Murach's SQL Server 2005 for developers  By: Brian Syverson and Joel Murach  Publisher: Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.

Review by Andrew Novick

Summary:  A book for teaching how to write SQL for SQL Server 2005.  Covers both DML and DDL.

I read Murach’s SQL Server 2005 for Developers while looking for a book for teaching a class on SQL.  Since the course is going to use SQL Server it seemed like an obvious fit.  It is.  This is a targeted book for the professional course on writing SQL for SQL Server 2005. 

I suppose it could be used for learning SQL for other databases but it does a pretty good job of hitting all the SQL Server specific variations in SQL that make up T-SQL.   I also suppose that it could be used for self directed study.  Like the rest of the Murach books, it has a side by side format with explanation and related examples.  Since there’s plenty of room for Lab work, it really fits the classroom well. 

Overall I'm happy with the book and don’t have any real criticism.  It is what it tries to be.  A book for teaching SQL for SQL Server 2005.