Expert MySQL starts with a section on the anatomy of a database system including the common types of systems. This is often missing in database books and a very important part to understand if you going to use one to its fullest potential. Other sections include one on the source code and one on extending and debugging MySQL. The author devotes a chapter to embedded MySQL including building embedded MySQL applications as well as one on adding functions and commands. The third and final part of the book covers advanced database internals and includes a good section on query optimization.

Throughout Expert MySQL the author has included notes embedded with the text, sidebars offset by a different shading, and other notes, diagrams, and illustrations as appropriate to help the reader understand the text. There are also plenty of coding examples. My book had some printing problems towards the back with pages that had a vertical black line running down the center of the page. This sort of problem is highly unusual with Apress but occurred in my copy nonetheless. Chapters 10, 11 and 12 have exercises at the end to help ensure that you understand the concepts. The answers to the questions are included in the appendix.

This is not really the best book for the person new to MySQL but is more appropriate to the person who understands MySQL and wants to extend its functionality into new areas. Expert MySQL is recommended to those people who want to learn how to modify and extend MySQL.

This book lives up to its title by offering expert advice on how to use MySQL to its fullest. Expert MySQL goes deeper than just syntax and samples, offering useful information on the internals of MySQL. Even though there are a lot of titles on MySQL, this book would make a worthy addition to the library of any MySQL developer or DBA.

This is an advanced book.
You can use it to learn the internals of MySQL as well as the internals of a Database Management System (DBMS).
It will teach you how to make changes to the MySQL source code.
An alternative name for the book could have been "MySQL internals".
I really like it and I find it very useful.

PS. It contains C++ code.