gistfile1.txt

Python 2.7.8 (default, Oct 16 2014, 11:03:30)
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 2.2.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details.

In [1]: import collections, numbers

In [2]: isinstance(1, numbers.Number)
Out[2]: True

In [3]: isinstance(1L, numbers.Number)
Out[3]: True

In [4]: isinstance(True, numbers.Number)
Out[4]: True

In [5]: isinstance(set(), collections.Container)
Out[5]: True

In [6]: isinstance(list(), collections.Container)
Out[6]: True

In [7]: isinstance("hello", collections.Container)
Out[7]: True