Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Performance Optimization and Tuning Handbook

This book, somewhat suprisingly, is geared towards beginner to mid-level DBA. Ken England's previous book on MS SQL were very good and were perhaps the best books on MS SQL 2000 performance tuning. I can't say the same for this book. This book, however, excels in explaining complex subjects to a beginner, or even a mid level DBA. Just don't expect this book to offer golden nuggets of information on indexes, locking, and transaction control as the first book does. If you do not have in depth knowledge of indexes and how they relate to the T-SQL transactions, then this book will provide a good start. If you want a more in depth understanding, then I would suggest Ken England's excellent previous book ( SQL 2000 Performance Tuning) which is still relevant to SQL 2005 performance tuning. Pros: Good basic explaination of indexes, joins, and locking Cons: Most of the subjects and explaination are redundant if you are already intimately familiar with the basics of MS SQL performance tuning.

I found this book an enjoyable read, (if you can say that about a SQL Performance Tuning book). It was not like reading a 'SQL cookbook' or a training text book. It was more of a self-improvement book. It showed you the basics, discussed how they related to one another and helped to change way I thought about tuning and the way I attacked the task of optimizing my SQL 2005 servers. This is a must for anyone who works with data warehouses, multiple server enviroments and any type of BI on a daily basis.