the book itself is comprehensive, covering DBMS history, theory, SQL and relational algebra, moving on to XML databases etc. but is absolutely useless as a self learning tool.
Although interspersed with questions and "review points", there are no answers. the publisher refuses to make them available to anyone other than teachers at schools, so anyone thinking of using this to improve themselves is out of luck and Pearson couldn't care less.
my advice: if you want a general book on the topic find something lighter (this book is 3.5 inches/5cm thick). If you want something to allow you to learn the topics yourself, pick something else. and if your course/college/school uses this text book, point out to them that it's really a poor choice for any student who wants to take accountability for their own learning.
avoid.