Data visualization as the term suggests is the skill to transform data into visual representations in the form of graphs, charts, maps, etc. Data visuals created by data analysts are used by businesses to make important business decisions and strategies. Whether it’s customer preferences, feedback, or survey results, data is invaluable to the success of a business. Various tools are available for data analysis and visualization with Microsoft’s Power BI being one of the most sought-after tools. There are many books on the market where you can learn and understand Power BI. This post will discuss the Top 10 Power BI books for beginners and advanced-level readers. In addition, we will learn about the various learning options to master the tool, such as practicing with the tool, enrolling in Power BI training and unlocking higher earning potential with expert power BI skills.
What is Microsoft Power BI?
Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence and data analytics software that is used by data professionals including data scientists, Power BI developers, data analysts, etc. for creating business reports and visuals in the form of graphs, dashboards, charts, and infographics which the senior management can use as a reference point to make strategic business decisions.
For example, visual graphs on the sales data can help the sales teams and the senior management to identify the key performing indicators or nonperforming indicators through the use of these visuals. Power BI has a very interactive and intuitive user interface which makes it extremely user friendly. Using Power BI, you can create data stories, reports and interactive dashboards which help organizations to identify patterns, forecast demand, and derive business insights.
Best 5 Power BI Books for Beginners
If you're new to Power BI and looking to kickstart your journey into data visualization and business intelligence, these top 5 Power BI books for beginners will provide you with essential insights and guidance. From understanding the basics to mastering advanced techniques, these books are your gateway to harnessing the full potential of Power BI.
1. Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide
Meta Info:
Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide is one of the best Power BI books for beginners who want to learn data modeling, visualization, digital storytelling and everything related to Business Intelligence.
- Title: Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide
- Author Name: Devin Knight
- Book Imagepacktpub
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- ISBN: 9781789138221
- Year of release: The book was released in November 2022
- Versions: This is the third edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,054 ratings)
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide by Devin Knight is your personal guide to Microsoft Power BI. It is the best book to learn power BI and is suitable for readers with zero experience. This Microsoft power BI book covers all the business intelligence skills required for a data analyst including data preparation, modeling, visualization, report creation, deployment, dashboard design, etc. As a beginner, you will learn the core concepts of how to turn data into cool reports and charts. The book also includes exercises for you to learn and practice your BI skills. Some of the concepts covered in this book include Power Query, DAX, dataflows, and the common data model.
Key benefits and takeaways
- Discover the fundamentals of Power BI: As a reader you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of Microsoft Power BI. You will be navigated through the core concepts of business intelligence like data preparation, modeling, report creation, and deployment. This book makes a perfect starting point for beginners as it provides simplified illustrations of Power BI's essentials.
- Experience Power BI firsthand: In this book there are ample practice exercises after each chapter for you to strengthen your understanding of concepts. These practice exercises will give you the confidence to work on the tool with finesse.
- Insights from a Power BI expert: Brett Powell, a Microsoft MVP and Power BI authority, has shared his deep expertise and real-world skills for readers to have a better understanding of Power BI, its architecture, functionalities and features.
- Stay updated: Gain knowledge on the latest features and best practices of Power BI. This will help you to harness Power BI's complete potential and remain ahead in the dynamic business environment.
2. Microsoft Power BI Cookbook
Meta Info:
Microsoft Power BI Cookbook is the best power BI book for anyone who wants to learn how to use Microsoft Power BI to create interactive reports and dashboards.
- Title: Microsoft Power BI Cookbook
- Author Name: Brett Powell
- Book ImagePacktpub
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- ISBN-13: 978-1788297233
- Year of release: The book was first released in September 2022
- Versions: This is the second edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,054 ratings)
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
The "Microsoft Power BI Cookbook" by Brett Powell, is a Power BI book that covers over 100 technical recipes, skills and use cases which guide you through the data visualization process. You will learn how from raw data you can create interactive dashboards, intelligence reports, etc. The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers the basics of Power BI, such as how to connect to data sources, create reports, and create dashboards.
The second part covers more advanced topics, such as how to use DAX and M to create custom calculations, how to create interactive dashboards, and how to deploy Power BI solutions to the cloud.
Key benefits and takeaways:
- The book covers all aspects of Power BI, from data connectivity and modeling to report and dashboard design. This will give you a deep understanding of how Power BI works and how you can use it to solve your business problems.
- The book is packed with best practices and working code examples for you to apply in your role as a power BI designer.
