Whether you`re an experienced programmer looking to get into Python or grizzled Python veteran who remembers the days when you had to import the string module, Dive Into Python is your `desert island` Python book. Joey deVilla, Slashdot contributor As a complete newbie to the language I constantly had those little thoughts like, `this is the way a programming language should be taught.` Lasse Koskela , JavaRanch Apress has been profuse in both its quantity and quality of releases&emdash. and (this book is) surely worth adding to your technical reading budget for skills development. Blane Warrene, Technology Notes I am reading this ... because the language seems like a good way to accomplish programming tasks that don`t require the lowlevel bit handling power of C. Richard Bejtlich, TaoSecurity Python is a new and innovative scripting language. It is set to replace Perl as the programming language of choice for shell scripters, and for serious application developers who want a featurerich, yet simple language to deploy their products. Dive Into Python is a handson guide to the Python language. Each chapter starts with a real, complete code sample, proceeds to pick it apart and explain the pieces, and then puts it all back together in a summary at the end. This is the perfect resource for you if you like to jump into languages fast and get going right away. If you`re just starting to learn Python, first pick up a copy of Magnus Lie Hetland`s Practical Python.