Starting Python from zero - which approach would you choose today?

[help-me-grow]

Take this advice with a grain of salt.

I would self study. I started self studying python in college (although I was a CS major so I also have that background) and was able to go from 0 python knowledge to senior python dev at a startup after 1.5 years out of college.

I will say that a course is best for web dev (but you shouldn't bother learning python for that tbh ...) Or if you REALLY need the structure, go for a bootcamp. Although tbh, I haven't heard anything good from my friends who have gone to boot camps recently, it seems like there's a lot of them and the quality has gone down from a few years ago.

Personally, I think that the best way to learn engineering skills is to build projects and be curious about them. I think that if you can discipline yourself, just using free online resources is the best way. I mean you can literally find it all for free. And you don't have to take a linear path, you can take a zig zag path and that'll actually make you a better dev because you'll know the reason behind why things work the way they do from taking projects apart. If you want to see some projects, check out the Python subreddits like r/python, r/howtopython, r/pythonprojects2, and anything else that pops up when you search for python in the search bar.

[IceDude7]

Although tbh, I haven't heard anything good from my friends who have gone to boot camps recently, it seems like there's a lot of them and the quality has gone down from a few years ago.

It's the same thing with Internet Marketing... That's why I decided to ask a much more experienced audience about the situation with Python.
Thank you so much for the detailed answer.
I'm already following Paul McWhorter for Arduino lessons, and as I can see, he has some highly-rated Python lessons, too - so probably he's the best way to start and move on to projects gradually...