90% of the stuff in this book can be found elsewhere. First of all, most of it is in the online documentation that comes with Sql Server. Second, nearly all the rest can be downloaded from the MS Web site. Third, anything that's left can be found in other books, including the precursor to this one, Inside Sql Server 7.0. Not only does the book not take you inside Sql Server, it doesn't even include info that you can't find elsewhere. Add to this that Delaney seems like a really inexperienced author and you have a book that's very dull and not very useful.