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For instance, the book still uses the outdated @@Identity to retreive the last identity value. This was replaced 7 years ago by the improved identitiy_scope() function. Using @@identity risks getting the wrong value if a trigger inserts new rows. No one who write T-SQL code uses @@identity anymore.

Speaking of functions, the book also ignores T-SQL user-defined function which were introduced in SQL Server 2000. (even in the Can you write functions hack!)

Will the T-SQL code run? yes. Is it current code? in many places no.

Not only is the T-SQL poorly written code, but the hacks themselves are hit and miss. Some are clever, others are simply a first try at a task without really workgin it through.

More disturbing is the fact that I've entered this review before, but O'Reilly deletes it. hmmmm.