Fundamentals of Database Systems

This is a most comprehensive book for database at the same time having enough depth and I have used this book for 2 courses and read it in entirely.It covers every area of the db from realtional models,database design,system impelmentation techniques to advanced concepts.If you want to know about databases in entierty, this is the book. I have read some of the negative reviews, guys this is a not book for learning sql or for that matter is not titled database for dummies.I agree that you need some background in computer science but I donot think there is advanced math in it.Please READ THE TITLE and the abstract and probably then make your views about the book. I give it 5 stars because it achieves what it desires brilliantly

The author has done great justice to the subject of database in the modern settings. I recommend this book as the first serious academic (yet practical) database book to read.It is not a book on a specific tool however. It is mainly a conceptual development book as it claims to be. As a faculty member in Computer Science, I have read many database books at all levels of difficulties. It is one of the best books I have read that I think has provided the clearest possible explanation on the Entity Relationship model.Having said all these positive comments, I would like to suggest to the authors to put more in-depth, concrete, as well as practical examples in the topics on Relational Calculus and Relational Algebra in order to the students true appreciations why efforts on learning such abstracts tools are justified. Much stronger emphasis on Object-Oriented databases would be a very timely addtions to the next edition, which I sincerely look forward to purchasing a copy of, if and when it materializes. I strongly recommend this book for a 3rd year level univeristy level database course for all faculties in computer science and computer information systems as a formal text. It is well worth every penny of your money spent.Lawrence LeeVancouver BC, Canada.

To a reader who wants to just learn database design and implementation, this book may overkill, or can pick up what is needed based on the guide given in the preface of the book. Also the binding of the book is excellent in my case.Some reader comments that the book is too hard or has too many definitions. Indeed, there are a lot of definitions introduced in the book, so the understanding of the contents may be masked. A reader would be more comfortable with reading this book with introductory knowledge of programming, sets, logic, and hands-on experience with one of DBMS. I spent time on filpping pages back many times to refer to the definitons and figures, but considering the quality of the book, that kind of annoyance is negligible to me. (however no glossory is provided). A self-study reader should be aware that no answer is provided to the problem sets.I appreciate the concise, accurate and careful writing, which makes this book 5 stars to me. A self-study reader should love to see a little diagram in preface that shows which chapter shoud be covered before reading another chapter.There are three versions of this 3rd ed. So a reader is advised to pick one from: the book alone, the book w/ e-book (electronic copy of this book in cdrom), and the book w/ Oracle emphasis (w/ cdrom). Just click on one of the authors hyperlink.I also found some additional materials available on web by one the authors at GaTech. Chekc them out.

I am a student in the school of Computer Science and Telecomunications in Athens University.This is the book we are using for three different courses.These are the introduction to Data Bases and File Organisation,Data Bases and Distributed DataBases.The book is very well writen and easy to understand.But a small experiance in a programming language for the first part of the book is essential.After you read this book you would be able to probe further and start reading books about SQL,PL/SQL etc. rather than begining with them and not knowing the theory first.

Basically, Fundamentals is the text of choice for serious database design. The second edition has better and more useful examples than the first edition. Two of Navathe's grad students are at core development of Oracle Corp. Want what MIT, Stanford, and the SEC schools give ? This is it.