Python is a very powerful and high-level object-oriented programming language and due to its versatile nature, it is the most popular one. Python’s dynamic typing and elegant syntax, together with its interpreted nature, make it a perfect language for scripting and application development in many areas. It has powerful libraries to work with. Also, you can see a fantastic career opportunity in Python. The major areas of its application include Web Development. Data Science — including machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analysis, data visualization, and Game Development.
When it comes to learning a particular language like Python, books can be the best way to let you grasp even a single concept. Books build the foundations and reading gives more objective and descriptive information. When you spend time reading something, it makes you more clear and concise. You pay a lot of attention while reading and thus it lets you know everything in detail.
Learning Python is at the top of my recommendation list for anyone wanting to start programming with Python.
– Doug Hellman
So, Moving from basics to advanced level here are some of the Top 10 Python Books
1. Python Crash Course – A Hands-on, Project-Based Introduction to Programming (2nd Edition)
This could provide you with a good start, to begin with, Python if you’re a beginner. This book has been the world’s best-selling book for the Python programming language. It has been divided into two sections:
- The first section gives you the basics of Python dealing with data types, operators, functions, loops, and much more.
- The second section focuses solely on programming and projects related to web development, data visualization, game development, and so on.
- It also has wonderful libraries such as NumPy, Matplotlib, etc which could provide in-depth knowledge about Data Science and Visualization.
The book focuses on the practical part It will surely give you the best learning experience. If you’re the one who wanted to dig deep into programming, this book will get you writing real programs. This is the one that keeps you interested in learning more and more.
Author: Eric Mathews
2. A Byte of Python
This book mainly targets newbies who are all new to the world of programming. Its basic concepts revolve around how to play with files. The topics covered in this book are:
- Focuses on concepts like – Operators and Functions, Control Flow.
- Provides examples of Data Structures and OOPS (Object Oriented Programming Language).
- The concept of Exceptional Handling (try-and-catch method) is clearly explained
Initially, this book works on seeking the reader’s attention and then moves to every concept in detail, along with examples. Indeed, this is one of the best books to learn Python as a Beginner. The best thing is that it is also available in 26 languages.
Author: C.H. Swaroop
3. Head First Python – A Brain-Friendly Guide (2nd Edition)
A book is a quick and easier fix for you that aims to be easy and friendly (as the name suggests) to the reader’s mind. It has visual formats rather than a text-based approach helping you to visualize and learn in a better, more efficient, and faster way. It focuses on concepts like:
- It provides a quick grasp of Python fundamentals.
- It helps in building web applications, data wrangling, exception handling, and other major concepts. It goes beyond the syntax to make you learn how to create applications for Android phones, Google’s App Engine, and more.
- If you’re the one who’s fascinated with concepts like context managers, decorators, comprehensions, and generators, all you want to work with is here.
It gives the best learning experience which helps in becoming a Certified Python Programmer.
“This book’s admirable clarity, humor, and substantial doses of clever make it the sort of book that helps even non-programmers think well about problem-solving.”
— Cory Doctorow
Author: Paul Harry
4. Python Programming – An Introduction to Computer Science (3rd Edition)
Python Programming targets the university-level students who are being introduced to the world of Computer Science. It helps you break down the complexity of tools and programming concepts in a simple yet efficient way. It works on topics like:
- Basic programming deals with graphics.
- Write simple programs, computing with numbers.
- Works with Strings, Lists, and Files
- Loop, Structures, and Boolean
- Data Collections, Algorithm Design and Recursion.
It provides details about new technologies while maintaining a time-tested approach to teaching the basic concept of computer science. There are various examples to practice with and gain hands-on practice.
Author: John M Zelle
5. Python in a Nutshell – A Desktop Quick Reference (3rd Edition)
A book that covers the basics of Python and is also a wonderful resource when it comes to libraries and language references. If you’re fundamentally more strong with Python, go ahead and learn some of the more complicated concepts this book deals with. The major points covered in this book are:
- An explanation of object-oriented programming in Python, which covers both the classic and new-style object models.
- Covers other core topics, including exceptions, modules, strings, and regular expressions, and also has Python’s cross-platform capabilities.
- A quick and easy reference for Python’s built-in types and functions, as well as the key modules in the Python standard library, including time, thread, os, sys, math, and socket, among many others.
