---
title: "**p r a c t i c a l sql**"
id: "1322"
type: "page"
slug: "practicalsql"
published_at: "2026-07-17T06:15:05+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-07-17T14:10:36+00:00"
url: "https://preppers-paradise.com/library/practicalsql/"
markdown_url: "https://preppers-paradise.com/library/practicalsql.md"
excerpt: "A beginner-oriented guide to SQL and relational databases aimed at people who want to tell stories with data. Topics include designing and creating databases, data types, import/export, querying from basic to advanced, statistics, text analysis, and spatial data with PostGIS."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Books"
  - "Free Teaser"
  - "Programming & Development"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "beginners guide"
  - "data analysis"
  - "data exploration"
  - "data mining"
  - "data storytelling"
  - "database management"
  - "postgresql"
  - "relational database"
  - "sql"
---

# **p r a c t i c a l sql**

"Practical SQL: A Beginner's Guide to Storytelling with Data" by Anthony DeBarros, published by No Starch Press in 2018, offers a comprehensive introduction to SQL and database management for aspiring data professionals. This guide covers fundamental concepts such as creating and designing databases, data types, importing/exporting, basic to advanced querying, statistical analysis, text mining, and spatial data with PostGIS, all with the overarching goal of teaching users how to effectively analyze data and tell compelling stories.

This page is free — overview and chapter list only.
Full book: $2.99 USDC · Per chapter: $0.25 USDC
[Buy / open complete book](/library/complete/practicalsql/) · [Complete book Markdown](/library/complete/practicalsql.md)

## Chapters

1. [Contents In Detail](/library/practicalsql/01-contents-in-detail/) (Free teaser)
1. [Introduct Ion](/library/practicalsql/02-introduct-ion/) ($0.25)
1. [U N D Erstan Di Ng Data Ty Pes](/library/practicalsql/03-u-n-d-erstan-di-ng-data-ty-pes/) ($0.25)
1. [I Mporting An D E Xporting Data](/library/practicalsql/04-i-mporting-an-d-e-xporting-data/) ($0.25)
1. [Basic M Ath An D S Tats With Sql](/library/practicalsql/05-basic-m-ath-an-d-s-tats-with-sql/) ($0.25)
1. [E Xtracting I Nformation By Grouping An D Summarizing](/library/practicalsql/06-e-xtracting-i-nformation-by-grouping-an-d-summarizing/) ($0.25)
1. [S Tatistical F Unctions In Sql](/library/practicalsql/07-s-tatistical-f-unctions-in-sql/) ($0.25)
1. [Calculating Rates For Meaningful Comparisons](/library/practicalsql/08-calculating-rates-for-meaningful-comparisons/) ($0.25)
1. [Wrapping Up](/library/practicalsql/09-wrapping-up/) ($0.25)
1. [Working With Dates An D T Imes](/library/practicalsql/10-working-with-dates-an-d-t-imes/) ($0.25)
1. [Data Types And Functions For Dates And Times](/library/practicalsql/11-data-types-and-functions-for-dates-and-times/) ($0.25)
1. [Manipulating Dates And Times](/library/practicalsql/12-manipulating-dates-and-times/) ($0.25)
1. [Working With Time Zones](/library/practicalsql/13-working-with-time-zones/) ($0.25)
1. [Calculations With Dates And Times](/library/practicalsql/14-calculations-with-dates-and-times/) ($0.25)
1. [Wrapping Up 2](/library/practicalsql/15-wrapping-up-2/) ($0.25)
1. [Advance D Query T Echniques](/library/practicalsql/16-advance-d-query-t-echniques/) ($0.25)
1. [Using Subqueries](/library/practicalsql/17-using-subqueries/) ($0.25)
1. [Common Table Expressions](/library/practicalsql/18-common-table-expressions/) ($0.25)
1. [Cross Tabulations](/library/practicalsql/19-cross-tabulations/) ($0.25)
1. [Spatial Reference System Identifier](/library/practicalsql/20-spatial-reference-system-identifier/) ($0.25)
1. [Postgis Data Types](/library/practicalsql/21-postgis-data-types/) ($0.25)
1. [Creating Spatial Objects With Postgis Functions](/library/practicalsql/22-creating-spatial-objects-with-postgis-functions/) ($0.25)
1. [Analyzing Farmers Markets Data](/library/practicalsql/23-analyzing-farmers-markets-data/) ($0.25)
1. [Working With Census Shapefiles](/library/practicalsql/24-working-with-census-shapefiles/) ($0.25)
1. [Performing Spatial Joins](/library/practicalsql/25-performing-spatial-joins/) ($0.25)
1. [Wrapping Up 3](/library/practicalsql/26-wrapping-up-3/) ($0.25)
1. [Using Views To Simplify Queries](/library/practicalsql/27-using-views-to-simplify-queries/) ($0.25)
1. [Programming Your Own Functions](/library/practicalsql/28-programming-your-own-functions/) ($0.25)
1. [Automating Database Actions With Triggers](/library/practicalsql/29-automating-database-actions-with-triggers/) ($0.25)
1. [M Aintaining Your Data B Ase](/library/practicalsql/30-m-aintaining-your-data-b-ase/) ($0.25)
1. [Name Value](/library/practicalsql/31-name-value/) ($0.25)
1. [Start With A Question](/library/practicalsql/32-start-with-a-question/) ($0.25)
1. [Gather Your Data](/library/practicalsql/33-gather-your-data/) ($0.25)
1. [Assess The Datas Origins](/library/practicalsql/34-assess-the-datas-origins/) ($0.25)
1. [Consult The Datas Owner](/library/practicalsql/35-consult-the-datas-owner/) ($0.25)
1. [Identify Key Indicators And Trends Over Time](/library/practicalsql/36-identify-key-indicators-and-trends-over-time/) ($0.25)
1. [Ask Why](/library/practicalsql/37-ask-why/) ($0.25)
1. [Communicate Your Findings](/library/practicalsql/38-communicate-your-findings/) ($0.25)
1. [Wrapping Up 4](/library/practicalsql/39-wrapping-up-4/) ($0.25)
1. [Resources](/library/practicalsql/40-resources/) ($0.25)
1. [Find The Story In Your Data](/library/practicalsql/41-find-the-story-in-your-data/) ($0.25)