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Joe Celko's SQL Programming Style Review by dalepres
Excellent book in excellent style
Too many database books are written by developers whose expertise is OOP and not SQL. While I don't agree with Mr. Celko on every point, keep in mind that he was on the SQL Standards Committee for 10 years. Even if you don't agree with him on every point, his level of expertise is undeniable - unless, perhaps, the questioner can provide evidence of greater knowledge and expertise.
This book is to SQL grammar and style as "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White are to English grammar and style. Mr. Celko explains, in terms that should be easily understood, why SQL should be written in standard SQL while still allowing that there can be exceptions just as verbal communications, in any language, should follow the standard grammar of the language unless there is good reason to slip into a localized dialect.
Where one reviewer rated the book with 1 star because that reviewer disagrees with Mr. Celko on a single point of database design, his antagonistic remarks have nothing to do with the point or the value of this book.
As the editorial review states, this book is not for beginners. If you have been programming SQL for a year or more and you want to fine tune the quality of your work, this work is something you should surely read.