With only a handful of commands, SQL data statements can look deceptively simple. This, combined with the fact that many database developers discover they can get by with learning just the rudiments of the language, explains why so few SQL users tap into the full power of the language. Alan Beaulieu, author of "Learning SQL" (O'Reilly), wants to go beyond what most books have done.

Those who work with relational databases--whether writing applications, performing administrative tasks, or generating reports--need to understand how to interact with their data. Even those who use a tool that generates SQL for them, such as a reporting tool, may have occasions when they need to bypass the automatic generation feature and write their own SQL statements. SQL can also be fun: it can be exhilarating to take a tricky data manipulation or reporting problem and solve it with a single, well written statement.  "Learning SQL" provides a pain-free introduction that begins with a simple SELECT statement and gently guides readers well on their way to proficiency with the language.

Beaulieu's book is intended for anyone who needs to learn SQL to enhance his or her academic or professional career.  The book shows readers how to collect and return related information from many tables at once, take a set-oriented approach to working with data, embed conditional logic into SQL statements using CASE expressions, write queries within queries, and employ SQL's many built-in functions to transform and reinterpret data.

SQL may be an old language, but it's going to be around for a long time and has a bright future. With "Learning SQL," readers can master this important skill and know that the SQL statements they write are both powerful and correct.

To learn more:
SQL Functions (SQL in a Nutshell)
Introduction to SQL Tuning (SQL Tuning) 
Query Primer
Hierarchical Queries (SQL Pocket Guide)