Rating: 
Summary: Half Decent
Review: I obtained this book and enjoyed the first few chapters on database design -- and it was useful in orienting oneself with the data types and models that mySQL uses. That said, this should not be your only book for mySQL/php3 programming. It covers the raw essentials well, but it severely lacking in examples and sample code (it has sample code for a wide variety of environments, but it is spread to thin, imho). I would recommend this book in combination with a good web database design book, such as the excellent Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible by O'Reilly Standards
Review: I also bought this book based on O'reilly's reputation. Hopefully, O'Reilly will read these reviews and prevent this from happening again. There are numerous mistakes throughout the book, many commands are not documented and the documentation is skimpy on other commands. One is *far* better off just printing out the MySQL documentation and buying a good SQL book to complement it.
Rating: 
Summary: Overpriced, for what you get
Review: Being a loyal O'Reilly customer, I pre-ordered this book before it was released. Big mistake. I found this book to be, for the most part, a waste of money. First off, I think O'Reilly made a mistake when they attempted to cover both MySQL and mSQL in one text. Had they stuck with one database, the book would have been a fairly complete reference but instead, it seems to take a mostly superficial look at the two. I found the constant comparisons between mSQL and MySQL to be distracting and annoying. Secondly, I think this text focused too heavily on the configuration of the database engine itself and not enough on the building of databases and the SQL language. In my opinion, the only redeeming value that this book had was the Perl programming examples. I bought this book having never before used SQL or MySQL. After a few hours of reading, I gave up on it and went to the online MySQL reference instead, which is actually quite decent. I was browsing SQL books at the local bookstore the other day and thumbed through Paul DuBois' book, which seemed to be a much better reference to the database.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a good argument for book burning
Review: What were the editors at O'Reilly thinking when they let this book make it into publication? For a company that has such a good reputation, you'd think they would guard it by keeping to the high standards that earned it. This book has absolutely nothing useful in it. It's not an in depth SQL book. It's not an in depth MySQL book. It's not an in depth mSQL book. It's not even close to a decent reference book (just listing function names does not make a reference). It's so poorly written that it doesn't even differentiate cleanly between mSQL and MySQL! I think the cover animal should have been a dung beetle!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book for the Pros
Review: If you are a (real) computer professional and need a great book to get your self up to speed on MySQL. Then this is your book. Best used with MySQL's online documentation. Also a really good section for perl DBI /DBD API. Note: I read the bad reviews placed about this book. And it seemed that the people who gave bad reviews don't know much about computers or databases. This book is not meant for cover-to-cover reading. Just read the first 4 chapters then use as a reference when needed. You will find it an exhalent source for problem solving MySQL issues and when you need to get more in-depth go to the online doc provide by MySQL.
Rating:
Summary: For difference experts
Review: This book is for you, if your quest is to become an expert on the difference between mySQL and mSQL. As mySQL is a freeware/shareware product everyone has the manual, which good but is rather technical. I was looking for a book that expands it by practical examples. This book is not it.
Rating:
Summary: Another great O'Reilly book
Review: This is an excellent book for MySQL/mSQL novices. It takes the reader through database fundamentals through to installing and managing a working MySQL or mSQL database. SQL is described well enough that a complete newcomer to the language could pick it up easily. On the downside, database programming coverage isn't brilliant (the PHP coverage is particularly poor), and there's practically no mention of ODBC which I was disappointed to find.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, this book *is* as poor as others are saying...
Review: To start, mixing mySQL & mSQL into one book is not a good idea, and this implementation brought out the worst. It was often difficult to tell which the author was presently discussing. Secondly, a reader new to SQL would be very lost reading this book. It often gets lost in verbose treatment of details and delivers disappointingly little useful info. The most potentially useful chapter, #10, offers a sample application in Perl. However, the application is so obscure and the explanation is so poor that the example is not useful. O'Reilly books used to uphold a high standard but have been slipping fast in the last couple years. This work and others makes me seriouly question relying on the cover to assume adequate quality.
Rating: 
Summary: Brief and good, but other book may be better.....
Review: This book gives most of the commands and functions. However, the other much discussed one : MySQL (OTHER NEW RIDERS) may be better, not because it has more pages but its depth. It does not have any CD rom with examples which could be nice.
Rating:
Summary: This book isn't as bad as everyone is saying...
Review: I admit this isn't O'Reilly's greatest book... It does have several errors in it, most of which are fairly obvious to the reader and can be mentally corrected. The errata listing on O'Reilly's website is very thorough. This book gave me a solid introduction to MySQL and has prepared me to write full fledged MySQL C applications.
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