- By the end of the book, you will be confident in creating sustainable and impactful charts, tables, reports, and dashboards with any kind of data using Microsoft Power BI.
- The book provides insights into Power BI's functional programming languages of DAX and M.
- The book provides practical recipes that demonstrate how to use Power BI to create reports, dashboards, and visualizations.
3. Beginning Microsoft Power BI: A Practical Guide to Self-Service Data Analytics
Meta Info:
This book is a great introduction to Power BI for beginners. It covers the basics of installing Power BI, connecting to data sources, and creating reports and dashboards.
- Title: Beginning Microsoft Power BI: A Practical Guide to Self-Service Data Analytics
- Author Name: Dan Clark
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Apress
- ISBN-13: 978-1484256190
- Year of release: The book was released on February 22, 2020
- Versions: This is the third edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.53 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
If you're new to Power BI, Beginning Microsoft Power BI: A Practical Guide to Self-Service Data Analytics by Dan Clark is just what you need. It shows you how to use Power BI step by step – from setting it up to making awesome reports and dashboards.
There are 10 chapters in the book that cover the basics of Power BI, as well as more advanced topics such as Power Query and DAX. Each chapter includes step-by-step activities that allow you to practice what you have learned. The book is packed with screenshots to help you visualize the concepts being discussed.
Key benefits and takeaways:
- Learn how to use Power BI to analyze data: The book covers a wide range of topics related to data analysis, including data modeling, data visualization, and data sharing.
- Get hands-on experience with Power BI: The book includes a number of hands-on exercises that you can use to practice what you have learned.
- Learn from real-world examples: The book includes a number of real-world examples that illustrate how Power BI can be used to solve business problems.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of Power BI: The book provides a comprehensive overview of Power BI, covering everything from the basics to more advanced topics.
4. Learn Power BI
Meta Info:
"Learn Power BI", an impressive power BI training book aimed at helping readers be proficient in Microsoft Power BI, which is one of the most sought-after business intelligence and data visualization tools.
- Title: Learn Power BI
- Author Name: Greg Deckler
- Book Imagepacktpub
- Publisher: Packt
- ISBN-13: 9781801811958
- Year of release: The book was released in February 2022
- Versions: This is the second edition
- Goodreads rating: 3.88 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Learn Power BI by Greg Deckler is a beginner's guide to Power BI. It helps you understand how to use Power BI for deriving insights, creating reports and presenting visuals from the available data, and much more.
There are 10 chapters in the book:
- Introduction to Business Intelligence and Power BI
- Up and Running with Power BI Desktop
- Connecting and Shaping Data
- Creating Data Models and Calculations
- Unlocking Insights
- Creating the Final Report
- Publishing and Sharing
- Using Reports in the Service
- Understanding Dashboards, Apps and Security
- Data Gateways and Refreshing Datasets
Key benefits and takeaways:
- Comprehensive Introduction: You'll receive a thorough and complete introduction to Power BI, covering all the essential aspects you need to create impactful BI reports and dashboards.
- Hands-on Learning: The book has practice exercises that give you hands-on-experience to actively practice and learn Power BI. Thus, ensuring you grasp the concepts through practical experience.
- Expert Authors: This book is written by experienced authors who are experts in Power BI. There are real world examples and guidance provided in the book for you to venture into the world of Power BI.
- In-depth Coverage: Expert advice on the tool's most current capabilities and functionalities. Also, you will learn about the recent updates on the new features and advancements in Power BI.
- Tailored Audience: Data professionals including IT managers, data analysts, or BI beginners can refer this book as it covers basic as well as advanced skills.
5. Beginning DAX with Power BI
Meta Info:
"Beginning DAX with Power BI" is a beginner-friendly book that focuses on teaching the fundamentals of Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), a formula language used in Power BI, Excel Power Pivot, and SQL Server Analysis Services to make calculations from the data available using the DAX codes. This book is your roadmap to understanding and using that code to apply in real world scenario. Going for Business Intelligence courses online will help you drive data-driven business decisions and get ready to land the most in-demand data jobs.
- Title: Beginning DAX with Power BI: The SQL Pro’s Guide to Better Business Intelligence
- Author Name: Philip Seamark
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Apress
- ISBN-13: 978-1484247877
- Year of release: The book was released in January 2018
- Versions: This is the first edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.56 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Beginning DAX with Power BI: The SQL Pro’s Guide to Better Business Intelligence by Philip Seamark is like a superhero guide for understanding DAX, a special language for working with data. It takes us from the basics to more advanced stuff.
