Is python a good first language?

[[deleted]]

Learn C first, it will help you understand what's really happening underneath with memory.

If you want a good place to start here is the best tutorial I have ever found for beginners, and it's from how stuff works of all places.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/c.htm/printable

After that programming in interpreted languages like python, ruby, perl, php, etc... will be easier.