Dear mods, please move if a different forum is more appropriate!
Hi all, I am doing an SQL subject. The end result is to be able to extract data, not to the extent of being able to build and maintain databases. However, I really like to try to understand the background of things I do (but in simple terms, I am not a programmer!) I have had a look on Amazon, and there are just so many titles that I do not know where to start. Can anyone recommend anything for a beginner, please?
I’m not into the e-book thing as I prefer paper still.
If you were going into database design, I’d recommend Database Design for Mere Mortals. There’s a Kindle version on Amazon. It has a lot of SQL info in it.
There’s also SQL Queries for Mere Mortals out on Amazon. I haven’t read it but it might be just what you are looking for.
Would you happen to be using Microsoft Access database? If so create a query in the design grid then go to SQL view. You can see what you dragged and dropped in the grid and what the SQL looks like.
Wikipedia has a good article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL
There’s a few different flavors of SQL out there and most major database companies have their own ‘enhancements’. However the basic “Select * From Table;” will work on all.
If you are working with ms sql there is no more usefull source than msdn. It is the definite source for documentation and the examples are very comprehensive.
The books I found were all pretty much useless, especially if you consider the price.
I used this book to get started; I found it pretty helpful.
Hi guys! thanks heaps for the info. I should have said we are using postgreSQL.
JerrySTL, we used Access last semester, I will go back and give your suggestion a try. Very remiss of me to not think of wikipedia - I had been goggling specific functions to get a bit more info, but forgot that source.
The Librarian, I did stumble across msdn when googling, I will go back and have a more structured look, even though not using MySQL, it seems I will get some general information.
CinnamonBabka, than you for the book recommendation, the table of contents looks pretty comprehensive.
Select this book
From Amazon
Where your skill level is beginner
Having a budget of less than $20.
Online Postgres is good,
For instance thisshows where msmith537 went wrong. 
Manuals
We started using a Postgres database a few years ago but none of us have used anything but google to solve syntax problems.
Here is the online resource I use: