What is the best book to learn Python for data science?

Choosing the "best" book to learn Python for data science can vary depending on your current level of expertise, learning style, and specific interests within data science. However, one widely recommended book that stands out for its comprehensive coverage, clarity, and practical approach is:

**"Python for Data Analysis" by Wes McKinney**

- **Author**: Wes McKinney is the creator of the Pandas library, a cornerstone tool in Python for data manipulation and analysis, making him an authoritative voice on using Python for data science.
- **Content**: The book provides a thorough introduction to using Python for data science, focusing on practical applications rather than just Python syntax. It covers essential topics such as data structures, data cleaning, preparation, and analysis using Pandas, NumPy for numerical data processing, and Matplotlib for data visualization.
- **Audience**: It's well-suited for beginners to intermediate learners who have a basic understanding of Python and want to delve into data analysis and manipulation using Pandas and related tools.
- **Practical Approach**: What sets this book apart is its emphasis on real-world data analysis tasks, providing readers with hands-on experience through examples and exercises. It's also regularly updated to reflect the latest capabilities of the Python data science ecosystem.

Other notable mentions include:
- **"Data Science from Scratch: First Principles with Python" by Joel Grus**: This book covers the fundamentals of data science and machine learning algorithms from scratch, using Python. It's a great starting point for those who prefer learning by understanding how things work under the hood.
- **"Python Data Science Handbook" by Jake VanderPlas**: This book is a comprehensive guide to the key Python libraries for data science, including IPython, NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-Learn, and others. It's filled with practical examples and is an excellent resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of Python for data analysis and visualization.

Remember, while books are an excellent resource for learning, complementing your reading with online tutorials, courses, and hands-on projects can further enhance your understanding and skills in Python for data science.