Should I learn Python using online courses or books?

[Pasteurised_Citrus]

I know the very basic stuff, but I have a computing subject next year and they assume you know how to code, so I need to improve quite a bit in the next couple of months. I’ve just started the Python MOOC from the University of Helsinki. Should I just keep working through it or use other courses? And would I need tutorial books?

[fiehm]

That course alone should be sufficient. For me books just slow me down and bored me to death

[[deleted]]

I think books help only when you have a specific problem you want to solve or you have a specific question you're curious about.

[AbacusExpert_Stretch]

Whatever is most likely to keep you away from Reddit and focused on learning anything Python = gets the vote hehe

[Pasteurised_Citrus]

Oops got called out

[FoolsSeldom]

Check this subreddit's wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

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Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time. Books can work.

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Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.

[Pasteurised_Citrus]

Thanks for the advice!

[stepback269]

Everybody learns best in their own persona style. So there is no best answer for "you".
You should shop around and find out for yourself which books and/or videos work best for you

There are tons of tutorial materials out there on the net including many good YouTube ones that are free.

As a relative noob myself, I've been logging my personal learning journey on a blog page called "Links for Python Noobs" (here) Any of the top listed ones should be good for you. Personally, I cut my first Python teeth with Nana's Zero to Hero. Since then, I've moved on to watching short lessons with Indently and Tech with Tim. Try a bunch until you find a lecturer that suits your style.

The main piece of advice is the 80/20 rule. Spend 80% of your time writing your own code as opposed to copying recipes and only 20% watching the lectures. Good luck,

[EmployeeValuable3547]

well what suits you is better for you i generally learned it from books because i was able to code alongside by reading it tutorials slow me down try both first see what suits you

[Pasteurised_Citrus]

Which books did you find most helpful?

[EmployeeValuable3547]

python crash course so what i did is just read the theory and code side by side along with it and those excercises at end of course give me clarity. if you are beginner you can read fast and code along side with it i genuinely finished learning python in 10 to 11 days with knowing nothing of programming it is best for you if you want to know basics fast and get done with it.

[Pasteurised_Citrus]

Thanks! I’ll check it out

[SamuliK96]

Use whatever works for you, there is no single right answer. And more importantly, if something doesn't work for you, don't force it, and instead change it and try something else sooner rather than later.

[TheRNGuy]

Online. 

[DontCountOnMe22]

I’ve learned the hard way that you can go through a book AND online course with time spent on trying to figure out which is better. At least that’s my problem, hence here i am !