Top SQL books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite SQL books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of SQL

Understanding the concepts of SQL starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

SQL All-in-One for Dummies

SQL All-In-One For Dummies is a timely update to the popular reference for readers who want detailed information about SQL databases and queries. SQL All -In-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about SQL and SQL-based relational databases.

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SQL QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner's Guide to Managing, Analyzing, and Manipulating Data With SQL

The Best Sql Book For Beginners - Hands Down!*includes Free Access To A Sample Database, Sql Browser App, Comprehension Quizzes & Several Other Digital Resources!*sql Is The Workhorse Programming Language That Forms The Backbone Of Modern Data Management And Interpretation.any Database Management Professional Will Tell You That Despite Trendy Data Management Languages That Come And Go, Sql Rem…

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Learn SQL Quickly: A Beginner's Guide to Learning SQL, Even If You're New to Databases

This book covers all the basics, building a database, what all the data types are, connecting to your database, how to do selects & joins, setting primary & foreign keys, creating subqueries and views. It's a really useful guidebook for anyone just getting started with SQL for the first time.

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The art of SQL

The Art of SQL offers best practices that teach experienced SQL users to focus on strategy rather than specifics. Faroult's approach takes a page from Sun Tzu's classic treatise by viewing database design as a military campaign. You need knowledge, skills, and talent.

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Practical SQL: A Beginner's Guide to Storytelling with Data

Practical SQL is an approachable and fast-paced guide to SQL (Structured Query Language), the standard programming language for defining, organizing, and exploring data in relational databases.

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SQL pocket guide

SQL Pocket Guide describes how these database systems implement SQL syntax for querying, managing transactions, and making changes to data. It also shows how the systems use SQL functions, regular expression syntax, and type conversion functions and formats.

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Additional SQL Reading

These books are not required for you to learn SQL, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Learning SQL

SQL is used to create a database, define its structure, implement it, and perform various functions on the database. SQL is also used for accessing, maintaining, and manipulating already created databases. SQL is a well built language for entering data, modifying data, and extracting data in a database.

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Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes (2nd Edition)

Expert trainer and popular author Ben Forta teaches you just the parts of SQL you need to know–starting with simple data retrieval and quickly going on to more complex topics including the use of joins, subqueries, stored procedures, cursors, triggers, and table constraints.

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SQL Performance Tuning

Performance tuning, is checking and resolving issues potentially affecting the efficiency of a SQL database. The key to good performance is ensuring queries execute quickly with minimal resources. Using external tools is one way to get started with SQL performance tuning.

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Head First SQL: Your Brain on SQL -- A Learner's Guide

Head First SQL will show you the fundamentals of SQL and how to really take advantage of it. We'll take you on a journey through the language, from basic INSERT statements and SELECT queries to hardcore database manipulation with indices, joins, and transactions.

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SQL All-in-One For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

SQL All-in-One For Dummies has everything you need to get started with the SQL programming language, and then to level up your skill with advanced applications. This relational database coding language is one of the most used languages in professional software development. And, as it becomes ever more important to take control of data, there’s no end in sight to the need for SQL know-how. You …

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SQL Performance Explained: Everything Developers Need to Know about SQL Performance

SQL Performance Explained helps developers to improve database performance. The focus is on SQL—it covers all major SQL databases without getting lost in the details of any one specific product.

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Specializations and Deeper SQL Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. SQL is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming

Joe Celkos SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming offers tips and techniques in advanced programming. This book is the fourth edition and it consists of 39 chapters, starting with a comparison between databases and file systems.

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Python Programming and SQL: 5 books in 1 - The #1 Coding Course from Beginner to Advanced. Learn it Well & Fast (2024) (Computer Programming)

Python Programming and SQL: 5 Books in 1, isn't just a book. It's a career booster ✅ Whether you're aiming for a new job, freelancing, or developing your own software, this guide has everything you need. Suitable for all levels, you will find practical advice and skills to propel your career, set you apart from your peers, and make you an invaluable asset to any organization. Boost your perfor…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

SQL Practice Problems: 57 Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Challenges for You to Solve Using a "learn-by-doing" Approach

The ability to write SQL is one of the most in-demand job skills. Are you prepared? It's easy to find basic SQL syntax information online. What's hard to find is challenging, well-designed, real-world problems—the type of problems that come up when you're dealing with data. Learning how to solve these problems will give you the skill and confidence to step up in your career.

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