I’ve just started reading Chris Date’s new book and I can recommend it very strongly if, like me, you’re a bit lacking in relational theory. It was originally recommended to me by my friend Peter Robson, who was one of the reviewers.
Although I’ve read a number of Chris’ articles on dbdebunk and I had the pleasure of attending a one day seminar that Chris gave in Edinburgh last year, I’m finding this book more digestable. It’s still rigorous, but I love the way that he’s taken what some feel is a slightly irrelevant academic subject and made it sing (in my ears at least). There’s still a little bit of – Let relations r and s have attributes X1, X2 …. – but I’ve found that the surrounding text makes it more bearable (for me). I think this is a first class book and thoroughly relevant to real-world database systems. Even if you don’t agree with all of it’s content (although I’m finding it all pretty agreeable so far!), you will be in a better position to state why you disagree! If you already have some of Chris’ lengthier and more academic texts, maybe this book won’t add anything to your knowledge, but if you’ve never read one this would be a good place to start.
Put it this way. I got to bed late last night because I couldn’t put it down and had to force myself to in the end. Sad, but true. The last book that happened with was Tom Kyte’s Expert One-on-One, so it’s a good sign …