Customer Reviews
Best text book for a first course in database - By: A. J. HAWKEN, 02 Oct 2008 
I first used this book alot (second edition) when I had to teach a course to HNC & HND students at South East Essex collegein 1999. It it the main book I used to put together my notes
Generally an excellent text-book. It doesn't quite carry the clout or precision of C. J Dates book on database systems, but it is far more practical. Not only are the explanations simpler, but there are more practical examples. Also because it is a newer book it is a little more up-to date. The fact that it includes examplesin ACCESS as well is an added bonus for teachers & students who have no choice but to use ACCESS.
Certainly the best text for students at the HNC/HND level.
Good student textbook maybe... - By: Richard Schollar, 18 Dec 2005 
I'll keep this short & sweet: while this may be a good textbook to use when on a database course (and I mean one for full-time students who have yet to enter the world of work) this is definitively no use to those requiring a practical manual that will help you to solve a real-world problem or implement a real-world database solution. I don't think it strives to be the latter & doesn't stake a claim to be such a work but the point needs to be made to ensure people do not purchase it under the assumption that it is something that it certainly is not.
If you want a hands-on, useful SQL primer, go for Ben Forta's "SQLin 10 minutes", or for a practical how-to book on starting outin database creation, try out George Hepworth's "Grover Park George On Access": what they lackin terms of relational calculus (find thisin "Database Systems"!) they make up forin teaching you stuff you can actually use. You'll also save yourself a lot of cash.
Very good course book - By: Mr. D. M. Crathern, 08 Feb 2005 This book is well written & aimed at those with little or no prior knowledge of databases (e.g. undergraduates). It goes from conceptual design right down to low level topics. I think the main strength of this book liesin its excellent examples. There are several case studies which are used very well to show practical examples of concepts described. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a text book on databases.
Database Systems - a student's view - By: , 10 Mar 2004 
For the most part, I found this book excellent. The text explanations are clear, thorough & easy to follow, & I would thoroughly recommend it on this basis.
The exercises for the chapters, however, are very poorly written. One or two questionsin each of the exercises we have encountered so farin my class have been essentially meaningless, so if you are a teacher looking to set this text for a course, beware! Make sure that you read through & correct any ambiguous questions before you set them for your students.
To give an example, one question asks the student to write a SQL query to calculate "the average number of bookings for each hotelin August." Not the average number of bookings per night for each hotelin August, or the average number of bookingsin August across all hotels, but essentially a figure which is not actually an average. Rather annoying.
But if you won't be following the exercises slavishly, this book is otherwise worth every penny.
excellent for all levels of SQL - By: , 26 Jun 2003 This book was the recommended title for my second year university SQL module. I used it a s a complete newbie to SQL & found it incredibly helpful both at a basic descriptional level as well as at advanced level as I progressed. Focus is well split between essential coceptual/logical design, normalisation etc as well as actual code syntax. Absolutely essential reference for anyone using or considering using SQL (includes DBMS specific instructions too for MS Access & Oracle for example as well).
