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Rating: 
Summary: Generally a very useful book
Review: I have been working with Oracle for serveral years. We recently upgraded to Oracle8i from Oracle7. I found this book to be very useful in quickly getting up to speed on the new features of Oracle8i. I found the chapters on Built-in packages and fine-grained access control to be particularly useful.I agree with another reviewers comment that more should have been done with Java. Perhaps, Java rates a book of its own. I hope Mr. Feuerstein will produce a similar book for Oracle9i.
Rating:
Summary: Generally a very useful book
Review: I have been working with Oracle for serveral years. We recently upgraded to Oracle8i from Oracle7. I found this book to be very useful in quickly getting up to speed on the new features of Oracle8i. I found the chapters on Built-in packages and fine-grained access control to be particularly useful. I agree with another reviewers comment that more should have been done with Java. Perhaps, Java rates a book of its own. I hope Mr. Feuerstein will produce a similar book for Oracle9i.
Rating: 
Summary: Technical vs Political
Review: I was kind of surprised to see that his political views (which I was aware of via his website) made it into his book. More surprised that O'Reilly allowed them into the book, but then again...if they didn't then there would be no free speech for Steven. His political views aside, I enjoyed all the little nooks and cranies (especially NDS - Native Dynamic SQL). NDS is more like a big chunk instead of a nook and crany. This has saved me hours of extra coding. Also the other new features are excellent. More Java is definitely apropo, less politics. Though I am not as offended as most reviewers of the book, I do agree with them. Especially about Mumia (sp?). Leave politics out of it. That's why I gave it 3 stars instead 4 or 5. Looking forward to your next book Steven. Gio
Rating: 
Summary: The poorest book in the series
Review: If you're wondering about what's new in Oracle8i at the PL/SQL level and you don't want to skim through the Oracle doc's once more, this book offers a fine resumé. I like the book because it gave me that "I'm-up-to-date"-feeling again. No PL/Vision commercials in here.
Rating:
Summary: More than good supplement to PL/SQL series from O'Reilly!
Review: In the preface of this book Steven announced that he is developing the third edition of his well-known book "Oracle PL/SQL Programming" that will cover Oracle8i. I hope he'll postpone this release until Oracle9i hits the market so he can cover this major release too. In the meantime I think this book is perfect supplement to PL/SQL series from O'Reilly. Even if you don't follow Steven series on PL/SQL (which I doubt if you're Oracle developer on planet Earth ;-) you'll find this book more than adequate resource for quick reference on all major Oracle8i PL/SQL features. I particularly liked chapters on invoker rights, native dynamic SQL, fine-grained access control and new trigger features. If you're not familiar with these terms then you'll be glad that you read this book! The only (minor!) deficiency that I found in this book was what Steven is calling "breath of fresh air" approach to examples that will help us engage with the technical material. Perhaps I could better relate to the examples about USA health care, gun lobby or fairness of wage structures if I ever lived in the states. Steven, if you're reading this please go back to old boring emp/dept examples or pick somehow less distract full examples.
Rating: 
Summary: Technically excellent! AND a well rounded person
Review: In the preface of this book Steven announced that he is developing the third edition of his well-known book "Oracle PL/SQL Programming" that will cover Oracle8i. I hope he'll postpone this release until Oracle9i hits the market so he can cover this major release too. In the meantime I think this book is perfect supplement to PL/SQL series from O'Reilly. Even if you don't follow Steven series on PL/SQL (which I doubt if you're Oracle developer on planet Earth ;-) you'll find this book more than adequate resource for quick reference on all major Oracle8i PL/SQL features. I particularly liked chapters on invoker rights, native dynamic SQL, fine-grained access control and new trigger features. If you're not familiar with these terms then you'll be glad that you read this book! The only (minor!) deficiency that I found in this book was what Steven is calling "breath of fresh air" approach to examples that will help us engage with the technical material. Perhaps I could better relate to the examples about USA health care, gun lobby or fairness of wage structures if I ever lived in the states. Steven, if you're reading this please go back to old boring emp/dept examples or pick somehow less distract full examples.
Rating:
Summary: Technical side: 5+ stars; Political side: 0 or less
Review: Pro: Great reference for Oracle 8i PL/SQL, a bit lacking in the Java side, but for the rest is really good. Con: Mr. Feuerstein should leave politics out of the book. He has the right to hold any political view, which by the way I don't subscribe to, but this was supposed to be a technical text that should help readers all over the world, not only those in Berkley who vote left wing. Next time he better stick to the usual, neutral and actually more useful, examples.
Rating:
Summary: An utter disappointment
Review: Steven's insistence on injecting political commentary in every nook and cranny of his book completely undermines its value as a technical resource. This book was especially dissappointing because I consider Steven's first book on pl/sql (Oracle PL/SQL Programming) to be the finest technical book I have ever read. Steven, if you want to write a book that expresses your political views, then write a book called "Steven Feuerstein's Views on Politics". That way people who want to buy a book on pl/sql won't have to wade through pages of your paranoid rantings.
Rating:
Summary: A Quick upgrade to Oracle 8i for the PL/SQL developer
Review: This book effectively explains and illustrates the new features of Oracle 8i. Any serious user of this book should just stick to learning the concepts and avoid seeing the examples for what they are. The author has chosen a medium to get the message across. The message is not the medium,get it right ! As long as you appreciate the application of these features stay contented.
Rating: 
Summary: Great technical reference, bad political humor......
Review: would gave this book 4 stars if it wasn't for the bad political jokes and awkward plaements of them such as 'in code'. I recommend Oracle PL/SQL by Benjamin Rozenweig(it even features an actual database to perform against.) Please keep in mind this recommendation is for beginners.
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