The book is divided into three parts:
- Part 1: Getting Started with DAX: This part introduces you to DAX and teaches you the basics of the language, including how to create calculated columns and measures.
- Part 2: Intermediate DAX: This part teaches you more advanced DAX concepts, such as how to use functions, variables, and nesting.
- Part 3: Advanced DAX: This part teaches you the most advanced DAX concepts, such as how to use custom functions and how to write DAX macros.
Key Benefits and Takeaways:
Gain confidence in crafting impactful charts, tables, reports, and dashboards by the book's conclusion, empowered to handle various data using Microsoft Power BI.
- Master DAX: You'll become proficient in using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) to create calculated columns, measures, and more in Power BI.
- Hands-on Learning: Engage in hands-on exercises provided in the book to practice and solidify your DAX skills.
- Real-world Application: You will learn how to apply DAX to real-world business scenarios through practical examples and case studies.
- Comprehensive Understanding: You will gain a complete understanding of DAX, from its basics to more advanced concepts and techniques.
Advanced Power BI Books
For those who have already dipped their toes into the world of Power BI and are hungry for more advanced knowledge and techniques, these top 5 advanced Power BI books are tailored to take your skills to the next level.
1. Mastering Microsoft Power BI
Meta Info:
"Mastering Microsoft Power BI" is a comprehensive book that provides its readers insights and guidance for effectively using Microsoft Power BI, a powerful business intelligence and data visualization tool. Here is the meta information for the book:
- Title: Mastering Microsoft Power BI
- Author Name: Brett Powell
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- ISBN: 9781788297233
- Year of release: The book was released in June 2022
- Current version: Second Edition
- Good Reads Rating: Goodreads rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,144 ratings)
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
"Mastering Microsoft Power BI" is a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of data analysis and visualization using Microsoft Power BI. The book covers a wide range of topics, from data modeling and transformation to creating interactive reports and dashboards. It also delves into advanced techniques such as using DAX formulas for complex calculations and measures. This mastering power BI book provides practical examples, step-by-step tutorials, and real-world scenarios to help readers develop their skills in using Power BI effectively for business intelligence and data analysis purposes.
It is suitable for readers with some experience with Power BI, but it also includes enough introductory material to be accessible to beginners.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each of which covers a specific topic related to Power BI.
Key benefits and takeaways
Here are some of the key benefits of reading the book "Mastering Microsoft Power BI":
- Learn the basics of Power BI: The book provides a comprehensive overview of Power BI, covering everything from data preparation and modeling to report creation and deployment. This makes it a great resource for beginners who are looking to learn the basics of Power BI.
- Gain hands-on experience with Power BI: The book includes a number of exercises that allow you to practice what you have learned. This is a great way to solidify your understanding of Power BI and to build your skills.
- Stay ahead of the curve: The book covers the latest features and best practices in Power BI. This ensures that you will be able to use Power BI to its full potential.
- Data Modeling Expertise: Readers learn how to design effective data models and establish relationships between tables, which is crucial for creating meaningful insights.
- DAX Proficiency: The book dives into DAX, providing a solid foundation and gradually introducing more advanced formulas. Readers can become proficient in creating calculated columns and measures for complex calculations.
- Effective Visualization Techniques: Learn how to create visually appealing and informative visualizations that effectively communicate insights to stakeholders.
- Dashboard Creation: Discover how to build interactive reports and organize them into comprehensive dashboards for better data storytelling.
- Data Insights and Analytics: Explore Power BI's interactive features such as drill-through, cross-filtering, and drill-down, enabling users to gain deeper insights from their data.
- Cloud Collaboration: Understand how to publish reports to the Power BI Service, collaborate on dashboards, and share insights securely across teams.
2. Pro Power BI Desktop
Meta Info:
"Pro Power BI Desktop: Self-Service Analytics and Data Visualization for the Power User" is a detailed guide to getting the most out of Microsoft Power BI Desktop. This book helps readers tap into the advanced features of Power BI Desktop for in-depth data analysis and visualizing data. It's suitable for those who want to become skilled in creating impressive reports and visualizations.
- Title: Pro Power BI Desktop: Self-Service Analytics and Data Visualization for the Power User
- Author Name: Adam Aspin
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Apress
- ISBN: 978-1484257623
- Year of release: The book was released on June12, 2020
- Current version: Third Edition
- Good Reads Rating: Goodreads rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Pro Power BI Desktop is a book that teaches you how to use Microsoft Power BI Desktop to create stunning dashboards and reports that tell a data narrative. The book is updated to cover all the latest features of Power BI Desktop, including templates and JSON style sheets, data model annotations, composite data sources, Python visuals, and the Decomposition Tree visual.
