Rating: 
Summary: Excellent explanation of complex querries
Review: The authors offer simple explantions to complex concepts. They break it down nicely. I never though I could understand heavily nested querries and get a real handle on what is going on. I have a much more solid understanding of sql and am confident that I can get the info I need from my company's databases.Expect to spend a little time on some examples in order to allow concepts to sink in. I love this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Verbose Garbage
Review: The authors seem to believe that the simplest concepts need to be illustrated with overly complex diagrams and hugely complex SQL statements. The concepts contained in this book are not complex, although they are portrayed as such. If you want a fantastic introduction to SQL, get Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, 2nd ed. by Ben Forta (ISBN 0672321289).
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding introductory book on SQL
Review: The book is very easy to read. It comes with a CD containing five great databases with examples to work. Solutions are supplied in the database, too. This is a great feature for checking if one's answers are correct or helping out on more difficult problems one may not be able to readily solve.
Rating: 
Summary: So so
Review: This book did not have enough specific examples. Someone could describe a platypus to you(if you've never seen one), or they could show you a picture. Good examples are like pictures, they give a rapid insight into the material. ...
Rating:
Summary: Simply a great book
Review: This book has helped me to finally understand how to get information back out of my databases. The Comp. Sci. program I'm in teaches how to build a relational database, but then just glosses over SQL Queries. I now have a much better understanding of subqueries, joins, and SQL in general. After finishing this book, I feel I can retrieve any information I need to get with little trouble.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but outdated
Review: This book is well written, however, it is out of date. We have had SQL 2000 installed for a couple of years now, and I was hoping to use this book to help me along. While it is good at communicating ideas, it falls down on syntax since it's out of date.
Rating:
Summary: THE book for beginner SQL users
Review: This books is about to change my life. Call me dumb, but after buying 3 other books, I was still at loss how to just sit down and find the things I was looking for in the database. This is the book that opened my eyes. If you're a beginner, start with this book and you'll save yourself money, time, and your boss asking every 5 minutes, why are you taking so long???
Rating: 
Summary: Cuts to the chase
Review: This is a concise effort. Many programmers are thrown into SQL without ever having taken the time to learn the basics. And many are too proud to admit it :) This is an invaluable resource for programmers who need to come up to speed with SQL to expand their SQL capabilities within their own programming environment. It is indeed software independant - so the knowledge gained goes with you anywhere. I found 2 immediate benefits: 1. Spend less time debugging your own or other people's SQL statements 2. Let your database do more of the work (less coding in your own language) by learning how to correctly structure compound and complex SQL statements. Doesn't take long to read it. Time well spent.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read But...
Review: This is my second SQL book, and I selected it because it provides a lot of examples to work through. Generally it is well written, and I have referred to it often. This could be an outstanding book for novices IF the authors would provide simple examples and problems when they introduce a new topic. Too often however, they rush to include previous concepts which can inhibit comprehension of the new topic and present unnecessarily complex examples. I have had to consult other SQL books and resources to gain a clearer understanding of some of these topics. Also, I have found several instances in the exercises wherein the solution code appears to be incorrect - it does not generate the correct result set, such as producing 0 rows instead of 2, etc.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to learn SQL--buy this book!
Review: Unquestionably one of my best purchases. This book is terrific! If you're learning SQL for the first time or want to know more than "SELECT. . .FROM. . .WHERE" then buy this book! It allows you to really understand how to create all kinds of queries, rather than just being able to write command strings. The authors break complex concepts down into easy to understand lessons. The content is comprehensive and sophisticated but presented in a very intuitive way. Learning SQL has never been easier. The only drawback--and it's not the authors' fault--since, unfortunately, different database programs use different SQL syntax, you will have to refer to the manual for your specific program for some command strings. But you will learn so much from this book that your manual will actually make sense. This book is a must-have!
| 
