SQL by Example

SQL by Example uses one case study to teach the reader basic structured query language (SQL) skills. The author has tested the case study in the classroom with thousands of students. While other SQL texts tend to use examples from many different data sets, the author has found that once students get used to one case study, they learn the material at a much faster rate.

The text begins with an introduction to the case study and trains the reader to think like the query processing engine for a relational database management system. Once the reader has a grasp of the case study then SQL programming constructs are introduced with examples from the case study. In order to reinforce concepts, each chapter has several exercises with solutions provided on the book’s website.

SQL by Example is designed both for those who have never worked with SQL as well as those with some experience. It is modular in that each chapter can be approached individually or as part of a sequence, giving the reader flexibility in the way that they learn or refresh concepts. This also makes the book a great reference to refer back to once the reader is honing his or her SQL skills on the job.

John Russo is associate professor of computer science at Landmark College in Putney Vermont. He has been teaching for over 20 years in computer science programs at several colleges and engineering institutions. He also works as a computer scientist on large scale database management systems used in epidemiological research. Prior to his career in academia, he worked in a variety of roles in industry for 15 years.