Yes. Hell yes. If someone is starting programming, then Learn Python the Hard Way is the best book I know of. It doesn't swamp you with words, nor with code; it gives you some stuff to type in at the Python prompt, and figure out as you go. It's like a series of puzzles that are each really easy to solve, and once you get through them, you'll be thinking like a programmer.

I've taught an intro to programming class, and seen where the problems are, and beheld the glaring deficiencies in most textbooks. LPtHW is a Right Thing. It boils with rightness.

You can buy a hard copy, or read it online (PDF).