Best books to learn Python and Java? [First Language]

[PouletEnFeu]

I've been interested in learning my first programming language for some time now, but I can't determine which book[s] I should get that will get me from beginner to experienced. The language I'm looking to learn is either Java or Python 3. I would very much appreciate some suggestions on specific books that are good for this, and any other suggestions you may have.

Thanks!

[Cybie257]

My first initial thought reading your post was, since you are looking to decide between the two, I would seek out some tutorial sites for beginners in each of those and also search for each language + "tutorial" on YouTube. This might help you more to decide what is right and also give you some insight on what is more important in a book for you than others.

My experience with books is that they are really set up in formats that can either help you or confuse you. So, having a basic understanding of what you are looking for in a programming book, you might give the online tutorials a look first. Also, in helping someone determine a book that would be a good fit, I would ask the following:

Do you learn best from books written in reference style? Step by Step style?? Etc... After seeing a few different approaches to programming material/books, you begin to narrow down exactly what is best for you and to get help to find books that better suit your specific needs and style of learning.

Programming books can be very expensive and can turn out to be a waste of money if it's not something you can follow too well and end up finding another book at half the cost that you follow clearly.

Hope this helps a little,

-Cybie

[PouletEnFeu]

Thanks for your reply! I'll be sure to check out the youtube tutorials when I get the chance.

[Dhiraj Thakur(Invincible)]

Since u asked for any other suggestion may i suggest that you learn python 2.x in place of 3 ...it will be more useful for u now....if u don't need python 3 exclusively....

As for books...if u can download around 300mb i can give u the link...if u cant then try with sams teaches python , i dont remember the name exactly but it should give u a gud intro...but its a bit old....

then u may go for (a byte of python) or dive into python.....for practice http://www.pyschools.com

[juancarlospaco]

infohost.nmt.edu/tcc/help/pubs/tkinter.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfzz36Hbetg

[Russss]

I am learning python would highly recommend it.
I read diveintopython,
beginning python: http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Pyth...rdrt_list_asin
which will both give you a good understanding of how to get stuff done.
Right now I am reading Python 3 object oriented programming: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1849511268 which is a really good book that teaches how to utilize object oriented design.

There are also some free video lectures online at, http://academicearth.org/subjects/computer-science , the first one is a class from mit and he teaches the intro to programming class using python, while the second lecture is from stanford and he teaches using java.

Good luck.

[stchman]

I recommend the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Java-Introduct...1012513&sr=8-9

I have read a few Java books and this one is really nice. It is 2001, but the book lays out the basics is a nice easy to understand fashion.

If you do decide to do Java I recommend avoiding IDEs like Netbeans or Eclipse until you get better. You tend to miss out on a lot of the little things of Java.