Rating: 
Summary: A good overall introduction to SQL databases...
Review: This books provides a good all around introduction to databases, SQL and the mSQL and MySQL database servers. It tends to favor MySQL a bit more, but this seems appropriate given that MySQL is now far more advanced than mSQL.It also serves as a pretty good reference for both servers (though, by no means a complete one). It explains some database building basics, as well as what 2NF and 3NF mean (and how to make your database 3NF). It contains several useful chapters on different APIs to MySQL and mSQL including a very helpful introduction to the Perl DBI. I still find the reference pages pretty helpful, but for people looking for an advanced reference, I'd say look elsewhere (perhaps "Managing and Using MySQL" (ASIN 0596002114)). If you're just learning SQL or MySQL, this is a great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst Book from O'Reill
Review: This is the worst O'Reilly book ever. It made me not use MySQL for over a year. I switched to PostgreSQL instead. No step by step on how to add users, etc. I did think the Perl-DBI/DBD part was good, but it was useless because of the early chapters.
I'm not saying the book was dog, but it does chase cars and eat kibble.
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