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Summary: Took me from a novice to a virtuoso almost overnight
Review: What I like about this book is how concentrated it is. There's not a wasted word in it. Everything you need to know to master Transact-SQL can be found herein. Not only that, but there's *lots* of useful code in the book - code that you can take and put to use yourself. I took three stored procedures (sp_active_processes, sp_find_root_blocker, sp_pss) from the Administrative T-SQL chapter and put them work in my shop the first day I had the book. They work great! They're worth the price of the book alone! A lot of the code is this way - you learn from it, but it's also useable from a practical standpoint. If you read just one book on Microsoft's Transact-SQL, read this one.
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Summary: The best practical guide on Transact-SQL around
Review: I love this book because it's so practical. It doesn't have the obligatory fluff that most computer books have. It cuts to the chase and gets right down to business immediately. I like that. And I like the fact that it focuses on things not in the Books Online. Want to learn how to do full-text searching from Transact-SQL? See Chapter 18. Want to learn how cursors really work and when you should and shouldn't use them? See Chapter 14. Want to learn advanced techniques and pitfalls to watch out for? See Chapter 15. This book has it all. If you want to become an expert SS practitioner, get this book.
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Summary: Comprehensive, brilliant, witty, insightful...
Review: This is a wonderfully insightful book. I learned more in the first chapter than I've learned in the entirety of other SQL books. For example, I learned that row positioning problems (e.g., computing a median) don't require a cursor. This one insight alone opened a whole new way of coding SQL for me. I learned how transactions *really* work - something no other book gave me. I carry this book to and from the office with me - that should tell you how much I value it.
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Summary: For Tweakers Only
Review: If you're a full-time SQL programmer, this book will provide value. It delves into esoteric topics. From a practical standpoint, the book does not show the uses of SQL in a meaningful way. Don't buy it unless you're full-time.
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Summary: If you code in T-SQL, this book will change your life
Review: I began programming in COBOL in the 70s. My very first applications were database applications. We had no SQL then, only flat file databases and things like CICS. A couple years ago, my company began moving everything to Microsoft SQL Server. I must admit, I've found myself pretty lost at times. The world has changed a bit since IBM mainframes were the order of the day and we patted ourselves on the back for writing readable COBOL. Recently, I came across this book. After reading through it once, I felt a blindfold had been lifted from my eyes. I finally understand MS SQL!! I've now read the book three times and I never fail to find some new nuggest I missed before. The writing is excellent, the examples applicable and detailed, and the coverage is quite deep. People warned me that this book wasn't for beginners before I bought it, but I faired just fine with it. Some passages are more dense than others, but I got through it. All in all, this is a wonderful book that you owe it to yourself to read cover-to-cover if you work with MS SQL.
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Summary: One of the most valuable books I have every purchased
Review: Without a doubt this is one of the most valuable books I have ever purchased. The techniques and guidelines it presented I was able to immediately apply in the development of a major database component. The chapters on Statistical Functions and Runs and Sequences are worth the purchase price alone. Its not for beginners, but if you have a moderate amount of SQL experience this book can push up several skill levels.
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Summary: One of the top technology books I've ever read
Review: This book is dynamite! I was blown away by all the code. It's a treasure trove of good SQL that you can put to use immediately. I also really liked the epigraphs at the start of each chapter. They're humorous and right on the money.My favorite chapters are: Performance Tuning Transactions Undcoumented T-SQL Cursors I have all the SQL books out there and this one is hands-down the best. If you want to *really* know Transact-SQL, this book belongs in your library.
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Summary: The ultimate T-SQL book
Review: I have all the T-SQL books out there, and this one is by far the best of the lot. In fact, it's one of the best tech books I've ever purchased. The Cursors chapters and the one on performance and tuning are, alone, worth your money. The writing is lucid, funny, and colored by years of experience in the trenches. If you are looking for the ultimate T-SQL book, look no further.
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Summary: Worth TEN TIMES the price!
Review: What a goldmine! I started learning the first day I opened this book and haven't stopped yet. This is one dense book. I appreciate the author's avoidance of filler material. The book requires and rewards careful reading (and sometimes re-reading). It is definitely not for the complete beginner - read SQL Server's Books Online from start to finish if you're a newbie before starting this book. This book is for the developer who already works with T-SQL and wants to master it. If this site allowed a ten star review, I'd give give it one - it certainly deserves it.
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Summary: A wonderful book, the best of its kind
Review: This book is chalk-full of useful example code. There are over 600 sample scripts - far more than any other SQL book. The code in the book is worth the price all by itself. Another thing I liked about the book is Henderson's singular ability for explaining thick technical concepts in a manner anyone can understand. I suspect he is a trainer or professor by trade, but I'm just guessing. He seems to anticipate the kinds of questions readers would ask were they able and answers them in advance. His conversational approach is friendly without being hackneyed. He educates you in a subtle, yet thorough fashion, in the manner you would expect, well, a guru to do. Bottom line: get this book if you want to become a T-SQL guru yourself.
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