A very good introduction to Python for new programmers is
Fehily, Chris. Python: Visual QuickStart Guide. 1st ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2001.
For more experienced programmers who are interested in a faster introduction to Python, Dive into Python, by Mark Pilgrim, is a good choice. It is available either as a book or as a free download.
Pilgrim, Mark. Dive into Python. 1st ed. Berkeley, CA: Apress, 2004.
http://diυeintopython.org/
This book is a very thorough guide to Python, from the most basic beginner’s material all the way through advanced topics such as web development:
Norton, Peter, et al. Beginning Python. 1st ed. Indianapolis, Indiana: Wrox-Wiley, 2005.
Like all books in the Nutshell series, Python in a Nutshell is a very good reference to the language. It is often easier to use than the online documentation.
Martelli, Alex. Python in a Nutshell 1st ed. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2003.
This is an interesting way to explore new uses of Python, and also a helpful reference:
Martelli, Alex, and David Ascher, ed. Python Cookbook. 2nd ed. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2005.
The official web site for Python is
http://www.python. org/
Documentation, including a tutorial, can be found at
http://docs.python. org/