I spent $80 on a Python course and it was a total waste

I bought a popular online course that promised to teach Python from zero to hero. The first few videos were okay, but then it jumped into building a complex web app without explaining the basics well. I got lost after the third module and gave up. Has anyone found a better way to learn the fundamentals without getting overwhelmed?

3 comments

3 Comments

samk771mo ago

Honestly, that "something about a physical book" point from @michaelgrant is key. Tbh, it forces you to actually type everything out instead of just copying from a video, which makes the basics stick. I wasted money on a fancy course too before just getting a simple book.

jessica7071mo ago

Hmm, I gotta push back a little. Courses actually work WAY better for me because they SHOW you what real code looks like in action. Books are fine for theory but they're SO dry and abstract. You're just copying syntax without seeing how it all connects in a real project. When I took Colt Steele's web dev course, I was building actual stuff after two weeks. With a book I would've given up on chapter 3. The visual feedback from a good video course is just irreplaceable for keeping you motivated and seeing results fast.

michaelgrant1mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst... honestly, skip the courses for now. I just grabbed a used copy of "Python Crash Course" for like ten bucks and worked through the projects. Something about a physical book made the basics stick way better for me before I even looked at a video.