This book is a really great beginners guide for core SQL Server 2012, and it also does a great job of introducing new features introduced in SQL Server 2012. What I mean by core is that topics like Master Data Services and Data Quality Services are not introduced. That is not a bad thing. By limiting the scope of the book, the author was able to better the topics that are included.



I wanted this book because I like having a book about the basics close by. I am not in SQL Server everyday and when I find myself needing to go back to it, I not only want books on the advanced features nearby, I want the basics also.



The book covers all the basics you need to know to get up and running quickly. After a really nice introduction where the author covers the new 2012 features and where they are covered in the book, they have a nice overview of relational databases and detailed coverage of the installation process.



The book is broken into five parts. I have listed the parts and the chapters in each below. The titles of the chapters show the topics covered.



Part I: Basic Concepts and Installation

Chapter 1. Relational Database Systems: An Introduction

Chapter 2. Planning the Installation and Installing SQL Server

Chapter 3. SQL Server Management Studio



Part II: Transact-SQL Language

Chapter 4. SQL Components

Chapter 5. Data Definition Language

Chapter 6. Queries

Chapter 7. Modification of a Table's Contents

Chapter 8. Stored Procedures and User-Defined Functions

Chapter 9. System Catalog

Chapter 10. Indices

Chapter 11. Views

Chapter 12. Security System of the Database Engine

Chapter 13. Concurrency Control

Chapter 14. Triggers



Part III: SQL Server: System Administration

Chapter 15. System Environment of the Database Engine

Chapter 16. Backup, Recovery, and System Availability

Chapter 17. Automating System Administration Tasks

Chapter 18. Data Replication

Chapter 19. Query Optimizer

Chapter 20. Performance Tuning



Part IV: SQL Server and Business Intelligence

Chapter 21. Business Intelligence: An Introduction

Chapter 22. SQL Server Analysis Services

Chapter 23. Business Intelligence and Transact-SQL

Chapter 24. SQL Server Reporting Services

Chapter 25. Optimizing Techniques for Relational Online Analytical Processing



Part V: Beyond Relational Data

Chapter 26. SQL Server and XML

Chapter 27. Spatial Data

Chapter 28. SQL Server Full-Text Search



The author has a great writing style and really explains things clearly making good use of diagrams, code samples, and tables. I mention that because I have seen books that don't.



The author has made all the scripts, sample database, and exercise solutions available. The author also makes use of the AdventureWorks and AdventureWorksDW database. I thought is was strange they didn't use the AdventureWorks2012 and the AdventureWorksDW2012 version available on CodePlex, but that was probably because they weren't available at the time the book was written.



Like I said at the beginning if the review, this is a beginners book, just like the title states. You won't find coverage of topics like cursors, buy you will find all the basics are covered.



All in all I highly recommend this book as the starting point for anyone looking to learn SQL Server 2012