Snappy Interviews: 100 Questions to Ask Oracle DBAs Paperback – January 24, 2008

I'm not a DBA but a Java/PL-SQL programmer. It's strange that even though the book is titled for DBA, I found that the information this book contains is pretty valuable. I used to do PL/SQL and SQL programming without knowing or trying to know much how Oracle works behind the scene. This book is an eye opener to "the other side of the world" that makes me more aware of what I am doing. Now I know better of what are good are bad things. With this book, I can also better communicate with the real DBA for my database needs.I could have rated this book 5 star had it been printed on better materials. But well, it's a snappy book and it's me who likes seeing good books printed on good materials so I can keep them for a long time.

I have now the proof that I can write my own work on Oracle without making too many efforts and gaining a lot of money. $30 for poor hundred of pages, $30 for poor hundred of questions which it is perfectly possible to you to draft yourself, there is here an unbearable mockery. And what to say about the contents? Qualify what recovers from the "junior" or from the "senior" is not an evident thing. But apparently Christopher Lawson was allowed go to an ease and to a self-sufficiency deserving of that of Donald Burleson. Mr Christopher Lawson, you accustomed to us in better....

An absolutely fantastic book that benefits both sides of the interview process. This is a rare gem of a book that not only prepares you for an interview, but also triggers your own knowledge and curiosity. After reading each question and answer, I found myself off on a tangent thinking about different scenarios where each case would apply, the differences in each version, and obviously this lead to a deeper understanding why I answered a question a certain way. In the end, I actually learned something from each question in the process of answering as well as justifying each of my answers. After reading the book, I felt more confident and comfortable going into an interview - knowing that I had an arsenal of 100 legitimate questions and answers prepared.On the other side of the coin, the interviewer gains a substantial amount of knowledge by referencing this book; mainly because you have to know the answers to the questions you're asking (how dumb would you look if after each answer from a DBA candidate you had to flip through the book and say "...um, ah yes, you are correct as stated here on page 42". If you're interviewing someone, you best know what you're asking and also know if the answer is BS or accurate). This book will definitely help you become more comfortable with the questions you're asking and the answers you expect to hear. Most importantly, it'll help you ensure you ask the RIGHT questions too.Overall, this is a great book and a must have for anyone seeking a job or giving an interview. I can't wait until the 2nd 100 questions book comes out.

This book is too simple. I am not sure who is audience for the book. For techincal professional, i don't see much value. Maybe there is some value for people who don't have any database background.

I have been an Oracle DBA consultant since version 7 and have found that a book like this is really needed. On job interviews my clients usually ask questions that are too easy and don't assess my skills or I get arcane trick questions where the interviewer is trying to impress me with his knowledge. Neither of those approaches will tell them what I can do. Most of the material out there about how to interview Oracle DBA's is based on theory and doesn't assess a job candidates real skills. I tried answering all the questions in this book and certainly didn't know all the answers but felt it was very fair and would quickly show the difference between someone who had read a few books and someone who had real world experience. The questions are well written and the answers focus on real world solutions. I have to admit I learned quite a few new things. I plan to use the book primarily to help me create a structured plan of the areas I need to go back and study. I will also keep it handy and use it when asked to interview Oracle DBA candidates. It will provide an impartial way to compare the candidates skills and improve the quality of the recommendations I make.

I think this book contains the right format and content of questions that an interviewer should build his line of questioning around. I believe Christopher Lawson is one of those evangelists who believe that questions given to the interviewee must be fair and practical.This book clearly stands out among the many similar literature out there. Some people may criticize this book as "too simplistic" and "incomplete". To include the completeness of what this book is trying to cover will take years and millions of pages to write. There you go, what this book is all about is the coverage of the essentials. This book teaches both the interviewer and the interviewee the real essential tasks of a DBA. Most of the topics mentioned here in this book are the very things that confront the "real" DBA in the forefront.I believe this book is a must-have not only for the entry-level or aspiring DBA but also for every level out there that either need guidance or refresher.I gave this book a Five-Star Rating for a job well done. Kudos (again) to Christopher Lawson. Keep it coming Chris!