When I first heard of this book, I immediately expected a deep dive through some of the more esoteric features of Python. When I got it and saw the subtitle, I began to suspect I was in store for something different; I was right. Expert Python Programming is a whirlwind tour that at least touches pretty much every aspect of software development.
The first few chapters cover getting Python, customizing the prompt, choosing an editor, and using the most current idioms. Then there's a quick chapter on design, both general and Python-specific. Then there's the chapter on building Python packages and using templates to reduce the tedium. Next, the author demonstrates most of these techniques with an actual project. Chapter 8 covers version control and continuous integration. The next chapter discusses the software development lifecycle and how to track it using software. Next are some tips on documenting the project and technical writing in general. Test-Driven Development is the star of the next chapter. The next two chapters act in concert, the first one introducing profiling and the next one introducing some of the most common solutions to problems you may have identified by profiling. The final chapter is on design patterns.
This book is ambitious, covering in a chapter or two topics that have had shelves of books written about them, but it typically does a good job of referencing other resources for those interested in more detail. The editing/proofing could have been better, especially in the code samples, but the material is organized in an understandable fashion. Overall, I'd highly recommend the book, flaws and all.