Customer Reviews

T-SQL 2008 Joes 2 Pros: Core T-SQL Coding Fundamentals For Microsoft SQL Server 2008

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This is the best SQL book I've read, it really helped me clarify some questions I had with SQL. Many educational books are too wordy that you dread having to pick it up and read it, because it takes forever. Joes 2 Pros is simple, but down to the point. It has nice text size, and includes downloadable videos, Labs, Answers, and a Bug Catcher where you have to find what is wrong with the code. This is one book I did not want to put down, I call this a must buy.

A year ago I was asked by a manager to learn basic T-SQL. Primarily joins. I bought a shelf full of books including some in a series designed for "dumb" folk. I struggled trying to understand the vernacular in all of them and grew frustrated because I wasn't able to find a single book that took me from "square one". Without exception, all other books I saw were written to an audience with previous exposure to SQL. Then I read the introduction to this book and saw myself reflected there. Someone else who started one day not knowing anything beyond the fact that something called SQL was out there. This book provides a simple path to follow, written in terms easy to understand and based on sequential levels of learning. Working through each lab takes you from the basic "select *" statement to robust code, helping you understand the logic as you progress. I have finally found a book for the true novice. A book where I feel, "Okay, I can do this." Instead of, "What?" The only thing better than working through the book is taking the class with the author as your instructor.

Rick has taken a complex and dry topic like SQL programming, and managed to make it interesting and engaging to read.
What I especially like is that he approaches a new topic with engagng analogies and examples that are easy to understand, and then he builds on them bit by bit to drive home the point. I've programmed in SQL before, but I still enjoyed reading some of these examples because they gave me a different perspective on databases.

What I liked most was the bug-catchter game at the end of each chapater. These are a great way to build confidence in the stuff I just learnt. I also love the accompanying audio lessons - they provide a great intro to the topic, and Rick's voice delivery held my attention.

Finally a book that describes the difference between data and information. This book is very easy to understand and paced perfectly for the student that only has a couple hours a night to study. It is filled with good real world examples and sample code. Never before have I seen outer joins explained so clearly. BRAVO!! The companion CD's training videos and Chapter Review files (Bug Catcher Game) are an excellent addition. Once a reader is familiar with a chapter, the Points to Ponder at the end of each, make excellent quick references.

I got a copy of this book from a friend. It was the right size (~250 pages) for me to be able to have a hope to read it cover to cover.
When i started going through the lessons and labs, i realized that seemingly hard topics in T-SQL suddenly became trivial. I got more out of these 250 pages, than a few of the 1000 page 'bible' books i bought.

T-SQL 2008 Joes 2 Pros: Core T-SQL Coding Fundamentals For Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Loved it! Finally something I can understand!!

This is one of the best T-SQL books I have ever read, it is easy to follow and full of good examples. I now, not only know the T-SQL language, but understand it.

I look forward to more books by Rick Morelan. This book has made me hungry for more.

Joes2Pros is a very innovative way to present arcane material to normal people. Rick has done a great job of distilling the complexity down into bite sized pieces. What I like best is that every chapter and lab has a companion video up on the website [...] so it feels like Rick is in the room and I can learn SQL from my kitchen table.

I have being using SQL Server for many years but never really used TSQL. Recently there was a need for a customer of mine to get into the meat of it and this book has been a very valuable resource for me to deliver.

I am happy to recommend Joes2Pros!

As a seasoned Sr. DBA for a premier global financial institution, I found myself asking a quick question about inner and outer joins and again how a NULL value is treated by them. After a quick Google search I came across a small video, demonstrating a quick answer to my question at [...]. There was an easy style to the author's presentation. The video images were large and clear. After 5 minutes I had my answer and was about to go on my way when I saw other videos. These videos were related to chapters in the authors book, which was prominatly displayed with a free sample of the text. I began to read the forward and immediately identified with the author's recollection of how he got started working with SQL Server. I thought that the author had made the topics so easy to read and understand, skill checks to test yourself, a video demonstration of exactly the steps taken to achieve success, PLUS an explanation of WHY the steps were completed as demonstrated. What else could a person want, short of a dedicated one on one session with the author, of how to learn T-SQL. So I decided to teach my kids a little bit about what I do for a job, and give them something to pursue if they liked what I was about to expose them to. This book has been the foundation of a Sunday afternnon, one hour class, with three teenagers. Starting on chapter 1, reading the text, watching the videos, doing the skill checks, and actually writing SQL code, they have astounded me with their comprehension of the material. By the end of chapter two(completed today), the kids (15, 14 and 12) are writing TSQL queries both mentally and inside SSMS that amazes me. They could almost pass a job interview as junior development DBA (DBAD), with the knowledge they'v gained so far. All by chapter 2!! By chapter 4 they will have enough knowledge to perform 70% of my report writing TSQL job as a Sr DBA! What a terrific product! If you are just beginning the journey of learning SQL, do yourself a big favor and don't buy anything else to start out with. In 10 years of earning a living through my knowledge of SQL, this book would have saved me years of research, hunting for answers all over the web, plus, this book will get me to a point where I can take the Microsoft Certification for SQL Server 2008. A heartfelt Thank You to the author for all the work in presenting this material in such a terrific fashion. You've got a customer for life!
T-SQL 2008 Joes 2 Pros: Core T-SQL Coding Fundamentals For Microsoft SQL Server 2008