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Title: Python How to Program (With CD-ROM) by Harvey M. Deitel, Paul J. Deitel, Jonathan P. Liperi, Ben Wiedermann ISBN: 0-13-092361-3 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 04 February, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $85.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.33 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: An excellent book for learning and mastering Python
Comment: I am a practicing mechanical engineer who's programming experience is based mainly in Fortran90. I wanted to learn Python as quickly as possible, but in a well structured manner. I tried learing Python from the book 'Learning Python', but became discouraged after a few days when the discussion became disjointed. 'Python How to Program' is an excellent book and reference for Python. It is extremely thorough covering many topics including object-oriented programming (three chapters) and web programming. This book will form the foundation of my Pyhton library. Each Python subject is introduced in a simple manner and then proceeds to a more advanced level. Many examples are presented with thorough discussions in each chapter. Detailed summaries are presented after each chapter. This is an excellent book for self-study. I have recommeded it to many of my engineering colleagues.
Rating: 1
Summary: A Recipe for Disaster
Comment: Previously, I reviewed the "Java How to Program" book and found it to be a terrible waste, sure to take all the fun and creativity out of programming, and lead the readers down a path leading only to a pit of talentless drones. So when I saw this book on the shelf, I flipped through it, hoping that the free-wheeling nature of Python might have lead the Deitels towards a more enlightened approach to instruction. I quickly found that this book has many lessons to teach (although precious few that I would agree with). For example:
* Python programmers are NOT having more fun than Java (or other) programmers; all languages are equally stultifying.
* Learning a language is a tedious task, centered around learning features of the syntax in a prescribed order. (This is like learning to cook by trying ingredients one at a time in alphabetical order, without ever trying to put together something tasty.)
* The practice of programming has no underlying principles, only an endless series of questionable tips presented in overly-garish multicolor pages. (You'd be better off with a single chapter of "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" than with anything in this book.)
* Programming is inherently boring, involving endless repetitive typing; it is better for the programmer to do a lot of work than to expect the computer to. For example, consider this masterpiece of brevity from chapter 4 (Fig 4.7):
===================================
import random
frequency1 = 0
frequency2 = 0
frequency3 = 0
frequency4 = 0
frequency5 = 0
frequency6 = 0
for roll in range( 1, 6001 ): # 6000 die rolls
___face = random.randrange( 1, 7 )
___if face == 1: # frequency counted
______frequency1 += 1
___elif face == 2:
______frequency2 += 1
___elif face == 3:
______frequency3 += 1
___elif face == 4:
______frequency4 += 1
___elif face == 5:
______frequency5 += 1
___elif face == 6:
______frequency6 += 1
___else: # simple error handling
______print "should never get here!"
print "Face %13s" % "Frequency"
print " 1 %13d" % frequency1
print " 2 %13d" % frequency2
print " 3 %13d" % frequency3
print " 4 %13d" % frequency4
print " 5 %13d" % frequency5
print " 6 %13d" % frequency6
===================================
(Note I use "_" for blank because Amazon won't indent code properly.) This is 36 lines (52 if you count the copyright notice) for something that a grade-schooler could tell you (I know -- I've asked) is better done with 7 lines:
import random
def roll(sides=6, n=6000):
____freq = [0] * sides
____for roll in range(n):
________freq[random.randrange(sides)] += 1
____return freq
I find it a case of unconscionable student-abuse to suggest that it is permissible to write a function such as Deitel et al. present, but I suppose they had their reasons: perhaps they hadn't introduced lists (or functions) yet. Perhaps lists (or functions) didn't fit readily into their idea of the right order to learn concepts in BASIC (which must therefore be the best order to learn concepts in every other language).
If you want to learn Python, or learn to Program with Python as your first language, try another book such as "Learning Python" or "Programming Python".
If you want to ensure that you won't appreciate why Python is the way it is and why it is interesting; if you want to make sure that you'll be a drone of a programmer with no chance of doing anything creative at a good company or school, by all means stick to this book.
Rating: 4
Summary: really quite good
Comment: I was also a technical reviewer for the book, and really liked it. Even considering the price of the book, I think it's quite valuable, because it explains the basics of so many topics in a manner that makes sense. If you are new to programming and would like to try out different things to see what you might like, such as web programming, XML, designing windows (lowercase 'w') that will work on a variety of platforms, databases, sockets, etc., you may find that this book provides material you would otherwise look through a literal stack of books to find. No programming book is perfect, but I think this one is pretty good.
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Title: Perl How to Program, Introducing CGI and Python (With CD-ROM) by H. M. Deitel, P. J. Deitel, T.R. Nieto, D.C. McPhie ISBN: 0130284181 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 25 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $85.00 |
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Title: Python Cookbook by Alex Martelli, David Ascher ISBN: 0596001673 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Pub. Date: 15 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Learn to Program Using Python: A Tutorial for Hobbyists, Self-Starters, and All Who Want to Learn the Art of Computer Programming by Alan Gauld ISBN: 0201709384 Publisher: Pearson Educational Pub. Date: 15 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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Title: Learning Python, Second Edition by David Ascher, Mark Lutz ISBN: 0596002815 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Pub. Date: December, 2003 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Python in a Nutshell by Alex Martelli ISBN: 0596001886 Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates Pub. Date: March, 2003 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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