Rating: 
Summary: Super-poor editing detracts from the overall message
Review: As I read this book, I slowly became more and more disgusted with the author's total lack of grammatical structure and coherence. Though the book was written at a 3rd grade level, the content is still there. Some of his Access/Oracle comparison is questionable in relevance, but overall a decent book to start learning SQL. However, I would recommend a different book solely because of the amazingly bad writing style that actually got in the way of my learning SQL.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent choice
Review: Choosing one particular SQL book out of the dozens available was not an easy task. Here are the reasons that made me choose this one over the others:* Book organization - Chapters are very well structured with very descriptive sections, making it easy to find what you want. The first page of every chapter lists the contents by section * Ease of reading - Everything is explained and described with tables or diagrams. Chapters are summarized at the end with the most important points covered. SQL code is explained in detail using numeric references that are explained separately from the code. Other books clutter the code with explanations making them hard to read and follow * Oracle and Access code examples - Two of the most widely used DBs are covered, allowing the reader to see the slight, but nevertheless important differences in coding requirements for each platform. Command results are also presented for every example to allow the reader to compare them with their results * Topics covered - From What is SQL to How to use Oracle and Access, the book is detailed and specific without being overkill * CD - It contains all the examples in the book, plus all the tables and data. The CD is compatible with 98/ME/XP/2000 and NT. The Oracle code can be used with Unix and their flavors Some examples could have been more realistic though, instead of using lunches, fruits and colors in many of them. But this is a very personal opinion that will not affect the evaluation. I have no regrets in choosing this book, it has made me understand the SQL virtues and also its limitations. The book was definitely created with a wide audience in mind, written with no silly jokes and no fancy graphics or fonts to show off. This is a very straight, solid SQL foundation book for people with not much time for distractions.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent choice
Review: Choosing one particular SQL book out of the dozens available was not an easy task. Here are the reasons that made me choose this one over the others: * Book organization - Chapters are very well structured with very descriptive sections, making it easy to find what you want. The first page of every chapter lists the contents by section * Ease of reading - Everything is explained and described with tables or diagrams. Chapters are summarized at the end with the most important points covered. SQL code is explained in detail using numeric references that are explained separately from the code. Other books clutter the code with explanations making them hard to read and follow * Oracle and Access code examples - Two of the most widely used DBs are covered, allowing the reader to see the slight, but nevertheless important differences in coding requirements for each platform. Command results are also presented for every example to allow the reader to compare them with their results * Topics covered - From What is SQL to How to use Oracle and Access, the book is detailed and specific without being overkill * CD - It contains all the examples in the book, plus all the tables and data. The CD is compatible with 98/ME/XP/2000 and NT. The Oracle code can be used with Unix and their flavors Some examples could have been more realistic though, instead of using lunches, fruits and colors in many of them. But this is a very personal opinion that will not affect the evaluation. I have no regrets in choosing this book, it has made me understand the SQL virtues and also its limitations. The book was definitely created with a wide audience in mind, written with no silly jokes and no fancy graphics or fonts to show off. This is a very straight, solid SQL foundation book for people with not much time for distractions.
Rating:
Summary: THANK YOU!
Review: I AM A ENGINEERING THAT IS LOOKING TO GET INTO THE IT INDUSTRY (DBMS PRODUCTS). SO I DECIDED TO TEACH MY SELF SQL. I PURCHASED A COUPLE OF OTHER BOOKS. THIS BOOK IS BY FAR THE BEST. THE FORMAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THE SAMPLE PROBLEMS AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER ARE PRACTICAL. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO LEARN SQL SHOULD BY THIS BOOK. I WISH HE WOULD WRITE A BOOK ON PL/SQL.
Rating:
Summary: This is exactly what I needed to learn SQL
Review: I am now actively persuing getting a VB/SQL position. I wanted to teach myself SQL. I pick up languages relatively easy and have no time for crummy writing that complicates the learning process. This book, however, is structured very well. I am only about 1/3 through it but I find that the way it is written makes it easy to decide the level at which you are going to examine a particular topic. I skim the pages and cruise right through the stuff makes sense. If I am not getting it, I can easily look more closely at the page and find what I need to understand. I have looked at a number of computer books and never felt compelled to write a review before but I felt that I owed it to this author. Thanks bro.
Rating: 
Summary: Me say: Editing BAD, Content GOOD!
Review: I bought this book to cram for a job interview; although I've spent some time as an Access developer (read: power user), I've never really spent that much time looking at SQL as a language. I bought this book because it focused on Access and Oracle. I really like the format of this book, because it does read like a workbook. The author introduces a topic, provides some examples, and then gives you some exercises. The code is available on a CD-ROM (which is nice if you're trying to cram a lot of information in a very tight time frame). However, the editing is horrible, and it can detract from the learning. One example is the note from the editor to the author that was mistakenly left in the manuscript (whoops!) on page 347. Overall, it is a handy workbook/reference, and should probably stay on your shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Me say: Editing BAD, Content GOOD!
Review: I bought this book to cram for a job interview; although I've spent some time as an Access developer (read: power user), I've never really spent that much time looking at SQL as a language. I bought this book because it focused on Access and Oracle. I really like the format of this book, because it does read like a workbook. The author introduces a topic, provides some examples, and then gives you some exercises. The code is available on a CD-ROM (which is nice if you're trying to cram a lot of information in a very tight time frame). However, the editing is horrible, and it can detract from the learning. One example is the note from the editor to the author that was mistakenly left in the manuscript (whoops!) on page 347. Overall, it is a handy workbook/reference, and should probably stay on your shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Good writing; terrible editing
Review: I found this to be a very good read on SQL. I learned SQL in a whirlwind fashion in college. I then began programming in Oracle and found that I could use some review of SQL. This book is the only one that I found that would fit the bill. It was just the re-calibration I was looking for. It does have a couple of typo issues (few) but, it wasn't in the code examples. Considering the speed that these books are produced to keep up with the technology, I think John Patrick did a good job with this book. I would give it high marks as an SQL reference. I haven't found one yet that compares.
Rating:
Summary: SQL Fundamentals
Review: I found this to be a very good read on SQL. I learned SQL in a whirlwind fashion in college. I then began programming in Oracle and found that I could use some review of SQL. This book is the only one that I found that would fit the bill. It was just the re-calibration I was looking for. It does have a couple of typo issues (few) but, it wasn't in the code examples. Considering the speed that these books are produced to keep up with the technology, I think John Patrick did a good job with this book. I would give it high marks as an SQL reference. I haven't found one yet that compares.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Text
Review: I use many computer texts, and this title is one of the best, most clearly written guides/manuals I have seen. It has excellent organization, clear presentation, easy-to-understand examples. If you need SQL this is definitely the book. In a genre where authors often slap together sloppy books in record time (for low pay) this is a standout.
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