python internals to help you gain a deeper understanding of the language itself. Written for developers and experienced programmers, Serious Python brings together over 15 years of Python experience to teach you how to avoid common mistakes, write code more efficiently, and build better programs in less time.”
Effective Python: 90 Specific Ways to Write Better Python
“This second edition of Effective Python will help you master a truly “Pythonic” approach to programming, harnessing Python’s full power to write exceptionally robust and well-performing code. Using the concise, scenario-driven style pioneered in Scott Meyers’ best-selling Effective C++, Brett Slatkin brings together 90 Python best practices, tips, and shortcuts, and explains them with realistic code examples so that you can embrace Python with confidence. Drawing on years of experience building Python infrastructure at Google, Slatkin uncovers little-known quirks and idioms that powerfully impact code behavior and performance.”
Cracking Codes with Python: An Introduction to Building and Breaking Ciphers
“Learn how to program in Python while making and breaking ciphers—algorithms used to create and send secret messages! After a crash course in Python programming basics, you’ll learn to make, test, and hack programs that encrypt text with classical ciphers like the transposition cipher and Vigenère cipher. You’ll begin with simple programs for the reverse and Caesar ciphers and then work your way up to public key cryptography, the type of encryption used to secure today’s online transactions, including digital signatures, email, and Bitcoin.”
Deep Learning with Python
“Deep Learning with Python introduces the field of deep learning using the Python language and the powerful Keras library. Written by Keras creator and Google AI researcher François Chollet, this book builds your understanding through intuitive explanations and practical examples. You’ll explore challenging concepts and practice with applications in computer vision, natural-language processing, and generative models. By the time you finish, you’ll have the knowledge and hands-on skills to apply deep learning in your own projects.”
Python for Everybody: Exploring Data in Python 3
“Python for Everybody is designed to introduce students to programming and software development through the lens of exploring data. This book uses the Python 3 language. The earlier Python 2 version of this book is titled “Python for Informatics: Exploring Information”. There are free downloadable electronic copies of this book in various formats and supporting materials for the book at www.py4e.com. The course materials are available to you under a Creative Commons License so you can adapt them to teach your own Python course.”
Learn Python Quickly: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Learning Python, Even If You’re New to Programming
“This book follows a step by step guide, walking you through everything you need to know about Python in an easy to follow fashion. It will teach you all the basics of Python, and even some of the more advanced Python concepts, taking you from beginner to intermediate Python programmer. The exercises in this book are designed to help you practice using the skills you’ve learned in the various sections. The final two projects will let you practice putting everything you’ve learned together and teaching you how to manipulate text, work with images, and create a simple Graphical User Interface (GUI).”
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Python: Best Practices for Development
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Python takes the journeyman Pythonista to true expertise. This guide, collaboratively written by over a hundred members of the Python community, describes best practices currently used by package and application developers. Unlike other books for this audience, The Hitchhiker’s Guide is light on reusable code and heavier on design philosophy, directing the reader to excellent sources that already exist.”
Test-Driven Development with Python: Obey the Testing Goat: Using Django, Selenium, and JavaScript
“By taking you through the development of a real web application from beginning to end, the second edition of this hands-on guide demonstrates the practical advantages of test-driven development (TDD) with Python. You’ll learn how to write and run tests before building each part of your app, and then develop the minimum amount of code required to pass those tests. In the process, you’ll learn the basics of Django, Selenium, Git, jQuery, and Mock, along with current web development techniques.”
Timothy King
Timothy is Solutions Review’s Senior Editor. He is a recognized thought leader and influencer in enterprise BI and data analytics. Timothy has been named a top global business journalist by Richtopia. Scoop? First initial, last name at solutionsreview dot com.
