Acknowledgments

   

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Preface (Second Edition)

Life, as the most ancient of all metaphors insists, is a journey . . .

J ONATHAN R ABAN F OR L OVE AND M ONEY

I believe that learning about database design is an ongoing process. I'm always learning more and more about the intricacies and nuances of designand so will you.

M ICHAEL J. H ERNANDEZ D ATABASE D ESIGN FOR M ERE M ORTALS

In the six years since the first edition of this book was published, I've continued my journey along the database path . I've dug deeper into the intracacies of design and probed further into the philosophy of good design. I've learned much from numerous conversations with my database students and industry colleagues and from the correspondence I've had with those who have read my book. As a result, I've been able to hone my design methodology and revise some of its processes, making it clearer and more thorough than ever before.

Although I'll take a brief break (writing can be quite a mental exercise), I know that my journey will soon continue. There is still so much more to explore, discover, and learn. I find that designing and working with databases is much like mountain climbingthere's always a new and exciting challenge ahead of you! Perhaps six years from now, I'll have a chance to share my experiences with you once again.

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