Looking for a book to help you get started with Structured Query Language? Need a new reference book for your shelf? Check out my favorite SQL books.
1. SQL in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference
O'Reilly and Associates are well known in the technical community for producing short books that cut right to the heart of the matter. Don't expect to learn SQL by reading this book from cover-to-cover, but it's a wonderful book to have sitting on your desk when you're exploring a challenging area of database development.
2. Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes
If you're a no-nonsense reader, you'll love this book. It will have you up and running in no time. It's 272 pages are organized into very brief lessons that are designed to consume no more than 10 minutes each of your time.
3. SQL: The Complete Reference, Second Edition
This book definitely wins the contest based upon weight -- it's over 1,000 pages. However, those pages are full of detailed explanations of SQL syntax, database stucture and more examples than you'll know what to do with. This is a great reference if you're looking to build a professional library.4. SQL Bible
Another great book for first-time database users. The SQL Bible starts with the very basics and then walks you through the intricacies of SQL in a clear, straightforward manner. It's jam-packed with examples that you can try on your own.5. SQL Queries for Mere Mortals
If you learn best by example, this is the book for you! It's full of sample queries and includes exercises (with solutions) to help the reader develop solid query writing skills.6. SQL Visual Quickstart Guide
This software-independent book takes a hands-on approach to learning SQL. After some brief introductory material, it dives right into developing SQL queries designed to meet specific goals. It's a great reference for those who occasionally use SQL and forget the details.