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A Database Technology Recommended Reading List by Mike Hernandez
This reading list is excerpted from Mike Hernandez’s book, Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design, 3rd Edition.
Should you be interested in pursuing an in-depth study of database technology, here are my recommendations for books on this subject. I’ve chosen these particular books because they have stood the test of time and have become “standard reading” within the database industry and academic institutions. (I’m pleased to state that my book has become part of this notable list.) Keep in mind that most of these books are going to be challenging to read; the authors presume that you have a fair amount of background in computers and programming or are pursuing a degree in computer science.
Codd, E. F. (1990) The Relational Model for Database Management: Version 2. Reading, MA.: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN: 0201141922 (Note: This book is hard to find, but it’s worth having in your library if you’re going to become a serious database developer. Written by the “Father of the Relational Database” himself.)
Connolly, Thomas and Carolyn Begg. (2009) Database Systems – A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management, Fifth Edition. Reading, MA.: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN: 0321523067
Date, C. J. (2001) The Database Relational Model – A Retrospective Review and Analysis. Reading, MA.: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN: 0201612941
——(2003) An Introduction to Database Systems, Eighth Edition. Reading, MA.: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN: 0321197844
——(2006) Databases, Types and the Relational Model, Third Edition. Reading, MA.: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN: 0321399420
——(2005) Database In Depth - Relational Theory for Practitioners. Sebastopol, CA.; O'Reilly Media, ISBN: 0596100124
——(2012) Database Design and Relational Theory: Normal Forms and All That Jazz. Sebastopol, CA.: O'Reilly Media. ISBN: 1449328016
Hoffer, Jefferey A., Mary B. Prescott, and Fred R. McFadden. (2010) Modern Database Management, Tenth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ.: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0136088392 [Editor’s note: Link goes to the Eleventh Edition.]
Kroenke, David M. (2011) Database Processing, Twelfth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ.: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0132145375