Hey there! Great question—let’s break this down based on your background as someone with Python experience and core programming fundamentals under your belt.

Short answer: Yes, this book is a fantastic fit for you. Here’s why:

• Built for programmers like you: This book isn’t a "teach you how to code from scratch" guide—it’s explicitly targeted at developers who already know programming basics (variables, functions, loops, OOP concepts like classes) and want to transition to C++. Your Python experience means you already grasp the core logic of programming, so the book will skip redundant basics and dive straight into what makes C++ unique, saving you a ton of time.

• Practical, example-heavy style: Deitel’s books are famous for their hands-on code examples. Every key C++ concept (from static typing and pointers to modern C++20 features like ranges or concepts) is paired with runnable, well-explained code snippets. You can follow along, tweak the code, and debug in real time—this is perfect for someone coming from Python, where you’re used to experimenting with code to learn.

• Modern C++ focus, no outdated cruft: A huge plus is that it centers on C20, the latest standard. You won’t waste time learning legacy C practices that no one uses anymore. Instead, you’ll pick up modern, idiomatic C++ right from the start—things like smart pointers (to avoid manual memory headaches), range-based for loops, and concepts that make generic programming safer. This aligns way better with how professional C++ is written today.

• Helps you shift to C++’s mindset: Python hides a lot of low-level details (like memory management) from you, but C++ forces you to engage with them. The book does a great job of explaining these differences gently—for example, why static typing matters, how value semantics work vs Python’s reference semantics, and when to use pointers vs references. It’ll help you build a C++-specific mental model instead of trying to "write Python in C++."

A small heads-up: When you hit sections on memory management (pointers, dynamic allocation) or templates, you might feel a bit overwhelmed at first—those are big shifts from Python. Take your time with those parts, re-read the examples, and try modifying the code to test your understanding. That’s part of the process!

Overall, this book is tailored exactly to your situation: a competent programmer looking to make a smooth, efficient transition to modern C++. You’ll get up to speed quickly and build a solid foundation for further learning.