Data Management Using Stata: A Practical Handbook
Michael N. Mitchell
Copyright 2010 Version 1
Comment from the Stata technical group
Michael N. Mitchell’s Data Management Using Stata comprehensively coversdata-management tasks, from those a beginning statistician would need to thosehard-to-verbalize tasks that can confound an experienced user. Mitchell doesthis all in simple language with illustrative examples.
The book is modular in structure, with modules based on data-management tasksrather than on clusters of commands. This format is helpful because it allowsreaders to find just what they need to solve a problem at hand. To complementthis format, the book is in a style that will teach even sporadic readers goodhabits in data management, even if the reader chooses to read chapters out oforder.
Throughout the book, Mitchell subtly emphasizes the absolute necessityof  reproducibility and an audit trail.  Instead ofstressing programming  esoterica, Mitchell reinforces simple habitsand points out the time-savings  gained by beingcareful.  Mitchell’s experience in UCLA’sAcademic  Technology Services clearly drives much of his advice.
Mitchell includes advice for those who would like to learn to write their owndata-management Stata commands.  Even experienced users will learnnew tricks and new ways to approach data-management problems.
This is a great book—thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in datamanagement using Stata.