This book, like the first and second editions before it, is for the working SQL programmer who wants to pick up some advanced programming tips and techniques. It assumes that the reader is an SQL programmer with a year or more of experience. It is not an introductory book, so let's not have any gripes in the Amazon.com reviews about that, as we did with the prior editions.

The first edition was published ten years ago and became a minor classic among working SQL programmers. I have seen copies of this book on the desks of real programmers in real programming shops almost everywhere I have been. The true compliment is the Post-it notes sticking out of the top. People really use it often enough to put stickies in it! Wow!