Teach yourself SQL the easy way, with a step-by-step guide to writing it. From the best SQL codes to discussions of standard syntax, database design best practices, and advanced operations, SIMPLY SQL is one of the best guides available for programmers new to the language and is a pick for any library catering to computer programmers and SQL designers.

I found this book easy to read and understand. I liked that the code focus is on using ANSI standard SQL as this gives knowledge that will work across platforms on multiple database systems from free options like MySQL to common proprietary ones like Oracle and SQL Server. The examples are clear and well written and the figures are wonderful (as is usual in sitepoint products).

This book is not intended for people who wish to learn to become database administrators. It was written for web developers who want to have a better understanding of the basics of SQL. This is an important fact. If you fit this role, this book is excellent. If you want to go deeper, O'Reilly's Learning SQL is better.

I appreciated the book's focus on adhering to ANSI standards while noting how different databases from various vendors may require slight adjustments in coding. This book is suitable for people using any of the databases mentioned in the first paragraph and others.

The coding style was easy to read, but there were some odd quirks that I didn't like. For example, as noted by the author himself, he likes to put commas at the beginning of lines when making lists. This is the only place I have ever seen that done. Now, this isn't technically wrong, but it is unusual. I would have preferred to see code examples written with strict adherence to commonly accepted standards as this makes the task of reading other people's code or writing good and readable code easier. However, I guess doing it this way can also be seen as a benefit as it will remind the reader that there is more than one way to do things, and that in the real world he will be sure to encounter non-standard methods and have to adapt. Honestly, that is my only big complaint about the book, and it isn't a deal breaker.

If you are part of the intended audience for the book and are interested in learning SQL, this book should serve you quite well.

Most SQL documentation and books show syntax and convoluted examples that you would never use in real life, or show such simple examples you can't use any of their queries in a real database.

Simply SQL explains the syntax simply, moving into practical examples of how to write SQL queries and administer databases. It's an excellent "getting started" guide for anyone building database-driven websites, but is also an excellent reference for the seasoned developers (like myself). There are always times when I'm not quite sure how to handle a particular query.

I'd recommend Simply SQL for anyone who needs to administer a database as part of web development or programming.

Simply SQL is a basic introduction of writing SQL statements. It covers the elements of statement development, covers the keywords, and also includes a brief discussion of database design.

The writing is clear and concise, many of the "gotchas" of statement writing are covered. Some of the fine points of choices re data types are described.

This is a good introduction to the subject.

Are you a web designer or developer looking for guidance in learning SQL for your web projects? If you are, then this book is for you! Author by Rudy Limeback, has done an outstanding job of writing a book about SQL.

Limeback, begins by putting the SQL language into a perspective relevant to a typical web developer. Next, the author dissects the SQL SELECT statement into its component and clauses and gives you a taste of what's to come. Then, he will ease you through the tricky subject of database table joins, where you'll easily master the concepts of the inner join, left outer join, right outer join, full outer join, and cross join. He continues by showing you how to express conditions using SQL keywords: LIKE, BETWEEN, AND, OR, IN, EXISTS, and NOT; as well as, correlated subqueries. Next, the author shows you how to group works and the rules for its use. Then, he shows you how to write HAVING clause conditions, and how to use the HAVING clause without a GROUP BY clause. The author continues by showing you how to use the SELECT clause effectively, and how its scope changes in the presence or absence of the GROUP BY clause. Next, he focuses on sequencing the various data types, and the difference between sequencing the various data types, and the difference between sequencing and grouping. He continues by providing a detailed look at the various numeric, character, and temporal data types available for columns, and the rationales for their use. Next, the author introduces some topics that are the source of much befuddlement for many people new to databases. Finally, the author examines some of the common database structures that can be used to implement complex relationship between entities.

This most excellent book explored all of the aspects of SQL and database design that are required by web developers to develop efficient and effective web pages. More importantly, it covered not only simple examples of SQL that are relevant to you, but also more complex concepts using terminology that is not too obscure.