The self-test was a really complete review just before my test. Though the questions were different, I got a bunch of them right off because of the self-test and its description of the reasons why each was right or wrong.
It's certainly not the 'great american novel' but then this is the most dry and boring type of reading there is. If it works, who cares if it is long. I liked the SQL 7.0 book better, since it was shorter.
I'll pay more for a short book that covers the important stuff for the exam itself than for an exhaustive repetition of all of the exam criteria on the MCDBA web site. I don't really care what MIGHT be on the exam according to Microsoft. I just want to know what IS on the exam.
This is an EXAM CRAM not a coverage of all knowledge domains for the exam. If I wanted a full source book for reference, I'd buy the Black Book or something like it.
Next time - shorter is better!!!
The end of book self test was the best thing about this book. At least that covered only similar items to what I saw on the test. I could probably have skipped the rest of the book and passed the test just with that. Maybe I should rip out the CramSheet and the self test next time - that would be more of a CRAM.
This is one I won't read again. I read it, I passed the exam, file-13, enough said.