This blog post is a book review of an open text book by Yi Maggie Guo, Professor of Information Systems Management, College of Business at UM-Dearborn. Open Educational Resources (OER) are publicly accessible materials created purposely to be shared free of charge and can be used for teaching, learning, and research. There are several types of OER licenses that allow users to own and in some cases modify those resources. Here on the Hub Blog we support the publishing of OER review posts as part of our support of OER in the Hub for Teaching and Learning Resources and in support of our campus’ OER grants program.
Book Review: Database and SQL Through Pop Culture
What if learning SQL felt less like memorizing syntax and more like stepping into the Star Trek universe or navigating the Mushroom Kingdom? Database and SQL Through Pop Culture reimagines database education by blending technical rigor with playful, familiar references; all delivered through an interactive, fully online format. This review explores how well that approach works, where it shines, and what instructors should consider before adopting this unconventional yet compelling Open Educational Resource.
By searching OER Commons, I found several relevant titles. After briefly browsing these resources, the main work I chose to review is: Database and SQL Through Pop Culture by Brendan P. Shea, PhD. (email: Brendan.Shea@rctc.edu).
The book is intended as an introduction to the fundamentals of data and Structured Query Language (SQL), targeting a broad audience that includes high school students, undergraduates, and self-paced learners. Its primary purpose is to teach new students how to code in SQL while making the learning process approachable and enjoyable. Feedback from students and learners overwhelmingly highlights that this textbook is clear, engaging, practical, and highly accessible. It is a strong resource for introductory SQL courses and also serves well as supplemental material.
This review and the detailed assessments were made possible by a group of dedicated students who conducted evaluations from a learner’s perspective as an assignment toward the end of their database course (ISM 431 Database Management II). Having already gained experience with database concepts and SQL skills throughout the semester, they were uniquely positioned to assess the text’s clarity, accuracy, and practical application. Their feedback, which included the use of standardized OER review rubrics across multiple criteria, provides valuable insight into how effectively this open educational resource supports students new to SQL. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for their substantial contributions; their detailed analyses and honest evaluations will be instrumental in informing future adoption decisions and improving learning experiences for future students.
The book is entirely online and organized into chapters, with each chapter presented as a Google Colab notebook. Every chapter includes a YouTube video introducing key concepts, written explanations with executable examples, end-of-chapter exercises, a quiz, and a glossary. All written materials are also available for download in ZIP or TAR format. In addition, students retain access to the material even after completing the course.
Core Strength: Engagement, Relevance, and Clarity
From a learner’s perspective, the textbook’s most significant strength is its innovative approach to simplifying complex technical topics. Reviewers consistently praised the use of pop culture as a tool for connection and comprehension, making learning fun and relatable.
The book achieves its main purpose by blending technical lessons with storytelling, using familiar references such as famous actors, well-known movies, and music groups. Creative examples, such as explaining database structure through a Star Trek theme, learning advanced SQL operations through Mario Brothers plumbing database, or discussing security concepts using scenarios set in the Mushroom Kingdom, help make abstract ideas more relatable and memorable. This approach creates a sense of engagement that contrasts with the traditional textbook experience. The references make the reading more lively and help students maintain focus. Fictional case studies, such as the one involving Toad City Hospital, were particularly effective in clarifying complex topics like encryption, decryption, and firewalls.
In addition, the text is written in a beginner-friendly style. The tone is casual yet clear and accurate, avoiding unnecessary complexity while emphasizing essential concepts. Reviewers noted that they often understood material on the first pass, without needing to seek external explanations. Overall, the reading level is accessible and appropriate for learners encountering SQL for the first time.
Hands-On and Interactive Pedagogical Features
The implementation of interactive elements is another major strength, particularly for students new to coding.
Integrated hands-on practice. The textbook incorporates Google Colab, allowing students to practice coding directly in their browsers without installing additional software. This setup enables learners to run code immediately, reinforcing understanding through active engagement. Learning a programming language requires consistent practice, and the integration of quizzes, Colab notebooks, and demonstrations helps prevent students from passively consuming tutorials without applying concepts. Reviewers appreciated the book’s emphasis on hands-on learning rather than purely theoretical explanations.
Effective examples and demonstrations. The book provides a substantial number of SQL query examples that are well formatted and strategically placed throughout each chapter. Code examples are often embedded directly within explanatory text, allowing students to immediately visualize how concepts work in practice. For example, explanations of ORDER BY and WHERE clauses are followed by multiple variations of SQL queries that demonstrate how readers can apply the concepts themselves. This emphasis on practical examples helps learners quickly connect theory to execution.
Structural Excellence and Accessibility
The structure and organization of the book contribute to a streamlined and approachable learning experience.
Modularity and flow. The textbook is highly modular, with content divided into manageable sections that are easy to digest. This structure avoids overwhelming readers with large blocks of text and supports sustained engagement. The progression from foundational topics to more advanced concepts follows a logical and natural flow. Many chapters are also sufficiently self-contained, allowing learners to revisit specific topics without disrupting their overall understanding.
Current and comprehensive content. The material is current and aligned with modern curricula, emphasizing tools such as PostgreSQL and Google Colab. The book is comprehensive enough for a beginner-to-intermediate audience, covering essential concepts needed to progress in SQL and database management. Reviewers noted that the text addresses topics relevant to the job market, including different database types (e.g., NoSQL, SQLite, Oracle), ETL processes, and data warehouses. This breadth helps students understand not only how SQL works, but also where it fits within real-world applications.
Potential Limitations and Considerations for Adoption
A relative weakness of the textbook lies in its interface and visual presentation, which received the lowest average rating from student reviewers. While the content itself is strong, some students found the online format challenging to navigate due to long, scroll-heavy pages, dense text sections, and occasionally overcrowded visuals. A few also reported interface issues such as overlapping links or the unintended display of hidden code cells. These concerns do not undermine the instructional value of the book, but they are usability factors instructors should consider when adopting it for online reading.
The use of pop culture and video game references, while engaging, also presents a potential limitation. Such references may become outdated over time, and some students, particularly younger cohorts, may not recognize or appreciate them. As a result, instructors may need to supplement or contextualize examples to ensure continued relevance for future audiences.
Finally, because the textbook is fully online and relies heavily on external tools such as Google Colab, GitHub, and embedded YouTube videos, its long-term usability depends on ongoing maintenance. Links may break, platforms may change, and videos may become unavailable. Although this ecosystem provides flexibility and accessibility, instructors should be aware that the effectiveness of the resource relies on the author’s continued updates to maintain functionality and relevance.
Conclusion
In summary, Database and SQL Through Pop Culture distinguishes itself as an engaging, approachable, and highly practical learning resource. By combining pop culture references with interactive platforms such as Google Colab, the book lowers barriers to entry and makes learning SQL more efficient and enjoyable. While there are considerations related to interface design, evolving references, and long-term maintenance, the textbook remains a strong Open Educational Resource for introductory SQL instruction and supplemental learning.
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Prof. Guo teaches topics such as programming, database development, and Artificial Intelligence, and enjoys convincing students that these subjects are less scary than they sound. Her research examines how people really use information systems. Outside of work, during rare sightings of “free time,” she enjoys reading, movies, Zumba, photography, and watercolor painting, though she makes no claims of being particularly good at any of them. She is still actively searching for more hours in the day.
Photo by Yi Maggie Guo, taken at the Cranbrook Garden, MI.