:santagrin: This book was suggested by Neil Smyth.

Excerpts from the Introduction:

Before the arrival of MySQL, implementing a database was typically a complex and expensive task involving the purchase, installation and maintenance of a proprietary database management system from a vendor such as Oracle or IBM. In contrast, MySQL provides a free, open source database management system that is easy to install, implement and maintain. In addition, MySQL is fast, extremely reliable and widely deployed by many companies and organizations throughout the world.

It is not an exaggeration to say that MySQL has brought the power of a fully featured, scalable relation database management system into the reach of anyone with a computer and the desire to build a data driven application or web site. With this goal in mind, MySQL Essentials is designed to provide a step by step path to proficiency with MySQL.

Beginning with the basics of relational databases and the installation of MySQL, the book goes on to cover everything needed to successfully build, maintain and secure MySQL based databases.