The book is divided into three parts:
- Part 1: Getting Started with Power BI Desktop covers the basics of Power BI Desktop, including how to install it, connect to data sources, and create reports and dashboards.
- Part 2: Creating Stunning Dashboards and Reports covers how to choose from a wide range of built-in and third-party visualization types, how to build interactive reports with drill-through and cross-page slicing, and how to mash up data from multiple sources into a cleansed and coherent data model.
- Part 3: Sharing Your Insights covers how to deliver your results on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, as well as how to share results via the cloud.
The book is written for power users who are ready to step up to the big leagues by going beyond what Microsoft Excel by itself can offer. It is also for line-of-business managers who are starved for actionable data needed to make decisions about their business. And it is for BI analysts looking for an easy-to-use tool to analyze data and share results with C-suite colleagues they support.
Key Benefits and Takeaways:
- Advanced skillset: You will gain advanced proficiency in using Power BI Desktop's features and functionalities, enhancing your ability to deliver impactful analytics and visualizations.
- In-depth DAX understanding: You will gain a deeper understanding of DAX and its application in complex calculations, enabling you to create sophisticated measures and analyses.
- Optimized performance: You will learn techniques to optimize data model performance, ensuring that reports and visualizations are responsive and efficient.
- Interactive design techniques: You will learn techniques for designing interactive reports and dashboards that enhance user engagement and enable data exploration.
- Real-world insights: You will gain insights into practical applications of Power BI, helping you translate your learning into actionable solutions.
- Confidence in complex scenarios: After reading this book, you will be better equipped to handle complex data scenarios, advanced visualizations, and analytical challenges.
3. Applied Microsoft Power BI
Meta Info:
"Applied Microsoft Power BI" is a practical book that focuses on real-world scenarios and applications of Microsoft Power BI, a powerful business intelligence and data visualization tool. Here is the meta information for the book:
- Title: Applied Microsoft Power BI: Bring Your Data to Life
- Author Name: Teo Lachev
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Prologika
- ISBN-13: 978-1733046114
- Year of release: The book was released on January 1, 2020
- Versions: This is the fifth edition
- Goodreads rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Applied Microsoft Power BI: Bring Your Data to Life! is an insightful guide to Microsoft Power BI, a cloud-hosted business intelligence and analytics platform. The book is written by Teo Lachev, a Microsoft MVP and expert in Power BI. It is designed for both experienced BI practitioners and beginners.
The book is divided into four parts:
- Part 1: Power BI for Information Workers teaches information workers how to connect to popular cloud services to derive instant insights, create interactive reports and dashboards, and view them in the browser and on the go.
- Part 2: Power BI for Data Analysts teaches data analysts how to integrate and transform data from virtually anywhere and then implement sophisticated self-service models for descriptive and predictive analytics.
- Part 3: Power BI for Pros teaches BI and IT pros how to establish a trustworthy environment that promotes collaboration and how to implement Power BI-centric solutions for organizational BI.
- Part 4: Power BI for Developers teaches developers how to integrate custom applications with Power BI, embed reports, and implement custom visuals to present effectively any data.
The book is full of step-by-step instructions and hands-on demos, making it easy to learn Power BI even if you have no prior experience with data analytics. It also includes a discussion forum where you can ask questions and get help from other Power BI users.
Key benefits and takeaways:
- Learn Power BI from a practical perspective: The book focuses on the practical application of Power BI, with chapters on topics such as data preparation, data modeling, reporting, and dashboards.
- Get hands-on experience with Power BI: The book includes a number of exercises and tutorials that will help you learn Power BI by doing.
- Stay up to date with the latest Power BI features: The book is regularly updated with new content to keep you up-to-date with the latest Power BI features.
- Learn from an expert: The book is written by Teo Lachev, a Microsoft MVP and expert in Power BI.
4. The Definitive Guide To DAX
Meta Info:
"Applied Microsoft Power BI" is a practical book that focuses on real-world scenarios and applications of Microsoft Power BI, a powerful business intelligence and data visualization tool. Here is the meta information for the book:
- Title: The Definitive Guide to DAX: Business Intelligence for Microsoft Power BI, SQL Server Analysis Services, and Excel (Business Skills)
- Author Name: Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo
- Book Image goodreads
- Publisher: Pearson Education
- ISBN-13: 978-9353945480
- Year of release: The book was released on September 15, 2020
- Versions: This is the second edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview of what is covered in the book:
Power BI: The Definitive Guide to DAX is a book written by Alberto Ferrari and Marco Russo. It is a comprehensive guide to the DAX language, which is used for business intelligence, data modeling, and analytics in Power BI.
