Try It Yourself
All of the chapters in this book use working examples, showing you the SQL syntax, what it does, and explaining why it does it. I strongly suggest that you try each and every example for yourself so that you learn MySQL firsthand.
In addition, starting in Chapter 4, “Retrieving Data,” most chapters conclude with a “Challenges” section to help you review and gauge your MySQL proficiency. If you get stuck, you can go to the companion website to find the answers to the “Challenges” section questions.
Appendix B, “The Example Tables,” describes the example tables used throughout this book and explains how to obtain and install them. If you have not done so yet, take a look at that appendix before proceeding.