And as a public service to the ColdFusion community, I've compiled a list of recommended books that will appeal to ColdFusion users. All are available from Amazon.com (and all at least 20% off the cover price). Topics listed include:

• Databases
• SQL and ODBC
• Operating Systems
• Internet Servers (including Web Servers)
• Internet Technologies & Products
• C and C++
• Java
• .NET
• Miscellaneous

Databases
	Database Design for Mere Mortals : A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design If you need to learn the basics of relational database design in a hurry, or just want to brush up on the technology, then this book is for you. Learn about databases tables and fields, keys, relationships, rules, and enforcing relational database integrity. Complete with great examples, this book is both educational and readable.
	Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2000 The previous editions of this book (on SQL Server 6.x and SQL Server 7) were the definitive standards for technical details on the workings and behaviors of those database servers - and this edition follows that pattern. This is a highly technical book, but if you're looking for that hard to find information, this is the book for you. Lots of SQL Server history and behind the scenes stuff which may or may not interest you. Hands on advice on setting configuration options, using batches and stored procedures, working with cursors, even how to manage indexes and determine where they are needed and where not. New coverage includes details on the query optimization engine and an included benchmarking kit. Once again, this one is highly recommended.
	Microsoft Access Developer's Guide to SQL Server Now this is the one that we've all been waiting for. If you are using Access (no, I am not going to give you a hard time for doing so) to power your ColdFusion apps, and know that at some point you'll need to migrate to SQL Server, grab this book. 800 pages of just about everything there is to know on the differences (and similarities) between the two products allowing you to migrate quickly and safely. Covers the migration process, data type and SQL differences, security issues, and much much more.
	Special Edition Using Access 2000 Latest edition of the definitive tutorial and reference book for Microsoft Access. You'll learn database fundamentals, how to create database applications, relational database design, and even SQL basics. If you are using Access 2000 as the database back end for your Cold Fusion applications, grab a copy of this book immediately. This one is a "must have".
SQL and ODBC
	Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming This is the new expanded edition of a truly great SQL book. It will not teach you SQL basics, and assumes that you are relatively comfortable writing basic SQL statements already. What this book will do is challenge the way you solve SQL problems. You'll learn to write SQL statements that you thought were impossible, and statements you hadn't even thought of at all. And to top it all off, the writing style is highly readable, the content great, and the tips and tricks superb. Highly recommended.
	Joe Celko's SQL Puzzles & Answers Another Joe Celko masterpiece - a compilation of puzzles and tricks from his columns in various database related magazines. This one is for experienced SQL developers, although once you are done reading this you'll realize you were far less experienced than you thought. If you want to learn how to push SQL just that much further, this is required reading.
Operating Systems
	Learning Red Hat Linux ColdFusion now runs on Red Hat Linux, and if you want to get up and running quickly on Linux this book is for you. This title is geared towards new Linux users, experiences Unix and Linux users might find the pace annoying. But if you’re a Windows user and want to find out what all the fuss is about, this title is the best I have found yet.
	Microsoft Windows 2000 Registry Handbook I've been a fan of Jerry Honeycutt's "Windows 95 and NT 4.0; Registry & Customization Handbook" for a while. This is the upgraded version with complete Windows 2000 coverage. If you tweak your registry (you do, don't you?) you'll appreciate the extensive coverage this book offers.
	Microsoft Windows 2000 Security Handbook Considering how many of you run ColdFusion on Windows 2000, this book should probably be required reading for all CF admins. Includes coverage of basic security, IP security, Active Directory, the CryptoAPI, VPN's, and more. While much of the content is pretty low-level, the book concludes with a series of very useful chapters on Win2K security best-practices, and how to secure high-speed always-on connections. Highly Recommended.
Internet Servers (including Web Servers)
	Microsoft IIS 5 Administration I've been searching for a decent book on IIS5 for a while now, and this is the best I have found yet. Experienced IIS users will probably find this a bit shallow, but if you've yet to tinker with all IIS5 has to offer then you'll find this book very useful. Topics covered include administering the various servers (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, NNTP), replication and clustering, remote administration, and performance tuning. My only real gripe is that there is way too much ASP coverage for a book on IIS itself, but having said that, there is still much value to be gained here.
Internet Technologies & Products
	ActionScripting in Flash Flash is going to become increasingly important to ColdFusion developers, and those who want a head start should install Flash 5 to start experimenting with it. But once you've gotten past basic animations you'll need to learn ActionScript, and then you'll need this book. With an emphasis on readability, getting stuff done, and having fun in the process, this is the best book on the subject that I have found yet.
