Reddit mentions of Learn Python the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code (Zed Shaw's Hard Way Series)

I had a longer response, but Reddit wiped it. Doh! The TLDR was:

1. Make a GitHub profile and post all of your work there. Make detailed READMEs to show that you really know what you are doing. This one has paid dividends for me: https://github.com/DaveVoyles/Logistic-Regression-Azure-Workbench
   
   
   
2. Take tons of courses online. Pay for the certs that you really want to show off, otherwise just watch the videos and do the content, and you'll learn a lot that way. I posted about some I really enjoyed here: http://www.davevoyles.com/2018/02/11/getting-started-data-science-machine-learning-python/
   In particular, I find that PluralSight is a fantastic site for learning.
   
   
   Python is a great starting point. Simple language, and once you learn that, it makes it very easy to learn others. In terms of the advanced topics around python, look at those courses in my blog post. I really think they'll help you understand. Keep in mind that I listen to most of those courses TWICE! I find that listening once, I get the gist. The second time I really comprehend what they went through.
   
   
   It sounds like you're getting a solid grasp of programming as a whole. In that case, I'd recommend Learn Python the hard way. https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Python-Hard-Way-Introduction-ebook/dp/B00FGUS948
   
   
   You don't need to learn EVERY PIECE OF THE LANGUAGE, but getting a handle of the basics will go a long way.

Something totally utilitarian: Learning Python the Hard Way

Oh hell, who am I kidding. I only do utilitarian