SQL Server 2008 Query Performance Tuning Distilled (Expert's Voice in SQL Server)

This is book is a masterpiece. It is true that the basic concepts behind Indexes, statistics and query tuning have not changed a lot since probably SQL2000 but those concepts and the way SQL2008 handles them are explained here in an outstanding manner.The author starts every chapter with a bit of theory (a paragraph or two) about the particular topic he's ready to explain. Next.... there is a demonstration of "why is bad" not following the theory (via a T-SQL statement) and then a similar example but this time following the good MS-SQL practice (again, with another T-SQL query) Very straightforward and practical approach which makes this book a good one because that's exactly what you need on a SQL performance tuning book: quick solutions and answers via examples.Chapters #4 - Indexes is my favorite. You will get a full explanation of why your queries are running slow or how you can make them run faster; everything with real examples and real code. On this particular chapter author(s) help you to identify potential pitfalls in terms of Index selection and the main differences in query behavior between Non-clustered and Clustered Indexes on your tables and when to apply either of them.I also love the book organization. There is a logical order that I suggest to follow: from start to finish; very easy and general techniques at the very beginning and more in-depth and detailed tuning techniques at the end. But still if you jump into the subject you want or need you will catch the concepts easily without feeling lost.Amazing book! This book deserves a slot in your book-shelve.

Great book. I've been waiting for the re-write to Sajal Dam's book on SQL Server 2000 performance tuning for a very long time. The only problem with it is that that too many example scripts do not match the code in the book. [case in point: On pg. 289 it references a script called stats_changes.sql. The code in the download is nothing like the code on pg. 290. Ditto for pg. 177 and several others.] This leaves the reader to figure it out for themself. The book includes an email address for the author that rejects all attempts to send him email and I see no updates to the download since it was first published. If these oversites are corrected, this would be a great learning resource for the SQL Server professional charged with performance tuning responsibilities.

From a Simple-Talk article to eBook on Query Plans help create a great book from Grant Fritchey. I met Grant at SQL PASS in 2008 and then at SQLSaturday in New York, where he demonstrated addictive enthusiasm about SQL Server. I bought this book as soon as it went on sell. This was a missing piece of information for the SQL Server community until Grant and Sajal brought this book to the market. Please buy and read this book if you are a DBA or developer that has to tune queries in your job.Thanks,Thomas LeBlanc, MCDBA & MCITP

One of the best things for me about this book was that I was able to read most of it while riding the bus to work. Grant did such a good job of explaining the results of each step, I was able to understand each point without trying it out for myself on a computer. I think I am pretty good with T-SQL and query tuning, but, by reading this book, I now have a methodical way to address performance problems.

I love this book. I have been a SQL Server DBA for 5 years, but I have been learning so much through reading this book. It is well written and easy to understand. It goes into "why" indexes work the way they do, so that a DBA can use that knowledge to make good decisions. It also covers tools that DBAs should know such as Profiler and Performance Monitor.

This book takes your SQL code to the next level. It is full of very important knowledge that is not in any other book on your shelf. Whatever you do, don't show it to anyone else at your job. Keep it a secret so that you will become the resident SQL God. It is that good. An absolute must read if you write any SQL at all.

Covers a lot of topics and gives you good background. I would recommend the book, although it is a bit dry at times.

This is a detailed look at how to get the best out of your SQL Server databases. I found it immediately useful in my workplace ... great examples, easy to understand

This is a great book and I would recommend reading it cover to cover.It contains all the necessary parts of performance tuning.The physical quality of the book could be better... but sticky tape can fix that problem.

It is very good book I have ever found on SQL performance. I would hightly recommend this book. It can be well understood by beginner and advanced user a like. Lots of practicals to be done. Personally for me, Index Analysis, Statistics Analysis, Fragmentation Analysis & Deadlock Analysis are well explained and liked by me. Only thing I didn't like the quality of pages it is printed on. Summary at the end of each book is enough for you to be recalled everything you read. I read lots of books, but keep very privileged books in my library. It is surely one of them for next 3-4 years at least.

És un llibre que realment conté molta informació útil, tot i que de vegades embolcallada amb un excés text innecessari. La millor forma de llegir-lo és tenint un llapis per a anar subratllant els paràgrafs relevants o bé fent un resum a banda.Ara mateix recomanaria millor buscar el llibre equivalent per a una versió més moderna de SQL server.