Knowledge = Confidence
The “For Mere Mortals” Philosophy
The philosophy behind this series of books encompasses these three ideas:
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Provide information on a given subject in a clear and methodical manner.
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Present the information in a manner that the reader can digest easily and efficiently, and in a style that respects the reader’s intellect and capacity for learning.
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Provide a foundation of knowledge that the reader can then build upon and expand.
The content in a For Mere Mortals® book is practical and quite conceptual in nature, and serves as a starting point for the book’s particular subject. Once the reader finishes reading the book, he or she can then move on to other books that provide a more detailed and expanded analysis of the subject. For example, after a reader finishes reading Database Design For Mere Mortals®, she can then move on to a book such as the Handbook of Relational Database Design, by Candace Fleming and Barbara von Halle.
A few of the For Mere Mortals® books present their subject matter in a generic manner so that the reader can apply the knowledge he gains from the book to a wide range and variety of situations. This approach is particularly advantageous because it places few constraints on the manner in which the reader can use this knowledge.
The For Mere Mortals® Series presents you with information on important technology topics in an easily accessible, common sense manner. If you have little or no background or formal training on the subjects covered in the series, these books are for you. This series avoids dwelling on the theoretical and instead takes you right to the heart of the topic with a matter-of-fact, hands-on approach.
Database Design for Mere Mortals® is the flagship book of the series, and it set the standard for the quality and clear, accessible writing style that you will find in the other books in the series.
"These books will give you the knowledge you need to do your work with confidence."
Mike Hernandez - Series Editor
