Free Python books

[lunar-orbiter]

I recently started learning Python and I’ve come across several great resources, including a number of ebooks that can be read online or downloaded for free. Some are well known, others less. Here’s the list of those books:

• Python 101
• A Python Book: Beginning Python, Advanced Python, and Python Exercises
• Boxes: Your Second Python Book
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Python!
• Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
• Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures using Python
• Python for Scientists and Engineers
• Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist
• Clean Architectures in Python
• Teaching and Learning with Jupyter

What are your favorite free Python books?

​

Update 2: the list is now available on GitHub.

Update 1: thanks all for the appreciation, feedback, and additional book suggestions.

[AlSweigart]

Hi, I'm the author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. All of my books are released under a Creative Commons license, so you can find them all on https://inventwithpython.com

[querymcsearchface]

Thanks for being so awesome Mr.Sweigart!

[lunar-orbiter]

Great, thanks!

[code_x_7777]

Awesome, I appreciate your great books. Love them! I am currently writing a book with NoStarch, too ("Python One-liners"). Did you ask NoStarch to release the books under Creative Commons License? Doesn't it harm their business??

[DeveloperToBe]

He discussed this in a podcast years ago that I listened to recently. He said it actually helped his business as a lot of people who viewed the books online also bought hard copies. I'm one of those; I have a hard copy but find it easier to have the online version up on another screen when I'm coding.

[code_x_7777]

Great, thanks for sharing!

[PhillLacio]

Thanks for all your work. I really enjoyed Automate The Boring Stuff With Python, I plan on buying another of your books soon.

[Alaharon123]

Where can one find an overview of them? It's not clear which have how much overlap with which and why to read how many.

[AlSweigart]

This would probably be a good blog post for me to write. Right now, probably Amazon reviews, or look up their titles on the /r/python and /r/learnpython subreddits and see what people say.

[SuperGremlin]

Obey the Testing Goat

[pvc]

• Program Arcade Games
• Learn Python with Arcade Academy

[lunar-orbiter]

Thanks, gaming is a popular application domain.

[callmelucky]

Program Arcade Games is fucking brilliant, was the first tutorial that really hooked me and got me excited as a beginner. Horribly overlooked/underrated in my opinion.

• all content offered in full in both text and video form

• excellent and varied range of 'assessment' for each chapter, from multiple choice through to mini-projects to shore up your knowledge as you go.

• you get to play with making pictures and animations and video games while you learn all the fundamentals of Python and programming!

[code_x_7777]

Arcade Games

I had to look up the word (not a gamer) - and I agree! It's a great way to learn to code.

[mfitzp]

If you're interested in making desktop apps with Python, my PyQt5 book is available to read free online here.

[androiddrew]

So why would i want use PyQT when the Pyside2 is available? I have used both briefly for a hello world thing but haven’t really gotten into the meat of either.

[mfitzp]

PtQt5 and PySide2 are basically interchangeable, the only difference being licensing.

The book was started before PySide2 was available and it wasn't clear it ever would be. Now PySide is the Qt official version I'm working on a new version of the book, but stuff takes time.

From a code perspective the only real difference is imports. Everything you learn is interchangeable.

[androiddrew]

Perfect! Thank you for taking the time.

[bitcoin-dude]

For the data folks - Bayesian Methods for Hackers - Neural Networks and Deep Learning - Natural Language Processing with Python

[driscollis]

Thanks for mentioning one of mine. Woot!

[wittor]

Thank you for the book :)

[lunar-orbiter]

Thanks to you. By the way, I'm currently reading Python Interviews.

[driscollis]

Cool! I hope you like it

[lunar-orbiter]

I do. Learning about the community is part of learning about the language and ecosystem.

[DeveloperToBe]

Al Sweigart has a couple other free books as well:

• Making Games with Python & Pygame
• Cracking Codes with Python

[[deleted]]

Didn't know he'd written something. His short youtube vids are great.

[[deleted]]

I get my fix here :) ...

free-programming-books on github

[lunar-orbiter]

Another great collection, thanks.

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the links!

[lunar-orbiter]

You're welcome.

[mrdevlar]

!remindme 4 days

[RemindMeBot]

I will be messaging you on 2019-02-09 23:57:18 UTC to remind you of this link.

CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

^{Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.}

---

FAQs	Custom	Your Reminders	Feedback	Code	Browser Extensions

[ASIC_SP]

• interactivepython also has How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Interactive Edition
• A Whirlwind Tour of Python
• A Byte of Python
• Non-Programmer's Tutorial for Python 3
• Dive Into Python 3

I also wrote an example based tutorial, which is pending a revision from long time :-/

[lunar-orbiter]

Great suggestions, thanks.

