Comments on: Book review: Expert Python Programming http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/02/04/book-review-expert-python/ The blog of John D. Cook Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:02:57 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steven Franklin http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/02/04/book-review-expert-python/comment-page-1/#comment-18945 Steven Franklin Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:03:39 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1429#comment-18945 I was planning to purchase this book until I read Alex Martelli's review on Amazon .com titled "lots of good stuff, but many infuriating details". (Mr. Martelli is the author of Python in a Nutshell.) His 2 star rating (out of 5 possible) makes some interesting points. I was planning to purchase this book until I read Alex Martelli’s review on Amazon .com titled “lots of good stuff, but many infuriating details”. (Mr. Martelli is the author of Python in a Nutshell.) His 2 star rating (out of 5 possible) makes some interesting points.

]]> By: duffymo http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/02/04/book-review-expert-python/comment-page-1/#comment-12874 duffymo Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:48:36 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1429#comment-12874 Perfect timing, John. I'm about to embark on a journey to learn Python, so your recommendations come at the right moment. Your blog has been one of my favorite discoveries. The math writing along makes it worth following in Google Reader. Thanks. Sincerely, % Perfect timing, John. I’m about to embark on a journey to learn Python, so your recommendations come at the right moment. Your blog has been one of my favorite discoveries. The math writing along makes it worth following in Google Reader. Thanks. Sincerely, %

]]> By: John Venier http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/02/04/book-review-expert-python/comment-page-1/#comment-12863 John Venier Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:22:32 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1429#comment-12863 Re: "beginner" and "advanced". It's all marketing, and only indirectly correlates with consensus reality. It's just a way to maximize sales. Depending on the publishing house, the author may not even have had much input. You can't judge a book by it's cover, and the title is a crucial part of the cover. Traditionally every last detail of the outside of a book is micro-managed to maximize sales, which is the reason for cover art, special typesetting for the title and/or author and/or series, etc. Speaking of titles, did you know that for a long time there were none? Instead they used incipits, which are no more or less than the first few words of the actual text. The tradition lives on in the naming of traditional prayers such as "Our Father / Pater noster" or "Hail Mary / Ave Maria". Re: “beginner” and “advanced”.
It’s all marketing, and only indirectly correlates with consensus reality. It’s just a way to maximize sales. Depending on the publishing house, the author may not even have had much input. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and the title is a crucial part of the cover. Traditionally every last detail of the outside of a book is micro-managed to maximize sales, which is the reason for cover art, special typesetting for the title and/or author and/or series, etc.

Speaking of titles, did you know that for a long time there were none? Instead they used incipits, which are no more or less than the first few words of the actual text. The tradition lives on in the naming of traditional prayers such as “Our Father / Pater noster” or “Hail Mary / Ave Maria”.

]]> By: Thomas Guest http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/02/04/book-review-expert-python/comment-page-1/#comment-12839 Thomas Guest Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:06:10 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1429#comment-12839 Re: "beginner" and "advanced". I wonder how <a href="http://projects.csail.mit.edu/clrs/" rel="nofollow">"Introduction to Algorithms"</a> (aka CLRS) got its name? Maybe it should be called "Advanced Introduction to Algorithms"? It's a great book, but not really for beginners. Re: “beginner” and “advanced”.
I wonder how “Introduction to Algorithms” (aka CLRS) got its name? Maybe it should be called “Advanced Introduction to Algorithms”? It’s a great book, but not really for beginners.

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