Learning SQL - O'Reilly's Latest Release

For Immediate Release
For more information, a review copy, cover art, or an interview with
the author, contact:
Kathryn Barrett (707) 827-7094 or kathrynb@oreilly.com

A Pain-Free Introduction to SQL
O'Reilly Releases "Learning SQL"

Sebastopol, CA--With only a handful of commands, SQL data statements can
look deceptively simple. This, combined with the fact that many database
developers discover they can get by with learning just the rudiments of
the language, explains why so few SQL users tap into the full power of the
language.  "In my opinion, many of the available SQL books help to foster
this notion by only skimming the surface of what is possible with the
language," says Alan Beaulieu, author of "Learning SQL" (O'Reilly, US
$34.95), adding "If you're going to work with SQL, it behooves you to
understand fully the capabilities of the language and how different
features can be combined to produce powerful results."

Those who work with relational databases--whether writing applications,
performing administrative tasks, or generating reports--need to understand
how to interact with their data. Even those who use a tool that generates
SQL for them, such as a reporting tool, may have occasions when they need
to bypass the automatic generation feature and write their own SQL
statements. SQL can also be fun: it can be exhilarating to take a tricky
data manipulation or reporting problem and solve it with a single, well
written statement.  "Learning SQL" provides a pain-free introduction
that begins with a simple SELECT statement and gently guides readers
well on their way to proficiency with the language.

"Most SQL books on the market today cover either too little or too much
territory, so I wanted to write an introductory book that gives the reader
a solid understanding of the SQL language without being overwhelming.  I
also wanted to stick to standard SQL syntax so that the reader's knowledge
could be applied to multiple databases, i.e. Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL,"
says Beaulieu. "I feel that this is the only book that provides detailed
coverage of the SQL language without the added benefit of doubling as a
'door stop' (you know, those 1,250-page 'complete references' that tend to
gather dust on people's cubicle shelves)."

Beaulieu's book is intended for anyone who needs to learn SQL to enhance
his or her academic or professional career.  The book shows readers how to
collect and return related information from many tables at once, take a
set-oriented approach to working with data, embed conditional logic into
SQL statements using CASE expressions, write queries within queries, and
employ SQL's many built-in functions to transform and reinterpret data.

SQL may be an old language, but it's going to be around for a long time
and has a bright future, Beaulieu contends: "SQL is one of those things
that people expect will go away, but it never does. Even though computers
are getting faster all the time and can store and retrieve terabytes of
data, it is still imperative that users learn how data is stored and how
it can be efficiently manipulated."  With "Learning SQL," readers can
master this important skill and know that the SQL statements they write
are both powerful and correct.

Additional Resources:

Chapter 3, "Query Primer," is available online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learningsql/chapter/index....

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,
author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learningsql/

For a cover graphic in JPEG format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596007...

Learning SQL
Alan Beaulieu
ISBN: 0-596-00727-2, 289 pages, $34.95 US, $48.95 CA
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