Quick verdict
Alison currently marks Practical Python Programming for Beginners as a beginner-level, recently published course with an average duration of about 1.5-3 hours. The public description focuses on learning Python and writing complete programs. Its clearest advantage is the small time commitment.
When a short course is the right choice
A two-hour introduction can be more useful than a fifteen-hour course you never start. If you are unsure whether programming is for you, a compact first pass lowers the cost of curiosity. You can learn enough to see how code is structured and whether you enjoy solving problems this way.
What short means in practice
Short also means limited repetition. You should not expect a few hours of instruction to create automatic fluency with syntax, debugging or program design. Those skills emerge from writing code repeatedly and fixing mistakes.
Turn the course into a test project
Use one tiny outcome as your finish line: a text-based calculator, a file renamer, a simple quiz or a small data-cleaning script. If you can build something similar without copying every line, you have turned the course into a real starting point.
When to choose another Alison Python course
If you want a broader overview that reaches APIs, files and object-oriented ideas, Python for Beginners is the stronger fit. If you already know the basics and want more depth, the Diploma in Python Fundamentals is the more logical next step.
Bottom line
Choose Practical Python Programming for Beginners when you want the lowest-friction entry. Its job is to get you moving, not to finish your Python education.