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Reviewer: Rajeev Kaula

Understanding database concepts and principles is vital to working successfully with information systems. This book provides comprehensive coverage of database topics necessary for designing, using, and implementing database systems. The book is divided into six parts. Part 1 describes the basic concepts necessary for understanding database design and implementation. It covers both the logical and the physical tenets of database design. The entity-relationship (ER) model is used to explain logical database design. Parts 2 and 4 describe the relational data model. This coverage includes the principles of data representation and normalization, along with their manipulation using SQL. A detailed overview of DB2 illustrates the workings of commercial relational database systems. Part 3 presents so-called legacy database systems, such as hierarchical and network systems. The logical structures of hierarchical and network models are covered separately from their implementation through a specific database management system. To provide a link with current approaches to logical database design, the transformation of an ER model design into a hierarchical or network schema is discussed. Part 5 deals with such database management issues as query optimization, concurrency control, recovery techniques, and security considerations. Part 6 covers a number of advanced topics, including the enhanced ER model, object-oriented databases, distributed databases, and the client/server architecture. Emerging trends in database technology are also discussed. The book's explanation of various concepts is good. The topics are covered with good examples and a rigorous set of exercises. The material is too detailed to be covered effectively in a single course, however. Also, the detailed mathematical discussions of the relational model could be trimmed to appeal to a broader class of users who want to understand and use database concepts but do not see their relevance to the practical working of systems. The book is most suitable at an advanced undergraduate or graduate level. It can also serve as a good reference book.