Here’s what I’ve been reading recently:
A First Look at SQL Server 2005 for Developers by Bob Beauchemin, Dan Sullivan, Niels Berglund. - My wife almost ordered the same book, on the same day. Got to remember to check with her before I buy a SQL Sever book. Although geared more towards the programmer than a development DBA, it is still a must have book for either group (and with Yukon the line between the 2 groups is really blurred).
Understanding Web Services Specifications and the WSE by Jeannine Hall Gailey. A very good one stop shopping type of book for WSE. A definite for the architect who is trying to keep up to date with this emerging technology. Oh, and my friend Don Smith was a reviewer for this book.
Modeling Business Objects with XML Schema by Berthold Daum. If you are creating XML Schemas for your business processes from scratch (aka no legacy XML streams), and you don’t have this book, you are just making your life harder for yourself. By far the best book on “modeling” your XML schemas, not just creating them on a whim and a prayer. This book does for XML Schema what Fowler’s PoEAA does for Design Patterns. The only (slight) issue I have with the book is that it is really pitching Asset Oriented Modeling, but if you overlook that issue and just use it to help re-enforce the idea that you should model your schemas, it is an invaluable book. Definitely not a book for those new to XML Schemas.