Best Microsoft SQL Server Books of 2025

The Python Programming and SQL: 5 books in 1 is an all-in-one guide for beginners and advanced learners who want to master Python and SQL programming languages. The guide offers step-by-step instructions and practical experience, making it easy for readers to start coding in no time. It covers essential tools, strategies, and real-world applications with easy-to-understand examples and exercises. The book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn coding, from basic to advanced levels, and it provides excellent value for money as five books are bundled into one unique guide.

The SQL QuickStart Guide is a comprehensive and accessible beginner's guide to managing, analyzing, and manipulating data with SQL. Written by experienced mentor and SQL expert Walter Shields, this book is perfect for professionals seeking to enhance their job skills in preparation for a data-driven future, developers looking to expand their programming capabilities, and anyone who wants to take advantage of our inevitably data-driven future—even with no prior coding experience. The book includes free access to a sample database, SQL browser app, comprehension quizzes, and several other digital resources. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the field of data warehousing and management.

The Definitive Guide to DAX is an updated and expanded guide to Microsoft's DAX language, covering everything from basic table functions to advanced code and model optimization. Written by expert Microsoft BI consultants, Marco Russo and Alberto Ferrari, this edition focuses on examples that can be built and run with the free Power BI Desktop. The book delves deep into DAX's capabilities and includes optimization techniques to improve performance in aggregations. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to master DAX for Power BI, SQL Server, and Excel.

SQL All-in-One For Dummies is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to learn about SQL and SQL-based relational databases. It covers everything from designing and developing databases to querying SQL-based databases in the SQL language. With the latest updates and capabilities, this book is a timely update to the popular reference for database administrators, programmers, and those who manage these functions. It also includes information on SQL with XML, data security, and database tuning overview. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for beginners and experts alike.

Mastering Microsoft Power BI, Second Edition, is a comprehensive guide that provides an in-depth understanding of Power BI to maximize business intelligence. The book covers all essential phases and components of Power BI, including the latest features, best practices, and working code examples. By the end of this book, readers will be confident in creating sustainable and impactful charts, tables, reports, and dashboards with any kind of data using Microsoft Power BI. The book is an excellent resource for professionals who want to take their Power BI skills to the next level.

The "SQL: 3 books in 1" bundle is a comprehensive guide that covers beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of SQL programming. The book is ideal for anyone looking to improve their programming skills, manage data or gain a deeper understanding of our data-driven future. The guide is designed to make learning SQL simple with an easy-to-follow approach that builds on each chapter. The book is not just a theoretical guide, but also offers practical experience with interactive exercises. Overall, this bundle is an excellent resource for those looking to master SQL programming quickly and easily.

This book is a comprehensive guide to T-SQL fundamentals, covering both theory and hands-on exercises for querying and modifying data with modern Microsoft data technologies. Itzik Ben-Gan, a long-time Microsoft Data Platform MVP, explains key concepts such as logical query processing, joins, subqueries, and set operators. The book also covers advanced topics like SQL Graph, temporal tables, and transactions and concurrency. The sample code is reusable and works in cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Overall, T-SQL Fundamentals is an excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their coding capabilities in T-SQL.

Apps and Services with .NET 7 is a comprehensive guide for .NET developers who want to learn practical skills and knowledge to build real-world applications and services. The book covers a variety of technologies including Blazor, .NET MAUI, gRPC, GraphQL, and more, and includes specialized libraries to improve performance, security, and localization. Readers will learn how to build efficient, scalable, and cross-platform apps with .NET MAUI and integrate with native mobile features. This book is a must-read for any .NET developer looking to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and technologies.

The "Database Design for Mere Mortals: 25th Anniversary Edition" is a practical and easy-to-use tutorial that teaches the basics of relational database design. The author, Michael Hernandez, provides step-by-step guidance on how to design modern databases that are reliable, flexible, and soundly structured. The book covers everything from planning to defining tables, fields, keys, table relationships, and views. The updated review questions and figures make it even easier to learn these techniques. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for those who want to learn database design or improve their existing skills.

"Database Systems: Design, Implementation, & Management" is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to gain a solid foundation in database design and implementation. The book covers everything from the basics of database design to more advanced topics like Big Data Analytics and NoSQL. The writing is clear and straightforward, making it easy to understand even for beginners. The authors, Carlos Coronel and Steven Morris, are both experienced in the field and provide valuable insights throughout the book. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to develop their database skills and stay up-to-date with the latest technologies."