I am not sure there is a generic answer to your inquiry. If you want to understand python itself you would be best off checking out the source code, building it

I am not sure there is a generic answer to your inquiry. If you want to understand python itself you would be best off checking out the source code, building it yourself and then try to change some language features for fun. Other than that I'd recommend that you find a domain you are particularily interested in and get some books on the specific aspects of that, for example Python for Data Analysis. http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920023784.do http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920023784.do This allows you to focus on what to do with python and the eco system of frameworks and so on. If you want to learn how to use Python effectively, I believe you should decide what domain to apply it in. Python is no end in itself, as is the case with most other tools...