Top Python books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Python books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Python

Understanding the concepts of Python starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Python 3: The Comprehensive Guide

Ready to master Python? Learn to write effective code with this award-winning comprehensive guide, whether you’re a beginner or a professional programmer. Review core Python concepts, including functions, modularization, and object orientation and walk through the available data types. Then dive into more advanced topics, such as using Django and working with GUIs. With plenty of code examples…

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Automate the Boring Stuff with Python

If you've ever spent hours renaming files or updating hundreds of spreadsheet cells, you know how tedious tasks like these can be. But what if you could have your computer do them for you?

In 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.

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Serious Python: Black-Belt Advice on Deployment, Scalability, Testing, and More

An indispensable collection of practical tips and real-world advice for tackling common Python problems and taking your code to the next level. Features interviews with high-profile Python developers who share their tips, tricks, best practices, and real-world advice gleaned from years of experience.

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Python Crash Course: A Hands-on, Project-based Introduction to Programming

Python Crash Course is a fast-paced, thorough introduction to programming with Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time.

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Effective Python: 59 Specific Ways to Write Better Python

Effective Python, 59 Ways to Write Better Python by Brett Slatkin is a neat little book to help you hone your Python skills (both for 2 and 3). It consists of tips across various concepts, from useful built-in modules to documentation.

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Football Analytics with Python & R

Our book will help you understand some of the basic skills used daily by football analysts. For fans, this will likely be enough data science skills. For the aspiring football analyst, we hope that our book serves as a springboard for your dreams and lifelong learning. To help you learn, this book uses public data.

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Additional Python Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Python, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming

Pythonâ??s simplicity lets you become productive quickly, but this often means you arenâ??t using everything it has to offer. With this hands-on guide, youâ??ll learn how to write effective, idiomatic Python code by leveraging its bestâ??and possibly most neglectedâ??features. Author Luciano Ramalho takes you through Pythonâ??s core language features and libraries, and shows you how to make yo…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Learn Python the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code

Zed Shaw has perfected the world’s best system for learning Python 3. Follow it and you will succeed—just like the millions of beginners Zed has taught to date! You bring the discipline, commitment, and persistence; the author supplies everything else. In Learn Python 3 the Hard Way, you’ll learn Python by working through 52 brilliantly crafted exercises. Read them. Type their code precisely. …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Practical Statistics for Data Scientists: 50+ Essential Concepts Using R and Python

Statistical methods are a key part of data science, yet few data scientists have formal statistical training. Courses and books on basic statistics rarely cover the topic from a data science perspective. The second edition of this popular guide adds comprehensive examples in Python, provides practical guidance on applying statistical methods to data science, tells you how to avoid their misuse…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

High Performance Python

Your Python code may run correctly, but you need it to run faster. Updated for Python 3, this expanded edition shows you how to locate performance bottlenecks and significantly speed up your code in high-data-volume programs. By exploring the fundamental theory behind design choices, High Performance Python helps you gain a deeper understanding of Python's implementation.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Head First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide

Why does this book look so different? Based on the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory, Head First Pythonuses a visually rich format to engage your mind, rather than a text heavy approach that puts you to sleep. Why waste your time struggling with new concepts? This multi sensory learning experience is designed for the way your brain really works.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Intuitive Python: Productive Development for Projects That Last

In this book, you will learn about some of Python's greatest strengths, weaknesses, and tools to maximize the utility and resiliency of your Python projects. This book contains content for programmers—especially programmers newer to Python—interested in leveling up the projects they maintain with Python.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Specializations and Deeper Python Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Python is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Python Cookbook: Recipes for Mastering Python 3

This book is aimed at more experienced Python programmers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the language and modern programming idioms. Much of the material focuses on some of the more advanced techniques used by libraries, frameworks, and applications.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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