- Its application areas include GUIs, web and network programming, database interactions, and XML handling.
It’s a complete guide to improving your programming skills in Python. Python, in a Nutshell, provides a solid and quick reference to information that programmers rely mostly upon. This latest addition to the best-selling “In a Nutshell” series will very soon earn its place in any Python programmer’s library.
Author: Alex Martelli
6. Fluent Python – Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming (2nd Edition)
This book is a hands-on guide that helps you to write efficient Python code by using the best features of the language. A book is something that tells you how to make the best use of language’s in-built features. It covers various concepts like:
- Data Structures, OOPs concepts, Python Data Model.
- Functions as Objects, Control Flow and Meta-Programming.
- Decorators, classes, inheritance.
This book is recommended for those who are already familiar with the basics of Python. It gives a complete tour of Python’s key features and libraries, to let you learn how to write code that is shorter, faster, and more readable. You’ll also learn to develop effective yet idiomatic Python code by exploring Python’s best guide.
Author: Luciano Ramalho
7. Python Cookbook
Python Cookbook helps you master your programming skills in Python 3. It is a ticket for experienced Python programmers who have sample codes through which readers can take help in building their projects. It covers a variety of topics covering application domains such as:
- Data encoding, data structures, algorithms, metaprogramming.
- Concurrency, network, web programming, testing, and exceptions.
- It also has discussions about the working of the sample code.
The book also has complete recipes for various topics, covering Python and its uses, along with tasks similar to a large number of application domains. To get more information about data structures and algorithms in Python, go through the tutorial Python Data Strictures and Algorithms.
Author: David Beazley and Brian K Jones
8. Programming Python – Powerful Object-Oriented Programming
This book is basically for intermediate Python developers. The book explains the commonly used tools, language syntax, and programming techniques through a brief yet precise approach. You’ll explore on following areas:
- Databases, networking, text processing.
- GUIs, the Web, and system administration.
- How do the databases use the language, text processing, front-end scripting layers, and networking?
It has many examples that show common idioms and correct usage. The book also digs into the language as a software development tool, along with multiple examples given solely for that purpose. It explains language syntax and programming techniques and several other concepts to make you very clear about the topics.
Author: Mark Lutz
9. Introduction to Machine Learning with Python: A Guide for Data Scientists
This book teaches you how to use Python for Machine Learning applications. It deals with data and a lot more. Also, the steps required to create a rich machine learning are clearly explained here. It also covers algorithms used for machine learning along with their implementation in Python. It focuses on concepts like:
- Genuinely understand what Computer Science, Algorithms, Programming, Data, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science is.
- Advanced methods for model evaluation.
- Familiarity with the NumPy and Matplotlib libraries.
- Concept of pipelines used to encapsulate your workflow and chaining models.
It lets you know what problems Machine Learning can solve, and how the process behind it. Also, you’ll get to know how to avoid issues with Machine Learning, to successfully implement it without losing your mind!
Author: Sarah Guido and Andreas C. Muller
10. Python for Data Analysis
This is the perfect guide to help you become a data analyst, also provides case studies that help you gain more knowledge and practicality of Python. Also, lets you know when and where to use specific tools. It has numerous features such as :
- Use the IPython shell and Jupyter notebook for exploratory computing.
- Use flexible tools to load, clean, merge, transform, and reshape data.
- Apply the pandas group-by-facility to slice, dice, and summarize datasets.
- Analyze and manipulate regular and irregular time series data.
- Plotting and Visualization.
- Learn to solve real-world data analysis problems with thorough, detailed examples.
Books like Python For Data Analysis are indeed a gem and must-read for any Data Scientist who uses Python and want to learn more to become proficient in this technology.
Author: Wes McKinney
Also, there are some Python books that you can read to gain some more insights and get perfect in Python.
- Python Machine Learning by Sebastian Raschka and Vahid Mirjalili offers the practical knowledge and techniques you need to create and contribute to machine learning, deep learning, and modern data analysis.
- Django for beginners by William S. Vincent is a project-based introduction to Django, the popular Python-based web framework. Suitable for total beginners who have never built a website before as well as professional programmers looking for a fast-paced guide to modern web development and Django fundamentals.