Mastering Tableau

▶This book is very well-planned, well-researched, well-designed, well-written, and well-edited with extremely thorough presentation. I've purchased 5 different books on Tableau. However, I've learned more from this book than I ever did in all the other books combined. The problem I've had with most books dealing with Tableau is, there are no hands-on exercises and the examples provided in those books are essentially trivial for practical purposes. Not so with “Mastering Tableau”, there are online support files and example codes you can download for the hands-on exercises which are well written and thoroughly explained. This is indisputably the best Tableau book that I have ever come across.
This is a must have book for Tableau users - whether you are new to Tableau or more advanced. The novice will feel like less than a novice by the first five chapters. Those who are more advanced can use this book as a great reference (it helps refresh forgotten knowledge). The material is arranged with the most elegant and simple descriptions of complex concepts unfolding into sophisticated working prototypes. Chapter by chapter, the introduction to the reader of “Mastering Tableau” and other intricacies within the object model builds understanding of fundamentals and delivers where most books fail - without extraneous and misleading detail. I highly recommend this book.

▶ I wrote this book just over a year ago. Since that time I've continued hone my Tableau skills. As a result I would tweak various parts if I were to rewrite it. That said, I think much of it is still very helpful for deeply understanding Tableau. For example:
⦁Chapter 4: All about Data – Data Densification, Cubes, and Big Data
- Data densification is a non-documented 'feature' of Tableau. The explanation in chapter 4 may prove insightful.
⦁Chapter 5: Table Calculations
- Understanding Scope and Direction/Addressing and Partitioning is challenging. If you struggle with these concepts, this chapter should prove useful.
⦁Chapter 6: LOD Calculations
- It's hard to overstate the importance of LOD calculations. I still feel that the first part of this chapter lays a good foundation to build on.
⦁Chapter 8: Mapping
- Although this chapter is still quite relevant, it is important to note that shapefiles can now be brought directly into Tableau.
⦁Chapter 11: Improving Performance
- Since writing this chapter I've taught a couple of classes on Tableau performance. As a result I believe the contents of the chapter are still relevant.