Python. Object-Oriented Programming

Introduction

The book «Python Object-Oriented Programming» (4th edition, 2021) by Steven F. Lott and Dusty Phillips is a fundamental guide to object-oriented programming in Python. With a volume of 714 pages, the authors not only explain the basic concepts of OOP but also delve into advanced topics: design patterns, testing, application architecture, and working with asynchrony. The book is aimed at Python 3.9 and above, making it relevant for modern development.

What the book is about

The publication is structured logically: from simple to complex. The first chapters introduce the reader to the basics of OOP: classes, objects, attributes, and methods. The authors then move on to more complex topics — inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction. Special attention is paid to magic methods (__init__, __str__, __repr__, etc.), which make Python classes truly flexible.

The second half of the book is devoted to the practical application of OOP: design patterns (Singleton, Factory, Observer, Strategy, and many others), SOLID principles, working with exceptions, object serialization, and testing. The book concludes with a chapter on asynchronous programming and building full-fledged applications using the OOP approach.

Who this book is for

The book is intended for a wide audience:

• Beginner Python developers who have already mastered the language syntax and want to move on to professional program design.
• Experienced programmers wishing to systematize their knowledge of OOP and learn modern patterns.
• Students and teachers looking for structured material for courses on object-oriented programming.
• Developers transitioning from other languages (Java, C++, C#) — the book will help understand the specifics of implementing OOP in Python.

What the reader will learn

After reading the book, you will be able to:

• Create flexible and extensible classes using inheritance and composition.
• Apply magic methods to customize object behavior.
• Implement design patterns suitable for specific tasks.
• Follow SOLID principles to write maintainable code.
• Design application architecture using UML diagrams.
• Write unit tests for classes and modules.
• Work with asynchronous code in an object-oriented style.
• Avoid common mistakes and anti-patterns when designing classes.

Strengths

The main advantage of the book is its practical focus. Each concept is supported by real code examples that can be immediately tried out in your own project. The authors pay a lot of attention to comparing different approaches: for example, inheritance vs. composition, or choosing between the Factory and Builder patterns. The chapter on testing deserves special mention — it will help you implement TDD in your daily practice.

The book is written in a lively, accessible language, without excessive academicism. At the same time, it does not oversimplify complex topics — asynchronous programming and metaclasses are explained deeply and clearly. The structure of the book allows it to be used both as a textbook (read sequentially) and as a reference (refer to specific chapters as needed).

Another plus is its relevance. The 2021 edition covers Python 3.9, includes modern language features (dataclasses, typing, async/await), and examines best practices of the 2020s.

Who I recommend it to

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to move from writing "scripts" to creating professional, maintainable applications in Python. It will be useful for both juniors and mid-level developers looking to deepen their understanding of OOP. If you are preparing for an interview for a Python developer position — the chapters on SOLID and design patterns will help