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 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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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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T-SQL Fundamentals

Master T-SQL fundamentals and write robust code for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. Itzik Ben-Gan explains key T-SQL concepts and helps you apply your knowledge with hands-on exercises. The book first introduces T-SQL’s roots and underlying logic. Next, it walks you through core topics such as single-table queries, joins, subqueries, table expressions, and set operators. Then the …

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Practical SQL, 2nd Edition: 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. The book focuses on using SQL to find the story your data tells, with the popular open-source database PostgreSQL and the pgAdmin interface as its primary tools. You’ll first cover the fundamentals of d…

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Learning SQL: Generate, Manipulate, and Retrieve Data

Each chapter presents a self-contained lesson on a key SQL concept or technique using numerous examples. Exercises let you practice the skills you learn. Knowledge of SQL is a must for interacting with data. With Learning SQL, you'll quickly discover how to put the power and flexibility of this language to work.

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SQL Cookbook

In the SQL Cookbook, experienced SQL developer Anthony Molinaro shares his favorite SQL techniques and features. You'll learn about: Window functions, arguably the most significant enhancement to SQL in the past decade. If you're not using these, you're missing out.

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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.

SQL Programming QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide

Essential Structured Query Language (ANSI SQL-99) six page laminated guide with core commands, statements, syntax and terms for support of beginners who are learning, and experts as a handy quick reference. Author Robin Nixon worked with computers in the 80s and started developing websites in the 90s becoming an expert and writing over 40 programming books and over 500 articles for top compute…

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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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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 for Data Analytics: Harness the Power of SQL to Extract Insights from Data

Every day, businesses operate around the clock, and a huge amount of data is generated at a rapid pace. This book helps you analyze this data and identify key patterns and behaviors that can help you and your business understand your customers at a deep, fundamental level.

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PostGIS in Action

PostGIS in Action, Third Edition teaches readers of all levels to write spatial queries for PostgreSQL. You'll start by exploring vector-, raster-, and topology-based GIS before quickly progressing to analyzing, viewing, and mapping data.

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SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-on Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL

SQL Queries for Mere Mortals ® has earned worldwide praise as the clearest, simplest tutorial on writing effective SQL queries. The authors have updated this hands-on classic to reflect new SQL standards and database applications and teach valuable new techniques. Step by step, John L. Viescas and Michael J.

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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.

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…

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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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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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