Reviews for Python Pocket Reference (Pocket Reference (O'Reilly))

1. Useful summary info

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, April 12th, 2007

   Reviews referring to earlier editions have been mixed, but the 3rd edition does have an index--previously a cause of complaint. This edition covers up to Python 2.4, and gives a really useful summary of the language and commonly-used libraries.
   
   This is genuinely a book which I keep by my side when Python programming to look up a forgotten piece of syntax or library method name.

2. Key quick reference

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, September 12th, 2005

   This is the one python reference book i keep close by. It is concise, has a good index, and does exactly what it says on the tin ! It has also recently been reissued so the it is up-to-date. Well worth the modest price in my view !!

3. Highly useful, but it will take a while getting to know it

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, May 12st, 2003

   Packed with highly useful content to the very last page. Sadly, that leaves no room for an index, and this book would really need one.

   However, once you've created a few bookmarks and familiarised yourself with the book, it's indispensable. It's small enough to always stay on your desktop instead of being left on the shelf. And if you're bored, you can always flip through the book and learn something you didn't already know ;-)

4. Useful, but 'Python Essential Reference' is better.

   Rated 2 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2002

   O'Reilly were onto a winner when they started publishing their Pocket Reference guides, but with the Python Pocket Reference the wheels seem to have fallen off the wagon somewhat.

   Yes, there's an overview of the various language constructs but the book suffers from the fact that the table of contents is poor and the index is non-existent. The end result is a book which is nearly impossible to use. Whether the lack of an index is the fault of the publisher or the author is something of a moot point, but it's undeniable that these omissions ruin the book's usefulness.

   If you want a Python reference you can carry around with you, this is the one to go for. Otherwise, splash the cash on Mark Beazley's `Python Essential Reference' instead - it costs a lot more, but is far more useable.

5. Handy but needs an index

   Rated 3 out of 5 stars, January 12th, 2001

   This is very useful for looking up the most commonly used Python functions. The biggest problem is remembering a) which module the thing you need is in and b) where that module is in the book. A good index of modules/functions would be a big help. Essential Python by Beasley has probably superceded this book for most Pythoneers.