Rating: 
Summary: Hands Down the Best.
Review: I shopped long and hard before finally [got] MySQL by Paul DuBois. I considered several others before finally settling on this one, and I am happy to say that I made the right decision.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: This is an excellent book. It is well written, well explained and makes using MySQL databases easy while giving you a clear view of how it works. Newbies to RDBMS like me can use this book as an excellent intro to databases and will get their feet wet with MySQL fast!
Also, the API references to C++, PHP, etc. are excellent.
My only complaint (and it doesn't take away a star from my review) is that it doesn't have a Java API reference, which is in my opinion, essential.
I strongly suggest to the authors that they include such reference in a upcoming edition of this book (if they do it).
So get this book if you want to have the power that MySQL brings you.
Rating:
Summary: The best technical book I've read
Review: I read a lot of computer books both as part of my day job (unix sysadmin) and on the side (wrote 2 computer books). Normally I'm not moved to write nice things about the competition, but this book is truly impressive.The organization of the chapters is logical, proceeding from introductory to advanced topics in clearly defined stages. The author thankfully resisted the current trend of giving the chapters cutesy names that communicate nothing. The writing is clear and concise. The indexing is superb. The coverage of the subject matter is unbelievably complete, encompassing not only MySQL and general database theory, but also almost every other aspect of database programming. In the six months I've been working with it I've never been unable to find the answer to a MySQL question in this book. Indeed, the Appendices are so good that I have found answers in here when the books I was reading on PHP and the Perl DBI turned out to be wrong. MySQL is a very impressive achievement in all respects.
Rating:
Summary: A Complete Guide to MySQL
Review: This book offers complete coverage of MySQL, as well as thorough references to the C, Perl, and PHP MySQL API's.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome, worth the money
Review: Very good book, informative. Well-paced. I had MYSQL setup in no time using this, and was performing mid-level queries with no problems. Will definately recommend to friends.
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD BOOK
Review: I bought this book a week a go and I am still reading it. So far, I find it's a very thorough and good introduction to the topic. It is a perfect book for MySQL beginner since it's provide a tutorial on howto interact with MySQL server using comand line and programming language. The main languages that this book focus are C, PHP and perl. This book is also good as a reference. It got 200 something pages appendixes starting from How to install MySQL until PHP function reference. My only complain with the book is that it uses a database sample called samp_db which I could not find where to get it.
Rating:
Summary: The only MySQL book you will ever need!
Review: This is, without a doubt, the only MySQL book that you will ever need. It starts out with an incredibly understandable introduction for newbies to databases. Not only is it the best introduction to MySQL, it is also the best reference. Spend the money for this one, because it is the only one you will ever need for MySQL! Paul Dubois did an incredible job!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely good, even if you only read the first section.
Review: Paul DuBois does an excellent job of providing a thorough introduction to MySQL. This is one of two technical books that I have been truly satisfied with, the other being Friedl's _Mastering Regular Expressions_. If you have a limited budget (or limited time to read) and are using MySQL in web development, buy this book. I was somewhat hesitant to purchase a text on MySQL. Having seven years experience using databases for GIS analysis, I thought that I had a good fundamental understanding of database design. Reading the first section of _MySQL_ made me realise how much I had been missing. The text is liberally interspersed with examples of SQL that were very valuble in pointing out language concepts that I had missed. However, the thing that I found the most appealing about this book was the author's writing style. DuBois balances the extremely technical subject matter with a commentary that makes you want to keep reading. This is something that is sorely missing in most technical writing; I felt like I was reading a good novel. The features that I found to be most useful in this text were the sections on query optimisation and complex joins. As someone with little formal education in database design, I had always been a little afraid of these concepts. DuBois has helped me conquor my fear and raise these considerations to the forefront of my consciousness when building new applications. I also use the extensive references included in the book as part of my day-to-day work. They are well organised, well written, and are easily accessed by way of a comprehensive index. I have to admit that I have not read the middle third of the book. To most this would seem a waste, but I have no interest in system administration, and already have a good grasp of how to interface programs with databases. If I ever have time to come back and read the other sections I will. Until then I will rest easy in the assurance that the knowledge I have gained from this book already is worth far more than the price I paid for it.
Rating:
Summary: Thank heaven for Paul DuBois
Review: This book is shockingly clear and well-written--something that is always a pleasure and especially surprising in a programming book. The author never forgets the audience in the introductory chapters and even starts with excellent explanations about the value of storing data in relational tables. Two nicely representative sample databases are developed in the first half of the book. These are then used in the latter portions of the book to develop scripts for web applications. I sincerely hope that Mr. DuBois writes more books for those of us who want all the details but need to start at the beginning. It was a great treat for this reader to find such a trustworthy author.
Rating:
Summary: Reference and Tutorial In One!
Review: I found out I really like database programming. This book helped me learn it. The first section is a tutorial dedicated to those who know nothing about database programming. I found Paul's style to be relaxing and easy to understand. The next parts are explanations on how to make MySQL work with CGI and PHP. I am using CGI for my website, and I thought the CGI section was good, if almost "too" informative. (If you want a good MySQL/CGI quick reference book, check out CGI 101.) All in all, a good book for those who are starting from scratch on MySQL, or even those who are transferring from another database program.
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