Beginning T-SQL 2012

Introduction

I never thought I’d be writing a technical book. I have a MA in English Literature so I always pictured myself sitting in an oak paneled room surrounded by books and attentive students listening to me pontificating on the latest criticism of 19^th Century novels. It didn’t take me long to realize though that path wasn’t for me and I really wasn’t cut out for a life in academia. But now I was an ex-English major working in a book store, starting a family and with little career prospects.

Working in a bookstore did offer some advantages. One advantage was the easy access to technical books. I had endless access to books just like the one you are reading now. I thought to myself, why not read these books, learn from them, and try working ...