This book is useful if you are new to ER diagrams, or new to a certain syntax, or want a concise ER reference guide at hand. Review added January 2001. This is a readable, well organized, and detailed review of database design, terminology, and applications. Review added 1999. The title says it all.
Database design is hard to learn because of the language typically used to discuss it.
Mere Mortals uses ordinary language that any motivated reader can understand. This is an excellent first book on database design . Unfortunately, the book does not tie its language back into the traditional language and takes an unrealistically purist approach to summarized data. Otherwise, highly recommended. Review added 1999.