Rating:  - Really basic
This book is oriented towards people with absolutely no prior SQL experience. The first 3 chapters are nothing more than how to install and configure Sql 2005 server. There is a decent background on database design. Overall, its just an ok book. You can learn what this book contains just by spending a little time on the web.
Rating:  - RECOMMENDED
This book has been earning its keep from the get-go! Easy to find just what you need and put it into practice, without having to wade through the muck first.
Rating: - Poor Organization
I am one third through and I am afraid I find the book poorly organized. There are no real step by step examples integrated with data. I have used other step by step books with greater success.
Rating: - Great Way to Get Started
An excellent introduction to Microsoft SQL Server for the beginner. It starts with the basic concepts of what a database is and how it is used. It covers installation of SQL Server 2005 exhaustivly. It then the best description I've seen on the management tools that come with the database.
Designing a database is not difficult, but this book has a couple of chapters on how a database design needs to reflect the business needs of the organization. In essense, here is some of the background that needs to be considered before the actual work of laying out the database is done. This area is often missed in those books that are so oriented to the teckie approach.
After these sections, which take up about one third of the book, the remainder of the book is on T-SQL. This is not an exhaustive coverage, but is very well suited for the person's first introduction to SQL. For instance, the SQL IF statement is mentioned only briefly. ==The CD provided with the book that includes sample files that are developed and used throughout the book.
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