This is the second edition of John Zelle’s Python Programming, updated for Python 3. This book is designed to be used as the primary textbook in a college-level first course in computing. It takes a fairly traditional approach, emphasizing problem solving, design, and programming as the core skills of computer science.

However, these ideas are illustrated using a non-traditional language, namely Python. Although Python is used as the language, teaching Python is not the main point of this book. Rather, Python is used to illustrate fundamental principles of design and programming that apply in any language or computing environment.

There are already many good books about Python on the market; this book is intended as an introduction to computing. Features include the following:

• Extensive use of computer graphics.
• Interesting examples.
• Readable prose.
• Flexible spiral coverage.
• Just-in-time object coverage.
• Extensive end-of-chapter problems.

Three chapters stand out in particular. First is the chapter on graphics (Ch. 5). Students love graphics, and Zelle has included a very nice wrapper on top of the TKinter library, which makes for a GUI package that students can actually use. Second, there’s the final chapter that actually introduces recursion and some of the interesting algorithms from the science (searching/sorting, permutations, etc.).

There is a convienient Quick Reference serving as an Appendix. It quickly lists the operators, functions, techniques, etc, presented each chapter, so we didn’t need to dig back through the chapters when a concept for function name slipped our mind.

So, if you are new to computer science and interested in learning to program in any language, strongly recommend this book. It’s a great introduction to Python, but it’s also a great introduction to computer programming concepts.

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4. Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings – John Perry,Michael Bratman
5. Introduction to Recreation and Leisure: Human Kinetics
6. Learn Objective–C on the Mac (Learn Series) – By Mark Dalrymple
7. Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) – By Peter Weverka
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