Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition

 

Introduction

In today’s digital world, many jobs require repetitive, time-consuming computer tasks: renaming files, updating spreadsheets, downloading data, typing the same email repeatedly, or copying information from one place to another. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition teaches you how to write Python programs that take over these tasks for you. Written by Al Sweigart, the book is designed specifically for beginners and non-programmers who want to become more productive by letting computers handle the boring work.

The third edition includes fully updated code and adds new chapters on databases, speech recognition, audio and video processing, and more, making the material modern and highly practical.

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Why This Book Stands Out

Unlike many programming books that focus on theory, this one is centered on real-world usefulness. Its goal is simple: help you automate everyday tasks. It’s friendly to beginners, doesn’t assume prior programming experience, and focuses on projects you can immediately put to use. Office workers, students, administrators, freelancers, and hobbyists often find this approach extremely valuable because they can apply what they learn right away.

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What the Book Covers

Part I: Python Basics

The first part introduces the foundations of Python programming, including:

• Installing Python and running your first scripts

• Variables, loops, and flow control

• Functions

• Debugging techniques

• Lists, dictionaries, and strings

This section ensures you understand the language before you start automating tasks.

Part II: Automating Real Tasks

Once you know the basics, the book shifts to practical projects such as:

• Searching and editing text with regular expressions

• Reading, writing, and organizing files and folders

• Working with PDF, Word, and spreadsheet documents

• Web scraping and automating browser actions

• Sending emails and handling email attachments

• Automating mouse and keyboard control for GUI tasks

• Interacting with databases

• Using speech recognition and text-to-speech

• Recognizing text in images (OCR)

• Basic audio and video manipulation

• Packaging your scripts into standalone apps

By the end, you can build tools that meaningfully reduce repetitive work.

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Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for:

• Complete beginners with no programming experience

• Professionals who repeat computer tasks daily and want to save time

• Students and researchers working with documents, data, and files

• Hobbyists and tinkerers who enjoy practical projects

• Anyone who wants to be more efficient and productive

If you’re seeking deep computer-science topics, this isn’t that book—but it’s excellent for acquiring useful, job-relevant automation skills.

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What You’ll Gain

By working through the chapters and projects, you will learn to:

• Write Python scripts confidently

• Automate repetitive office tasks

• Scrape content from websites

• Process spreadsheets, PDFs, and other documents

• Control your computer automatically

• Build simple tools to save hours of work

• Lay a foundation for more advanced Python paths (web, data, etc.)

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Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Book

• Type the code yourself, don’t copy and paste

• Experiment with every example

• Customize the projects to your personal tasks

• Practice on files you use in real life

• Keep a folder of your scripts to build your own automation toolkit

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Hard Copy: Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition

Kindle: Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition

Conclusion

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition is one of the most practical programming books available for beginners. It focuses on efficiency, problem-solving, and real-world automation — not abstract theory. If you want Python skills you can apply immediately to reclaim your time and eliminate tedious computer tasks, this book is a smart investment.