Powerful Python it is not false advertising: This book will make you powerful in Python. And like it even more.
Let me start by stating this: This book is not for beginners. It is not a book to learn how to code with Python, it is a book to get your current skill in Python and multiply it.
It is not a 653 pages book that will make you ditch it after re-learning about for loops at the page 126. Just the opposite.
Written by Aaron Maxwell, Powerful Python is a book that will make you go deep in topics you already know, and learning new things you didn’t know (or even knew that existed.)
By its 200 pages, may seem like a short book, but every paragraph there is full of no-nonsense, knowledgeable lessons.
Powerful Python: The book
Ranging from basic stuff like String Formatting (but going deep, explaining the available types of formatting and why all of them are still relevant) to more advanced topics like Class design patterns, key functions, generators, iterators and more, Powerful Python takes a topic, and goes deep fast, but at the same time, easy-going.
Starting with a brief explanation of the topic in question, it directly exposes you to the code. No boring 10 pages of theory before you see the first line of code, nor just copy-pasted code without any explanation.
The author strikes the delicate balance between explaining too much and coding too much without explanation.
I don’t know how many times I have copy-pasted 10-20 lines of code into the terminal to play around, change values, check the output and learn a lot. Often, losing the track of time.
Every lesson is independent, so you can jump back and forth, re-read chapters, ignore the ones you don’t care (I’d advise against that!) right now, all while having a good time.
Every chapter feels like has the proper length: Not too much, not too little, as the code.
All in all, I would recommend this book. In fact, I ever did to one of my coworkers and on Twitter.
Powerful Python is a short book, packed with pearls of knowledge, easy to read, easier to learn. Just because it touches advanced topics, doesn’t mean that they are hard to understand. Or at least that’s what it feels, thanks to the marvellous job of the author.
I never expected to learn so much from a 200-pages book.
Pros
- Helps you to transition from beginner to advanced.
- Cheap. 15$/13’5€ for 200 pages may seem a bit pricey, but after reading just one lesson ,you’ll feel like it is worth. Even too cheap.
- Tones of meaningful code. The author shows what he knows with code, not by dreadful 12-pages explanations.
- After this book, I can say I finally get generators! Yep, it is so good than even I get that now!
Cons
- Too short. I feel like the author could add more chapters on advanced topics (for example, design patterns).
Conclusion
Powerful Python indeed makes you powerful in Python. Never 200 pages packed so much information within them. I can feel like I have advanced in my Python career what would take me months of coding.
One of the few books tacking Python advanced topics, Powerful Python is a book recommended to anyone with experience in Python, that takes the language seriously and wants to learn way more of this beautiful language.
Oh, and you can buy it here: https://powerfulpython.com/store/p/powerful-python-book/#get-it-now
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