Essence of SQL: a guide to learning the most SQL in the least amount of time

This book is ideal for programmers, managers, and students who want to quickly acquire an in-depth understanding of SQL. It takes the reader from the fundamentals of SQL through to the most complex features of the language. It explains why the various constructs in SQL exist and how SQL can be used to solve real-world, business problems.
The Essence of SQL provides a practical, problem-centered approach to the study of this powerful database language. It concentrates on those aspects of SQL which have traditionally presented problems to programmers; it promotes a smooth transition to SQL from other programming languages. This book allows the reader to gain a clear understanding of the essence of SQL in a minimum amount of time. The material presented in the book applies to all SQL dialects.