There are no required textbooks for this course. The lecture and tutorial notes will be handed out during lectures and will be available online. We have provided online Python resources (notes and practice questions) on the NCSS Challenge website. There are copious online resources for learning Python, but if you prefer to have a textbook, then we recommend:
Learning Python, Third Edition
By Mark Lutz and David Ascher
October 2007
ISBN: 0-596-51398-4
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596513986/
The second edition of this book is also suitable.