A quick glance at this book showed the prominence given to Fred the Fishmonger, a fictitious user, and after reading the other book by Hartman I feared the worst. In fact this is a well-thought out textbook on database design and implementation and the fictitious character is sensibly used to convey the new user's point of view, not just for irrelevant light relief. In part 1 of 3, covering 'Database Design', the first 70 or so pages form a good general introduction to the design of databases, with particular reference to Paradox features.
Normalisation is briefly yet well covered.
Then some 30 pages on structured and modular programming, and 50 more on Paradox, including 10 on the Personal Programmer providing a better overview than is to be found anywhere in the other book by the same author. Fred makes a first appearance in the latter 50 pages of part 1 with a customer Records system followed by an Orders database. Part 2, 'Database Fundamentals', introduces the reader to the practicalities of handling Paradox, starting with setup and the menu system, and further chapters on tables, reports, forms, file management, querying, and a miscellany of handy tips. This material is accessible through a good index. About 125 pages in all.