Press Release
September 4, 2007
Head First SQL--New from O'Reilly Media: Pimp Your Table
Sebastopol, CA--Don't you hate losing things? Whether it's your birth
certificate, your favorite pizza shop's telephone number, or your application's
data, there's nothing worse than not being able to stash the information
you need--and retrieve it when you want it. But gaining power and control
over one's data isn't easy. Fortunately, learning how to build an effective
and efficient database doesn't need to be boring.
"Every time you search online, go shopping, call information, use your TiVo,
make a reservation, get a speeding ticket, or buy groceries, a database is
being asked for information, otherwise known as queried," writes Lynn Beighley,
the author of Head First SQL (O'Reilly, $49.99 US). "And when it comes to
your applications, there's no better place to store your important information
than in a table.
Head First SQL makes learning how to organize information tables engaging,
not exhausting. Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates created the Head First series.
By using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning
theory, Head First titles deliver visually stimulating formats that leverage
the way brains work--a multi-sensory experiences that help the material stick,
not a text-heavy approach that puts readers to sleep.
This new book helps readers understand the SQL language, by using pictures,
emotional content, humor, surprise, real-world examples, and engaging activities.
In twelve clearly written chapters, Head First SQL takes users to the heart
of the SQL language, from basic syntax queries using INSERT and SELECT to hardcore
database manipulation with subqueries, joins, and transactions.
Instructions on how to install MySQL on Windows and Mac are included. Readers
of Head First SQL can expect to have fun, learn quickly, and querying,
normalizing, and joining their data like a pros by the time they've finished
the book.
"Writing Head First SQL has been the most challenging but fulfilling project
I've ever worked on. I've never had to work so hard to explain complicated
topics in clear, interesting language. But with a real desire to make this the
best and most interesting SQL book possible, and an amazing team working with
me, I couldn't be prouder of the end result," says Beighley. "If you want to
spend your time learning SQL rather than deciphering tedious technical jargon,
this book is for you."
Advance Praise
"There are books you buy, books you keep, books you keep on your desk, and
thanks to O'Reilly and the Head First crew, there is the penultimate category,
Head First books. They're the ones that are dog-eared, mangled, and carried
everywhere. Head First SQL is at the top of my stack. Heck, even the PDF I
have for review is tattered and torn."
- Bill Sawyer, ATG Curriculum Manager, Oracle
"This is not SQL made easy; this is SQL made challenging, SQL made interesting,
SQL made fun. It even answers that age-old question "How to teach non-correlated
subqueries without losing the will to live?" This is the right way to learn--it's
fast, it's flippant, and it looks fabulous."
- Andrew Cumming, Author of SQL Hacks, Zoo Keeper at sqlzoo.net
"Outrageous! I mean, SQL is a computer language, right? So books about SQL
should be written for computers, shouldn't they? 'Head First SQL' is obviously
written for human beings! What's up with that?!"
- Dan Tow, Author of SQL Tuning
Lynn Beighley is a freelance web programmer and designer who began working
on her Masters in Computer Science while working at the Naval Research Laboratory.
On the side, she created and ran a number of web sites for fun, which led to
her to open a company and write a series of Flash, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop
books and training CDs. She's worked at Los Alamos National Labs, Palm and Yahoo!
Inc. While at Yahoo! she worked on dynamic Flash advertisements on the front page.
More information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic
For more information about Head First, see:
headfirstlabs.com
Head First SQL Your Brain on SQL--A Learner's Guide
Lynn Beighley
ISBN: 0-596-52684-9, $44.99 USD
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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