	Inside XML The most thorough XML overview yet. From basics, to discussions of real world implementations, from designing DTD's to XML in Web browsers, from XSL to the XML DOM, from specific implementations to an introduction of the major XML tools - it's all in here.
	JavaScript : The Definitive Guide Third edition of one of the most respected books on JavaScript, with full coverage of version 1.2 Highly readable, great examples, and detailed explanations of every JavaScript function, object, and method. This book has been a best-seller for a long time, and rightfully so.
	Playing With Fire: Tapping the Power of Macromedia Fireworks 4 If you are graphically challenged (like I am) then Fireworks is the graphics package for you - it's the only tool designed specifically for working with Web graphics (it's what I use for all the graphics changes and effects on this site). And if you are using (or going to use) Fireworks, then you need this book. Easy reading, focused, and chock full of little tips and tricks. Well worth the investment.
C and C++
	Programming Visual C++ Cold Fusion custom tags are written in C++ using Microsoft Visual C++ version 4 (or later). This book is one of the most popular VC++ books in existence, and for a good reason. It'll teach you everything you need to know about programming with VC++ and using MFC. The author of the first four editions of this book was killed in a tragic accident last year, but Scot Wingo and George Shepherd have done a great service to David J. Kruglinski and his memory by updating this book to a standard that David himself would have been proud of. This is another book that never leaves my desk (and I buy a new copy each time it's updated too).
Java
	Beginning Java 2 Solid and thorough beginning Java delivered slowly and methodically. This title will appeal to developers with no prior Java experience and starts with the absolute basics. But the coverage here is anything but basic, with close to 1000 pages of everything from database integration to graphics, the event model, and much more.
	JRun Web Application Construction Kit The very first book on JRun - Macromedia's J2EE application server. Modeled on my own ColdFusion Web Application Construction Kit, this book will teach you JRun from the ground up. ColdFusion developers will find the content familiar, comfortable, and very usable. Anyone wanting to learn more about JSP development using JRun needs this title.
	Mastering Enterprise JavaBeans and the J2EE Complete coverage of EJB from the ground up in a very readable and informative style. ColdFusion (and JRun) supports the use of EJB as a way to extend and componentize development (something I have been a strong advocate of for a long time) and this book will teach you all you need to know to leverage the power of EJB.
.NET
	.NET Framework Essentials Finally, a book that really explains .NET so that it all makes sense. Regardless of how you feel about Microsoft, .NET is going to be significant, and this small (and highly readable) volume will explain it all to you. The CLR, the .NET languages, .NET XML and SOAP, Web Services - they are all explained here clearer than in anything I have to see from Microsoft. Highly recommended.
Miscellaneous
	Customers.Com: How to Create a Profitable Business Strategy for the Internet and Beyond If you are developing an e-commerce site, read this book. Learn the steps you need to go through in order to roll out a viable e-commerce site. Learn what works and what doesn't, and don't make the mistakes made by so many others. The 16 case studies in this book alone make it a highly recommended read.
	Designing Web Usability : The Practice of Simplicity I am not a fan of everything Jakob Nielsen writes (I especially disagree with his assessment of WAP), but this book is destined to become a classic. Nielsen knows good design (and more importantly, knows bad design) and offers solid advice accompanied by real world examples on this subject. Complete with color pictures of Web sites and commentary on what he likes and what he doesn't, this book is required reading for all site and application developers.
	Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability A wonderful and highly readable little book (just over 200 pages), this could be the best small investment you make. Steve Krug gets right to the point with hard-hitting examples to show you what user interfaces work and why (and of course which don't work too). Complete with color screenshots, clear narrative, and a sense of humor, this one is required reading for any and all Web developers.
	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do with ColdFusion, but what can I say, I am a big-time Harry Potter fan. (I was going to provide links to all the books, including volume four, my favorite thus far, but thought the better of it). If you have not yet read these books, you should. I can't promise they'll make you a better ColdFusion programmer, but they will be a source of something most developers rarely get the chance to experience these days - "fun". Oh, but please don't blame me for your lack of productivity while reading these books - they are very addictive.
	Information Architecture for the World Wide Web This book should be required reading for any and all Web developers. The principals and concepts explained here will change the way we use the Web. From buttons to images, from displaying search results to navigation control concerns, if it effects your Web site you'll find it here. Grab this book.