Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals

This book is a masterpiece. It teaches you the fundamentals of T-SQL, while showing you the logic and set theory behind. A good approach, in my opinion, because T-SQL is based on set theory; ignoring that, makes developers to write T-SQL code in a programatic way, causing horrible performance issues and long running queries that take an eternity to finish. As a DBA, I've seen this over and over again, usually from developers that do not know how to think in sets.

The book relies on a dummy database that you should create on SQL 2012 and each chapter uses that code to elaborate all the concepts.

Each chapter ends with few exercises so if you already created the dummy database, you can (and should) start writing T-SQL code right away and validate what you read while learning how to think in sets during the process.

One of the things I like most of this book is that while this is a T-SQL book, Itzik keeps it vendor neutral (or tries to) so when the code deviates of the SQL standard, he warns you about it. That's good, because in case you need to start writing code for MySQL, Oracle or any other vendor, you are already aware of those differences or you wrote code that does not deviate too much of the regular SQL ANSI standard.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, I do, no doubt about it, but only if you do not own the SQL 2008 version. Otherwise, I see no point on getting this one. To be honest, It is basically the same book with the SQL 2012 title on it; the only difference I've seen so far is references to Window Functions, which are briefly covered on Chapter #7. Besides that, it is basically a reprint of the same nice book, but with different title.

The author, an expert in the field, publishes his first introductory book on TSQL, and although the title 'T-SQL Fundamentals' is representative of the content, the use of the book for a college textbook leaves room for improvement. I used this book for a 3-hr IT credit course this semester at a local community college...the book does have good information. The problems are in that 1) the order of introduction is not optimal, 2) the explanations via pictorials or diagrams for a pure beginner are lacking, and 3) the example code could be better.

First off, to address the order, he introduces right away in chapter 1 and chapter two concepts that I would not introduce until much later for a beginning TSQL class. Foreign Key relationships and Windowing functions are not beginning concepts, for instance, and thus should be introduced much later in the book in my opinion. Cross Joins are the first join type introduced in Chapter 2; this is a 'special' type of join used to create data or build lists, and is not used that often in the business world. A much better replacement might be the SELECT INTO, which is introduced way in the back of the book in a later chapter. There are other examples-my point is that for the beginner, the order here needs to be looked at more closely. It doesn't make sense a lot of the time.

Second, explanations and the use of drawings, pictures, or diagrams are lacking or non-existent. As an example, when I teach joins, I draw pictures on a whiteboard with minimal data to introduce concepts in a clear and concise manner; he has none of these. Many of the examples don't allow a student the opportunity to let the concepts 'hit home' because other ideas are introduced at the same time. Building from 'small to large', as it were, is for me a great method to use when explaining difficult concepts, but he does not use this methodology in the book.

Examples could be better. Right away I found that the examples in the chapter are not abundant, while the exercises are too far away from the examples, difficulty-wise. One reason is that his "TSQL2012" database could be better. I would use the AdventureWorks databases, which offer the ability to create more examples and questions at all levels of difficulties.

I could go on with more, but I think you get the idea of what I am trying to relay here...it's a good book, but I've seen better. As far as a book for someone who has never opened SSMS, or programmed and has no idea of the programming constructs, it leaves room for improvement as either a high school or jr. college textbook.

I base this review on my 13 years experience as an instructor at the jr. college level, so at this point I think I have a pretty good idea of how students handle TSQL concepts and the order of assimilation of these concepts. Using this book I find that I bounce around quite a bit, and leave many concepts out altogether. Do not walk away here with idea here that I'm flaming the book or the author, but rather critiquing the book based on how I am using the contents of the book. To me, it is evident that his first try at a beginner book has some fundamental flaws in a number of areas.

Maybe I'll write my own book one day...

I think it did everything that it did very well.
It explained differences between T-SQL and ANSI SQL in situations that called for it in a non-biased way. He uses both.
The author comes across as an expert that really knows the SQL trade, he should he has been doing it for a long time and is valued peer in the SQL community.

