Reviews for Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management (International Computer Science Series)

1. Brillant!!!

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2009

   Thank you, got this book cheaper than the recommended price. It is brillant with very good illustrations

2. Best text book for a first course in database

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, October 12nd, 2008

   I first used this book alot (second edition) when I had to teach a course to HNC and HND students at South East Essex college in 1999. It it the main book I used to put together my notes
   
   Generally an excellent text-book. It doesn't quite carry the clout or precision of C. J Dates book on database systems, but it is far more practical. Not only are the explanations simpler, but there are more practical examples. Also because it is a newer book it is a little more up-to date. The fact that it includes examples in ACCESS as well is an added bonus for teachers and students who have no choice but to use ACCESS.
   
   Certainly the best text for students at the HNC/HND level.
   

3. Good student textbook maybe...

   Rated 2 out of 5 stars, December 12th, 2005

   I'll keep this short and sweet: while this may be a good textbook to use when on a database course (and I mean one for full-time students who have yet to enter the world of work) this is definitively no use to those requiring a practical manual that will help you to solve a real-world problem or implement a real-world database solution. I don't think it strives to be the latter and doesn't stake a claim to be such a work but the point needs to be made to ensure people do not purchase it under the assumption that it is something that it certainly is not.
   If you want a hands-on, useful SQL primer, go for Ben Forta's "SQL in 10 minutes", or for a practical how-to book on starting out in database creation, try out George Hepworth's "Grover Park George On Access": what they lack in terms of relational calculus (find this in "Database Systems"!) they make up for in teaching you stuff you can actually use. You'll also save yourself a lot of cash.

4. Very good course book

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2005

   This book is well written and aimed at those with little or no prior knowledge of databases (e.g. undergraduates). It goes from conceptual design right down to low level topics. I think the main strength of this book lies in its excellent examples. There are several case studies which are used very well to show practical examples of concepts described. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a text book on databases.

5. Database Systems - a student's view

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2004

   For the most part, I found this book excellent. The text explanations are clear, thorough and easy to follow, and I would thoroughly recommend it on this basis.
   
   The exercises for the chapters, however, are very poorly written. One or two questions in each of the exercises we have encountered so far in my class have been essentially meaningless, so if you are a teacher looking to set this text for a course, beware! Make sure that you read through and correct any ambiguous questions before you set them for your students.
   
   To give an example, one question asks the student to write a SQL query to calculate "the average number of bookings for each hotel in August." Not the average number of bookings per night for each hotel in August, or the average number of bookings in August across all hotels, but essentially a figure which is not actually an average. Rather annoying.
   
   But if you won't be following the exercises slavishly, this book is otherwise worth every penny.