The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition you own this product

Naomi Ceder
Foreword by Luciano Ramalho
  • February 2025
  • ISBN 9781633436336
  • 584 pages
Included with a Manning Online subscription
  • printed in black & white
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A fast-paced introduction to Python for intermediate developers–now with coverage of generative AI!

For over 25 years, The Quick Python Book has been one of the best Python books money can buy. It concisely covers programming basics, while introducing Python's comprehensive standard library and unique features in depth and detail. In this fourth edition, you’ll find new coverage of AI coding tools like Copilot and Google's Colaboratory (Colab), and develop a mindset that can make the most of AI.

The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition includes:

  • Python syntax, data structures, and best practices
  • Python as an object oriented language
  • Common Python libraries
  • Basic data handling with Python
  • Using AI code generation tools with Python

Whether you’re new to Python or looking to advance your basic skills, The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition will get you writing effective Python code fast. Python authority and former Chair of the Python Software Foundation Board or Directors Naomi Ceder has returned to author this extensively revised fourth edition. With the personal touch of a skilled teacher, Naomi beautifully balances details of the language with the insights and advice you need to handle any task.

about the technology

System automation. High-performance web apps. Cloud and back-end services. Cutting edge AI. No matter what you’re building, it pays to know how to read and write Python! The Quick Python Book has helped over 100,000 developers get up to speed with the Python programming language. This revised Fourth Edition, fully updated for Python 3.13, explores the latest features and libraries and shows you how to code smarter with AI tools like ChatGPT.

about the book

The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition teaches you the essential Python features and techniques you need for most common scripting, application programming, and data science tasks. Written for developers comfortable with another programming language, it dives right into the good stuff. New interactive notebooks, quick-check questions, and end-of-chapter labs all help practice and consolidate your new skills. Plus, you’ll find practical advice on writing prompts and using AI assistants to accelerate your day-to-day work.

what's inside

  • Python syntax, data structures, and best practices
  • Object-oriented Python
  • Must-know Python libraries
  • Data handling

about the reader

For beginning-intermediate programmers. No prior experience with Python required.

about the author

Naomi Ceder has been learning, teaching, and writing about Python since 2001. An elected fellow of the Python Software Foundation, Naomi is a past chair of its board of directors. In 2022 she became the seventh person to receive the PSF Distinguished Service Award.

Brilliantly crafted! It’s the book I recommend to smart people learning Python for the first time.

David Q Mertz, Service Employees International Union

A good Python book should be on everybody’s bookshelf. Let me suggest The Quick Python Book!

Delio D’Anna, cognitivplus

I recommend it! It’s useful, clear, and engaging—a combination that’s difficult to achieve!

Doug Farrell, Author of The Well-Grounded Python Developer

Hits the sweet spot between quick overview and deep dive.

Trey Hunner, Python Morsels
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February 18, 2025 by Steve R. (Gelderland, NL)
“An in-depth coverage of the Programming Language Python”
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Not good. Too voluminous in details that the data is hard to get.
January 17, 2025 by Mike (US)
“I am an experienced developer with 2 other languages I know and use professionally. This book was not well written, at least the earlier parts. It stresses too much on unimportant details that I felt I was not getting enough data to start following along and using Python. Too much vanity about Python and not to the point on how to start learning and using it. Once someone has picked up a book on a coding language they are already sold and want to learn so you should get to it as soon as possible rather than begin with chapters promoting it or stressing unnecessary details about getting started.”
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