A recent survey has shown that Python is the most popular programming language used to date with 83% of data professionals using Python as their main programming language.  It is even more interesting to take note of the fact that three-quarters of data professionals recommend that people wanting to start a career in data science learn Python before they learn any other programming language!

 

There are many resources that can be used to start developing Python as a new skill and it is important to find a good resource to guide your learning efficiently.  There are plenty of books that can help you to learn the basic concepts of programming as well as the specifics of Python programming.

What do data scientists use Python for?

 

Data Scientists use Python as it is a flexible and open-source language with massive libraries that can be used to manipulate data. It is very easy to learn even if you are a beginner. Python is used for importing data from an excel spreadsheet, processing sets for time-series analysis, analysis of scientific data, and statistical analysis.

How long does it take to master Python?

 

On average it will take a learner 8 weeks to learn the basics of Python including basic syntax, variables, loops, data types and functions.

 

The benefits of learning Python

 

• Plenty of third-party modules to choose from
• Various support libraries
• Community and Open Source Development
• Easy to Learn with support Available
• Data structures are user friendly
• Fast and Productive

 

What are the advantages of Python?

 

The Python language is very easy to read and learn while at the same time gaining the ability to think clearly while coding.   Python is easier to learn than C and C++. Python programmers are primarily going to be using Python and R as these are the 2 available choices when it comes to Data Science programming.

 

Best Python Books for Beginners

 

If you are new to Python, there are various books that will give you a good starting foundation of the basics:

 

• Python Crash Course
• Head-First Python
• Learn Python the Hard Way
• Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science
• Learning with Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist. …
• A Byte of Python. …
• Introduction to Machine Learning with Python: A Guide for Data Scientists.

Python Books for Data Science

There are many Python books available for Data Science and programmers.  Here are the top three books used by beginners in data science:

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Data Science from Scratch: First Principles with Python

​Python for Data Science for Dummies

​Python for Data Analysis: Data Wrangling with Pandas, NumPy and I Python

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The one-stop solution book:  Data Science Essentials in Python (The Pragmatic Programmers)

 

This book shows you how to clean up unstructured artifacts in SQL and NoSQL database and makes them a neat and well-organized dataset that can be used by a data scientist.  It also assists you to understand more about test mining, machine learning and network analysis.  It explains how Python is used to describe and analyze data using statistical and network methods and shows you examples of actual data analysis.

This book covers everything that you need to know about Python databases, network analysis, machine learning and visualization and provides you with quick references for the tools that are used to clean analyze and store data.  You can also learn how to handle data analysis problems and practice working on your own solutions to many medium-scale projects. This book is perfect for entry-level data scientists and students or simply used as a handy resource for a professional data scientist to keep in the office.

 

The “Python Crash Course” book

 

This book starts off by introducing you to the basic Python elements and data structures and then carries on working through numbers, variables, lists and tuples showing you how to work with all of them individually.  The book also covers user inputs, functions, classes, file handling, test coding and debugging and then goes on to give you some practice by working on three big projects and creating your own applications.  Learn how to download data in a variety of formats and import it to Python as well as how manage and set up projects, design models, user accounts and manage access controls.  This is an excellent read and is well written and organized allowing the reader to try their hand at a number of exercises and projects.

Beginner Tips for Learning Python Programming

 

• Practice coding every day
• Write out your coding
• Get interactive
• Take enough breaks
• Surround yourself with other people who are learning Python
• Build something and keep building
• Make contributions to open sources

Python books for more experienced programmers

 

The more that you learn about Python the more you will want to learn.  Here are a few books that can help you to maximize your knowledge on the Python code:

 

• Think Python: This book provides a basic yet full comprehensive Python reference.

• Fluent Python:   Learn how to write idiomatic Python code as well as learning about many other aspects of Python
• Effective Python:  This book teaches you on writing in true Python code
• Python Cookbook:  Use Python to complete tasks that you have started in another language

Python programmers are in demand

 

Python is one of the most in-demand programs and has been ranked as the worlds 4^th most popular programming languages amongst professional software developers.  Machine learning has gained a lot of growth in recent years and python is one of the only major program languages that is able to make many coding projects easier to successfully complete.  A Python developer has the opportunity to start a career in being a Product Manager, Data Analyst, Financial Advisor, Data Journalist, Educator and many more.