As the title states Beginning Database Design is aimed at people new to database design. The book does a reasonable job introducing this topic but has a fair number of problems.
What I liked:
Good coverage of the basics - datatypes, ERD, keys, SQL, indexes, normalization, denormalization.
Exercises at the end of most chapters.
A case study for an online auction house.
What I disliked:
The first two chapters can be skipped unless you are completely new to databases.
The same information is repeated throughout the book sometimes within the same paragraph. While this can be an aid in helping people to learn a new topic it gets old fast.
Some strange turns of phrase and typographic errors that required me to re-read sections of the book a few times before I understood what the author was saying.
Not enough exercises.
Overall, a fair introduction whose effect is reduced by repetition and poor writing.
Full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book for review.
(4 of 10)