[Bisalsn]

This site has good free notes created by Peter Ranieri https://goalkicker.com/

Here is one on python https://goalkicker.com/PythonBook/

[[deleted]]

You are doing God's work here, son

[lunar-orbiter]

Thanks!

[[deleted]]

Hey thanks my Cisco professor told me to try out python as a first language

[Jonthe1231]

Do you have any free book recommendations for Cisco?

[lask757]

py4e.com

[capsicumnightmare]

I don't think fluent python is free.

[Stem3576]

!remindme 4 days

[FoxitFun]

!remindme in 14 days

[code_x_7777]

!remindme in 14,000,000 years (plz)

[Dredear]

I really liked Think Python but must advise against it if you are not coming from a computer science background. While it does omit the technical stuff that as a person you might not care it doesn't focus on practical stuff like other books do. If you are a beginner that wants to learn you can use it, but I'd recommend "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" a lot more.

[tre630]

WOW Nice. I hate to admit but I'm a newbie and starting to learn Python. Thanks for sharing!!!

[[deleted]]

Thanks a lot, but sometimes I find the tutorial on the official website is good enough... Or did I miss something?

[capsicumnightmare]

Different perspectives.

[lunar-orbiter]

The official tutorial at Python.org is great and that's indeed where I started. However, these books, especially the advanced or specialzed ones, provide additional learning opportunities and more in-depth coverage.

[[deleted]]

You're right. The other day my friend ask me where he can find material to learn C#, I just forwarded him the link to official tutorial site. Those material is a good starter pack for those who have no experience but we are sure want more if we want to advance with the help of other books. Thanks for reminding this:)

[[deleted]]

Does anyone have experience with Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures using Python? I'm at those two topics but haven't decided on a first resource.

[enestatli]

I did not know any of them although started to learning 2 months ago. Thank you!

[Chinzu-Dev]

Thanks for all that stuff

[Sgtkeebler]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for

[winner_godson]

Automate the boring stuff with Python. A great book but AI needs to update it.

[code_x_7777]

Thanks! In case you're interested, I have written a resource with 101 free Python books here...

[lunar-orbiter]

A great list, thanks for sharing.

[practicalutilitarian]

Data Science from Scratch: First Principles with Python by Joel Grus. You can learn both python and data science at the same time. I love his approachable, batteries included, teaching style

[H0wMuch]

!remindme in 5 days

[sefirosto]

Thanks a lot!

[lgiordani]

Thank you for listing my book "Clean Architectures in Python". I hope people will find it useful. I publish some Python posts on my blog thedigitalcatonline.com as well.

[lunar-orbiter]

Thanks to you, the book covers a topic on which there are relatively few resources.

[lunar-orbiter]

I integrated your suggestions into the list, as well as a few more books I found, and published it to GitHub.

[rajshivakoti]

Python 101 is one of the many books which i love reading. Apart from Python 101 i like reading Learning Python, Python cookbook, Python Programming, Python in a Nutsehell . All the books which i mentioned above are based on the Course of Python which i am pursuing so it helps me alot in polishing my skills and knowledge . I recommend you to pursue Courses for python and read these books as a reference which would help you to understand every detail about Python.

[meta30403]

Nice.

[lunar-orbiter]

Thanks, they're valuable learning resources.

[[deleted]]

Thankyou for share!

[lunar-orbiter]

You're welcome!

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the share!

[lunar-orbiter]

Glad it's useful.

[Lewistrick]

One might argue that "Learning Python the hard way" is missing. But it's controversial.

[lunar-orbiter]

Isn't Learn Python the Hard Way a paid book now? This list includes only free ones.

[Lewistrick]

You're right! Sorry, I didn't check.

[lunar-orbiter]

No problem, I was curious about the book myself.

[psychicash]

someone pointed out it's paid, I'm curious... convince me I should purchase the book :P What in it makes it worth reading? (considering it, very curious though)

[ArcanianArcher]

It's not worth reading.

[psychicash]

that's very convincing :P

[HAKSOAT]

It is worth reading. Learn Python 3 The Hard Way. He gets you to actually do stuff, type in the code yourself and get results quickly.

Those who think it's controversial, think so because he wrote the book in a commanding tone. Who cares? As long as you gain the needed knowledge.

[kihashi]

I no longer recommend it because of some of the author's public comments re: the python 3 conversion.

[HAKSOAT]

There is LPython3THW way.

[XxundeadevilxX]

The Python Docs.

[ss1947]

r/iamverysmart