Looking for a good book on SQL…

This is an elementary question, but we have MSDE 2000, which I understand is a “crippled” version of SQL. Would a SQL book still be helpful? Any opinions on good books? Our software vendor is offering a seminar on using MSDE with Great Plains but I’m annoyed at them after their last user group and would rather just find a good book.

I have no experience with SQL and very little with the Windows 2003 server.

Any advice would be great. Thanks!