There are many ways to learn structured query language (SQL). This book takes a multifaceted approach: all core SQL topics are presented using a brief description of the concept, followed by easy-to-grasp examples. As a result, the reader is able to totally master the basics, and learns the best ways to use the language. This is not a reference book; it is a guide, challenging the reader to work through hands-on tasks.

There are 16 chapters in the book, along with eight appendices. Each chapter is divided into labs, each covering particular topics. The objective of each lab is defined at its beginning, with brief examples. The reader is then invited to solve some exercises. Following the exercises are their answers, enriched with detailed discussions. Each lab ends with several self-review questions, and each chapter includes a good collection of these labs, and ends with supplementary questions.

Chapter 1 addresses the very basics: the structure of a database, table relationships, normalization, and development models. This chapter also introduces the sample database used throughout the book.

The second chapter presents the SQL *Plus environment, and develops the anatomy of a select statement. The next three chapters address various SQL functions: character, number, various single-row functions, date and conversion functions, aggregate functions, and so on. This is followed by a discussion of equijoins and subqueries (chapters 6 and 7), and then set operators and complex joins (chapters 8 and 9).

Insert, update, and delete statements are addressed in chapter 10, and create, alter, and drop are covered in chapter 11. Views, indexes, and sequences are covered in the chapter 12, specifically, creating and modifying views, creating B-tree indexes and understanding when indexes are useful, and creating and using sequences.

The last chapters cover advanced issues: the data dictionary and dynamic SQL scripts (chapter 13); security, including users, privileges, roles, and synonyms (chapter 14); analytical functions, rollup and cube operators, and hierarchical queries (chapter 15); and Oracle SQL optimization (chapter 16).

Readers can use either the personal or the enterprise edition of Oracle 9i to follow the exercises in the book. Though most of the exercises should be compatible with previous versions of Oracle, some syntax options and features are available only in Oracle 9i. All the exercises in the book can be performed with iOracle SQL *Plus browser-based software: SQL *Plus software installation is not required. Some functionality, however, is not available in iOracle SQL *Plus, and the book points out the unsupported commands.

According to Paul Dorsey, President of the New York Oracle Users Group: “There are lots of SQL books that show just the syntax, but few that give enough examples to learn how the commands should be used.” Sidney Tee, from Warner Music Group, says the book is: “[v]ery easy to read and goes right to the point ... Everything you need to know to be proficient in SQL.” I fully subscribe to these views.