Reviews for Simply SQL: SitePoint

1. SQL Simply!

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, March 12st, 2010

   I echo other reviewers positive comments wholeheartedly. Hands down this is the best introduction to SQL I have read! It is well written, concise and well annotated by diagrams and littered with simple SQL coding examples to illustrate the topics being discussed. My personal favourite SQL topic, and the bane of many a SQL noob, namely JOINS, are covered in exquisite detail as are topics such as GROUP BY, HAVING, ORDER BY, etc. The author also covers other essential SQL topics such as INDEXES, RELATIONAL INTEGRITY and DATA MODELLING in the same well-written and easy to understand style. I have been developing non-SQL relational databases for over 15 years so these latter topics are of less interest but nevertheless serve as a very useful reference on how to deal with these areas the 'SQL way'. Really, anyone who needs an introduction or a refresher course on SQL should buy this book! Finally, it is refreshing to read a technical book that weighs in at under 300 pages! In my experience many of the great technical books in my library eschew the need to come in at around 800 pages and rightly so.

2. Great Intro level book

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, January 12th, 2010

   This book is a great introduction to the basics of SQL, the database query language used by all the top selling database programmes (eg Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server Express), including those found powering web sites, such as MySQL. The examples are easy to follow and increase in complexity as the reader works through the book. There is a download site where all the code required to create the sample databases can be found, enabling beginners to practise querying their own database. Although MySQL is freely available, it does have a few not quite standard features, and where its syntax differs from the norm, this is pointed out and advice on the general best practice to use is given. The author is well-know on professional web and database forums, especially those at Sitepoint, for giving generous help to anyone who asks. With over 20 years experience in the field, you know you are getting advice from a true guru.
   
   The book is suitable for any introductory course on databases, but has little on database design. But the title does make it clear that this is not what the book is about.
   
   I'd have liked to see a set of practise questions for the sample databases that can be downloaded, so a newbie can test what they have learned. That would need more data in the download, to give more variety and increase the complexity of query required.
   
   OVerall, recommended for beginners for their first SQL course.

3. the best book on sql by miles!

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2009

   Simply SQL is easily the best book on sql, and i'm sure i have most of them! it covers beginners sql with easy to understand real world examples and goes on to cover more complex unions, and joins and self referencing tables. all demonstrated in easy to understand language and plenty of diagrams, theres no chance you'll feel lost or confused!
   The author has clearly gone to alot of trouble to explain things in a very clear and consise manner . I have been using SQL for a long time,(4 years) and there was still lots for me to learn, as well as understanding fundamentals such as why we use indexes, how many to use, and how they help to speed up queries, and then onto more complex statements and how to optimise and use best practice SQL.
   I simply can't recommend this book enough, i only wish i was on comission!
   
   Also if youre in the market for a php book, David Powers has a book called Php Solutions which i also whole heartedly reccommend. If you could see all the geeky books i have accumulated and read you would know that this is high praise indeed!
   
   Well good luck with your SQL!
   

4. Mark James

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, February 12th, 2009

   A great book providing a foundation for learning SQL. It has practical examples that stretch the imagination but stay firmly rooted to the real world. Unlike to many books in the systems world is readable and immediately comprehensible. If you are starting out on the SQL road or even dabbling in using databases with websites then this is an excellent start to getting to grips with what SQL and what it can do for you
   
   It doesn't attempt to cover every possible feature of SQL.
   It doesn't try to bamboozle newcomers to SQL with unnecessary features or "show off" the authors knowledge of SQL.
   it succeeds in providing a good grounding in how to use SQL.