[pygame] Re: Just bought Python in a Nutshell

["Lamonte Harris" <pyth0nc0d3r@xxxxxxxxx>]

Right, I like reading books it comes handier then reading ebooks,  less programs and its right there in your hands.  Main reason I'm going to use it for is to find questions without asking them on the python list or tutor list for a quicker referrence.

On 9/14/07, DouhetSukd@xxxxxxxxx <DouhetSukd@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I respectfully disagree with Shawn, in this case.

Don't skim Nutshell, unless you know very little Python, and even then
it is really the wrong book.  It is rather dry reading and provides
very little of the usual user-friendly introductions to language
features by solving simple problems.

Doesn't sound like that much of an endorsement, does it?  Well, in
fact, it is pretty much my most used Python book (out of 7 or 8
others).

If you read Alex's posts in this newsgroup, you'll see that he is one
of the most pragmatic and rigorous posters who usually contributes
code that elegantly and simply solves the issue at hand with the
minimum amount of clutter.

What Python in a Nutshell is really good at is showing you exactly
what Python is capable of doing, feature by feature, in a thoroughly
Pythonic way for the feature.  With code and exact implication.  For
example, I know Python well but I am kinda lacking in metaclass
comprehension.  If I were to write some non-trivial metaclasses I
would surely have his 3 or 4 pages open on my desk as I write code and
skim through other internet postings.  Those 3-4 pages have kinda made
my brain shrivel every time I've looked at them, but they are the
clearest overview I've seen of what is probably one of the hardest
Python features to understand.

For normal, easy-to-understand Python, Nutshell really dissects the
languages with new insight.  The information is dense, because each
word has its place and there very little filler.  That's why skimming
it does not work for me, I just don't have the requisite sustained
attention span.

So, although I read almost all other computer books like Shawn does, I
don't think it applies in this particular case.  When you have a
particular aspect of Python in mind, use Nutshell.  Read up on 'look
before you leap' in it if you really want a sample of how it is
written.

Cheers

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