In the world of data engineering, SQL (Structured Query Language) is a fundamental skill that allows you to interact with databases and manipulate data effectively. Whether you are a beginner just starting out or an experienced professional looking to brush up on your skills, there are a variety of books available that can guide you on your SQL journey. Here, we will explore five of the best books for learning SQL, listed in reverse order.
5. SQL Pocket Guide: A Guide to SQL Usage
Authored by Alice Zhao, the “SQL Pocket Guide: A Guide to SQL Usage” serves as an ideal on-the-job reference for data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers. This book is a comprehensive guide to SQL syntax for querying, managing transactions, and making changes to data. It provides numerous examples that address the language’s complexities and key aspects of SQL used in various database systems such as Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
4. SQL QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Managing, Analyzing, and Manipulating Data With SQL (QuickStart Guides™ – Technology)
Walter Shields’ “SQL QuickStart Guide” is perfect for professionals looking to augment their job skills in preparation for a data-driven future. It’s also an excellent resource for job seekers who want to enhance their skills and resume for a robust employability edge. This guide is designed for beginners with zero prior experience, as well as managers, decision makers, and business owners looking to manage data-driven business insights.
3. Learning SQL (3rd Edition): Generate, Manipulate, and Retrieve Data
“Learning SQL: Generate, Manipulate, and Retrieve Data” by Alan Beaulieu is a practical guide to SQL that emphasizes its importance in a data-driven company. As data floods into your organization, you need to put it to work right away, and SQL is the best tool for the job. This book aims to equip you with the skills needed to generate, manipulate, and retrieve data effectively using SQL.
2. SQL for Data Analysis: Advanced Techniques for Transforming Data into Insights
In Cathy Tanimura’s “SQL for Data Analysis: Advanced Techniques for Transforming Data into Insights”, readers get to dive deeper into SQL and its application in data analysis. The book addresses the explosion of data, computing power, and cloud data warehouses, and how SQL has become an even more indispensable tool for the savvy analyst or data scientist. This book is geared towards those who wish to use SQL for advanced data analysis techniques.
1. Practical SQL, 2nd Edition: A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling with Data
Anthony DeBarros’s “Practical SQL, 2nd Edition: A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling with Data” is an approachable and fast-paced guide to SQL. It focuses on using SQL to find the story within your data. As a journalist and data analyst, DeBarros provides unique insights into using SQL for data exploration and storytelling. This book makes SQL accessible to beginners while also providing valuable information for more experienced users.
Each of these books offers a unique perspective on learning SQL and emphasizes the importance of this language in the field of data engineering. No matter where you are in your SQL learning journey, these books will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to effectively work with databases and make data-driven decisions.
If you want to learn more about data engineering outside of SQL, check out this article: 5 best books for mastering data engineering!
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