Not for a non-hacker. That book is great for programmers who want to learn python, but someone new to programming would need something more like "Wade Into Python."
For a complete newbie, the Zelle book is probably even better. I think it is called "An Introduction to Computer Science Using Python." MIT and a few other schools use it now, but it is a very gentle introduction.
HTDP.org is also really good if you go the Scheme route instead.
