SQL in 10 Minutes, Sams Teach Yourself

Update (Dec 1, '06): updates marked with >>> <br /> <br />-don't know which program you will be using for SQL and have no knowledge of SQL commands, this book is directed at you and you should get it. <br /> <br />-know which program you will be using, get a book on your specific program, because there is enough variation between the programs that another book will serve you much better. <br />>>>I think I will change this recommendation -- if you don't know SQL, consider this book regardless of which program you are working with. <br /> <br />-are familiar with a few commands in SQL, look for a different book because you will probably breeze through this book and not gain nearly as much as if your time was spent reading something else. <br /> <br />I was in the first category and found this book to be an excellent introduction. With the exception of 2-3 of the 18 lessons, this book is quite clear...those 2-3 lessons just take a bit more time getting familiar with the concepts. You won't find yourself breezing through the chapters in 10 minutes each, with the possible exception of the first 5 or so, but the lessons do only take about 20 minutes on average and are straight-forward. <br />>>>The book teaches by example, which I'm typically not a big fan of, but this book pulled it off well. <br /> <br />So, if you are brand new to SQL and don't know what program you will be using, buy this book and take an hour each day for a week to read it. <br />>>>If you are new to SQL, consider buying this book, but... you may also benefit from the free tutorial on w3schools . com, which is found under the PHP section. Having now done some MySQL for a website, I can certainly say this book is useful and I gained from its pages but I would also recommend the free tutorial before purchasing (both because it is free and because it is actually a very good tutorial on both PHP and MySQL).

I generally don't write reviews of products unless they are fantastic or absolutely horrible. This is FANTASTIC. If you have programming experience and some familiarity with MS Access, this is a great book for you. I was able to go through the entire thing in 8 hours, take notes and import 3500 records from an old database into a new one with much greater ease.Pros:-It differentiates between SQL Server, Oracle and the SQL specification on several examples.-An introduction to advanced features is given in the last few chapters with examples.-Small book allows quick scanningCons:-Not very visual. Organization of information and the layout of it is done well, but as far as pictures go, they are absent.-Title is somewhat deceiving, 10 minutes if you are only trying to find an example to use for reference.-Not for those who have little or no programming experience. Explains functionality of code and the big picture. On more complex examples, details on sections of code are left out and assumed to be understood.

If you are new to Database Application Design/Web Based Application Design, as I am, you will find this title most helpful in getting you off the ground. I bought this book in hopes that it would help me build SQL statements into my ASP pages, and it has done that and more. This book is an easy read and very clearly explains the basic concepts of the SQL language, techniques, capabilities, etc. It also offers a concise look into the way databases are designed and how they function. The book does a wonderful job of remaining non-proprietary, and is quick to point out when you are learning something that is specific to one Database Management System or another. This is a wonderful little book to add to your reference library if you wish to spend little and learn tons.

I am only 13 years old and understood every line of this book!This is a great book to get you started in database management using SQL. The format of the book is one I've never seen, I love it. He first explains a new concept, compares it to other previously learned concepts, and then gives an example. Following this he explains the example. There are lots of other things helpful in his technique as well, such as showing the examples for Oracle users (a Database management program).The thing that I really like is the perfect balance of explanations and examples. It is hard to find a page in the book without at least one example.Upsides to this book --------------------- not to many words easy to handle concepts well written great for beginnersDownsides to book ------------------ Not the best book for reference, but not bad. not for advanced SQL usersOver all, the best computer book I've ever read, don't hesitate to get yourself a copy.

Ben Forta has done a great job distilling the most pertinent basic SQL concepts into simple, easy to read form. Befitting its "10 minute" moniker, this is a wonderful book for new SQL programmers. But it's also subtly different in a way that will particularly suit folks coming into SQL for the first time as part of their involvement in using web database development tools such as ColdFusion and Active Server Pages.One one level, any new SQL programmer using any DBMS will appreciate the easily digested coverage of the fundamental query and update basics. The books is well-written, an easy read, and goes beyond those basics without going too far. Even moderately experienced readers will be well-served by the clear, simple discussions of important topics (like data manipulation and aggregating functions, grouping data, subqueries, views, etc) that can be easily forgotten, as well as other topics (such as using transactions, constraints, triggers, etc.) that can get lost in wading through other more voluminous tomes. Ben presents a very nice balance of fundamental topics.But there's more to this book than being a simple intro to SQL. That audience of web db developers is an exploding one, and they bring some unique needs for which Ben provides a valuable perspective. Most SQL books have some DBMS-specific bias, despite SQL's purpose as a tool for accessing any kind of database in a consistent manner. Web application development environments like ASP and CF are also similarly database-agnostic. There are subtle points about using SQL in such environments that are different from using it, say, in a query builder or in a client/server environment.Ben, who was lead author of the highly regarded ColdFusion Web Application Construction Kit, presents the subjects in a manner suitable to such programmers and the way they'd code SQL and use its results, and he also sprinkles in discussions of how to take care of cross-platform issues on particular tasks, and often offers specific solutions for the most popular DBMS's used by that audience, such as Access, SQL Server, and Oracle.On still another level, other books also get bogged down in issues of database design, creation, administration, security, etc. Important though those topics are, most development shops are growing to a point where those tasks are being handled by different people, and the developer who simply wants to code retrieval and update applications is challenged to find a good intro sql book that doesn't wade into detail on topics that they may not yet be able to understand, let alone ever need to perform. There are other great books that do cover those subjects, and readers would do well to seek those out as they progress in their learning.It certainly makes it challenging to find (and no less to write) a SQL book. There are just so many potential audiences. For its intended purpose though, "Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes" is very well done. As in his