The author, Julian, shares his discovery of Python's built-in help functions, which he found invaluable despite being self-taught. He highlights three tools: `help()`, `dir()`, and `pydoc`. The `help()` function provides detailed descriptions of Python objects, akin to a system's manual page, offering syntax and explanations. `dir()` allows users to query an object to see its attributes, making it easier to understand what functions are available with specific objects. Julian emphasizes the complementary nature of `help()` and `dir()`, noting how they can be used together to explore object functionalities in depth. Additionally, `pydoc` is introduced as a command-line tool that offers similar documentation benefits but can also serve documentation via a built-in web server. Julian expresses regret over not discovering these tools sooner, appreciating the ease they provide compared to searching for information online.