If you know nothing about sql get it.
If you know a some sql get it.

If you know a lot about sql programming get it and give it to someone that bugs you too much about SQL.
If you want to learn a good writing style for technical learning subjects get it.

This book is one of my all time favorites on programming etc.

I am a self taught SQL programmer with an interest in "plugging some holes" in my skill set. Mr. Ben-Gan's text came highly recommended yet still exceeded my expectations. He doesn't just know the material, he is a gifted writer/teacher on the subject.

There is a lot of misinformation in the various online blogs/forums but THIS TEXT provides you with a TECHNICAL GOSPEL for SQL programmers. I would say an interested beginner could absorb this material alone and qualify for entry level position. Experienced programmers will likely be provided insight and confirmation regarding their current skills and actually add more new techniques and understanding.

One other thing: I bought the hard copy and quickly realized that the ebook was going to work much better for me so I purchased that as well. I have the Kindle PC reader at home and at work. The reader presents the text in a very easy to read manner and if I make notes in the text, they follow me from work to home. Perfect for study! I don't think I will ever buy another hard copy of a technical manual if I can read and annotate the ebook version everywhere in a Kindle reader.

This introductory book does what no other does. It explains set theory, predicate logic, relations, propositions, normalization, SQL Server architecture, windows functions, pivoting data and laying the foundation strongly before explaining T-SQL. And when it gets to that, as the mafiosos say forget about it.

The best book on fundamentals period, whether you are a beginner or advanced. There is something for all developers.

I bought both this book and the Microsoft Press 70-461 Training Kit, not realizing how similar they are. Since I am studying for the exam, in retrospect, the Training Kit was the one to pick because it includes a chapter on XML, which the T-SQL Fundamentals book does not have. Other than that one difference, and if I were not studying for the exam, I would prefer the T-SQL Fundamentals book over the Training Kit book. It is more compact, and I think explains things perfectly succinctly. As a side note, neither book covers the spatial data types, which are part of MS's published outline for the exam. I'm wondering if spatial data types were a late addition to the test body of questions.

It's been almost 10 years since I last used SQL. This book really was a great refresher to get back into the SQL report writing game. Extremely helpful and every once in awhile I still go back to this book to quickly look up syntax I use less often. Like most developers, I'll depend on stackoverflow or other SQL MVP blogs for more complex queries but I feel like this book is a great buy if you want to review your entire foundation. I definitely learned a lot working through it.

I am strictly an applications and business intelligence developer. This book addresses almost every possible need I have for assistance in formulating T-SQL queries. A good 22 years ago I started teaching myself SQL Server in preparation for the original MCSE certification (awarded 1994!) and back then the source materials were the only ones available, and rigorously abstract to the point of 99% opacity. Mr. Ben-Gan certainly adds life and clarity to the material. Some technical books trigger a lot of WTF? responses. In contrast, what I have found is mostly "....golly, I wish I had know that a decade ago..." and "...okay, now the mystery of xxx is now revealed and it makes way to much sense..."

I actually have this book although I did not purchase it from Amazon. I saw some of the comments where it was stated that this book is not for beginners. I am actually a beginner and each concept I did not understand I completed further separate research. I think it is good in a sense that it reflects what should needs to be known. The rest is up to you. I have not finished the text but as I work through the problems, it further identifies what areas I did not understand while reading. I think it is an excellent book and if you are not familiar with the concepts just be prepared to have to dig deeper into some other concepts.

I actually have this book although I did not purchase it from Amazon. I saw some of the comments where it was stated that this book is not for beginners. I am actually a beginner and each concept I did not understand I completed further separate research. I think it is good in a sense that it reflects what should needs to be known. The rest is up to you. I have not finished the text but as I work through the problems, it further identifies what areas I did not understand while reading. I think it is an excellent book and if you are not familiar with the concepts just be prepared to have to dig deeper into some other concepts.