ISBN  0-7357-0921-1 £38.99  UK
Paul DuBois
  13 Chapters, 10 appendices and index in 758 pages

Chapter List

                Foreword - Michael Widenius who is the MySQL Moderator
            Introduction - Why Choose MySQL

1    Introduction to MySQL and SQL
2    Working with Data in MySQL
3    MySQL SQL Syntax and Use
4    Query Optimisation
5    Introduction to MySQL Programming
6    The MySQL C API
7    The Perl DBI API
8    The PHP API
9    Introduction to MySQL Administration
10  The MySQL Data Directory
11  General MySQL Administration
12  Security
13  Database Maintenance and Repair

Appendix A
  Obtaining and installing the software
Appendix B
  Column Type Reference
Appendix C
  Operator and Function Reference
Appendix D
    SQL Syntax Reference
Appendix E
    MySQL Program Reference
Appendix F
    C API Reference
Appendix G
    Perl DBI API Reference
Appendix H
    PHP API Reference
Appendix I
    Useful Third Party Tools
Appendix J
    Internet Service Providers

        There are many databases out there.  MySQL is oe of the better ones.  This particular book is a good reference for the experienced user or for someone who is learning what to do next.

Review

The author is Paul DuBois.  He's been a network and database administrator for fifteen years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He has written other books and he is a contributor to the MySQL references manual.  He is therefore well qualified to offer advice to other people about MySQL.

The introduction gives a fine start to what becomes a complex book on the configuration of MySQL.  There is a road map and an explanation of how to read the book.   The first few chapters give an introduction to the subject and take you through the first few stages of configuration and how to use the syntax that make the application work.  This part is a bit like configuring sendmail for the first time.   Query optimisation finishes the first part and next we move over to programming interfaces.   Programming MySQL interfaces involves the use of the C API and the DBI API, also the PHP API.  There's a good explanation of these aspects of configuration.  The administration bit comes along next.  This is the part that most people have to deal with daily and it's probably the most useful part of the book.  There's lots to go at here and it's wise to read and inwardly digest before pressing anything on the keyboard.

The various appendices give all of the useful things that you probably can't read in the documentation when you've downloaded the software.  All that small print is difficult to read on a 14" monitor isn't it ?  And anyway, it's better to read a well written book that you can put down and come back to later without having to repair anything.

Databases can be very complex applications to set up.  Even more complex than sorting out the various issues to do with networks and network security.  As you can see, MySQL has it's own security issues which are mentioned at chapter twelve.  MySQL the book (but not the movie) is written by someone who is known for his abilities as an IT expert.  If you need that MySQL reference book that isn't quite like the others then you might want to consider this one.  It's sophistication is almost matched by the MySQL application itself but not quite.

Review by  Richard Ibbotson