Databases Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide

Excellent beginning book!

The purpose of this book is to get the reader to the point where they know enough about databases that they can perform specific database tasks (e.g. query a table, create a new table, understand an ERD). I think actually, that this book succeeds in achieving this goal. While the reader certainly shouldn¿t expect to be a DBA once complete, they should expect to be able to begin performing certain basic database tasks. In fact, they should have enough knowledge that they¿ll know where to go for more advanced help. This book begins with a basic introduction to the various types of databases, explaining the rationale for each, before explaining why this book concentrates on relational databases. After the required introduction to querying data in Microsoft Access, the book really starts to get good. The introduction to SQL is very good with examples provided in SQL*Plus. The reader is then taken through a discussion of database design. This discussion goes through the differences between various normal forms (especially the more common first through third normal forms). Next, the reader learns how to read an interpret ERD diagrams. Finally, there is a good discussion on how to actually design a database, with discussion on different kinds of constraints and keys. The last section of the book touches on some of the more complex aspects of database design and maintenance, including security, transaction support, and basic tuning. I think this is an excellent introduction to common database practices and procedures. Again, the reader shouldn¿t expect to be an advanced Oracle developer simply by reading this book, however, the reader should expect to know enough to complete basic database development tasks. It¿s a great way to start.

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