Python continues to grow in popularity and in importance, particularly in the areas of scientific applications and data mining. Python 3 has largely been adopted as the version of choice, so the books in this Programmer's Bookshelf selection are those aimed at developers using Python 3.

If you're interested in Python 2, check out our other bookshelf, Books for Pythonistas. If you're just starting out with Python, have a look at Python Books For Beginners . All the books in this selection assume the reader already has some experience in the language.

Our contributors have reviewed more than 60 books relating to Python, but to be included in a Programmer's Bookshelf selection a book has to have been awarded at rating of at least 4 out of 5. For this round-up the main points of each review have been extracted. To read the full version click on the title. For more details of the books we have embedded the Kindle previews. Clicking on the book jacket thumbnail in the side panel will take you to the books details page on Amazon. If you make a purchase at Amazon via I Programmer we are credited with a few cents - so thanks to all of you who support us in this way. 

We're starting first with the books that concentrate on explaining the core elements of Python and programming using it. 

Programmer's Python: Everything Is An Object

Author: Mike James
Publisher: I/O Press
ISBN: 978-1871962581

We don't usually review or include books by our own contributors, so this book hasn't an official star rating, but it would be doing you a disservice if I didn't include it in this roundup of books for more experienced Python programmers, because it would warrant a five star rating.

The book takes the more advanced ideas behind Python and makes them clear and understandable. Author Mike James sets out to explain the deeper logic in the approach that Python 3 takes to classes and objects. The subject is roughly speaking everything to do with the way Python implements objects. That is, in order of sophistication, metaclass; class; object; attribute; and all of the other facilities such as functions, methods and the many “magic methods” that Python uses to make it all work. This is a fairly advanced book in the sense that you are expected to know basic Python. However, it tries to explain the ideas using the simplest examples possible.  

 Despite its subtitle "Something Completely Different", a reference to Monty Pythonesque humor, as long as you can write a Python program, and you have an idea what object-oriented programming is about, it should all be understandable and, as important, usable.  

Fluent Python

Author: Luciano Ramalho
Publisher: O'Reilly
Pages: 770
ISBN: 978-1491946008

Describing this as one of the best books on Python, Mike James gave it the maximum five stars, and says it's a book that should be on your bookshelf.

This substantial tome is not about the fluent programming style so common in other languages, but about becoming fluent, i.e. an expert. As such it isn't for the complete beginner, but for everyone else the conclusion is just go out and buy a copy. If you write Python then you will enjoy reading this book and get a lot from it.

Mike found this is a very simple book to review because it is almost uniformly good - a rare thing in the world of programming books. He concluded:

"I'm not saying that you won't disagree with what the author says, but in doing so you will learn a lot and have fun. About the only thing bad I can say about this book is that it is big and has a tendency to fall apart, which is a shame as it is a "keeper". "

If you are an intelligent Python programmer just buy a copy and spend the next year reading it. 

Programming in Python 3 (2e)

Author: Mark Summerfield
Publisher: Addison Wesley
Pages: 648
ISBN: 978-0321680563 

Mike James said in his review that this book is seriously dull but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, and he gave it 4.5 stars. His conclusion is that it is a well written straightforward account of Python and how it is used. It will suit a reader who already knows something about how to program in another language and is prepared to work at chapters that tell you everything there is to know about a topic before moving on to the next topic. 

Overall recommended for any reader with a reasonably good background in programming wanting to learn Python fairly quickly and in good depth.

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