The book covers a wide range of topics, including:
- The basics of DAX syntax
- Working with functions and variables
- Creating calculated columns and measures
- Optimizing DAX queries
- Using DAX for data modeling
- Applying DAX to advanced analytics
The book is written in a clear and concise style, and it includes plenty of examples to help readers learn the DAX language. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to become an expert in DAX.
Key benefits and takeaways:
- Learn the DAX language from experts: The book is written by two leading Microsoft BI consultants who have extensive experience with DAX.
- Get comprehensive coverage of the DAX language: The book covers all aspects of the DAX language, from the basics to advanced topics.
- Practice with real-world examples: The book includes plenty of real-world examples to help you practice your DAX skills.
- Get help with troubleshooting: The book includes a troubleshooting section to help you solve common DAX problems.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest DAX features: The book is revised with new content and recent updates to keep you updated with the latest DAX features.
5. DAX with Power BI
Meta Info:
Pro DAX with Power BI is an advanced-level book that helps you master the nitty-gritties of DAX and the techniques required to overcome complex Power BI obstacles.
- Title: Pro DAX with Power BI: Business Intelligence with PowerPivot and SQL Server Analysis Services Tabular
- Author Name: Philip Seamark and Thomas Martens
- Book Imageamazon
- Publisher: Apress
- ISBN-13: 978-1484276471
- Year of release: The book was released on January 1, 2022
- Versions: This is the first edition
- Goodreads rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Info:
Overview about what is covered in the book:
Learn how to use DAX to solve complex problems in Power BI. This book covers the advanced features of DAX, the formula language used in Power BI, and shows you how to use them to create powerful and sophisticated reports and dashboards.
The book is divided into three parts:
- Part 1: The Basics of DAX covers the fundamentals of DAX, including variables, functions, and operators.
- Part 2: Advanced DAX covers more advanced topics, such as filter context, context transition, and data lineage.
- Part 3: Case studies provide real-world examples of how DAX can be used to solve complex problems.
By the end of the book, you will be able to use DAX to:
- Create calculated columns and measures
- Build complex DAX expressions
- Solve complex data analysis problems
- Create powerful and sophisticated reports and dashboards
- Who this book is for:
- This book is for anyone who wants to use Power BI to build advanced and complex models. Some experience writing DAX is helpful, but not essential if you have experience with other data query languages such as MDX or SQL.
Key benefits and takeaways:
- Understand the fundamentals of DAX, including variables, functions, and operators.
- Learn about more advanced topics, such as filter context, context transition, and data lineage.
- See real-world examples of how DAX can be used to solve complex problems.
- Learn how to use DAX to solve complex problems in Power BI.
- Create powerful and sophisticated reports and dashboards.
- Improve the performance of your reports and dashboards.
- Automate tasks.
Preparation Tips for Learning Power BI
Before you start learning Power BI, you must have a fair knowledge of data analysis. You must also research the Power BI software in and out to understand its capabilities and limitations.
- Have a clear understanding of your goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve by learning Power BI. If you want to create reports and dashboards for your team or if you want to use Power BI to perform advanced data analysis, you must be very clear about your goals.
- Power BI is a data analysis and business intelligence platform. Hence it is important to have a basic understanding of data analysis concepts before you start learning Power BI. This includes understanding things like data types, data structures, and statistical analysis.
- The Power BI interface can be a bit daunting at first, so it is important to spend some time getting familiar with it. Explore the system by trying different menus and options and watch some tutorials to learn how to use the interface.
- Start with the basics, such as how to connect to data sources and create reports and dashboards. Try not to learn everything about Power BI at once. Once you have mastered the basics, you can then move on to more advanced topics.
- The best way to learn Power BI is by practicing regularly. Create reports and dashboards for your own use, or volunteer to help your team with their data analysis needs. The more you practice, the better you will become at using Power BI.
- There are a number of online communities where you can connect with other Power BI users. Joining these communities will be a great source of help and support, and also be a great way to learn from other users.
More Ways to Learn BI
Learning any skill requires dedication, time and resources. There are varied learning options available for anyone who wants to master Power BI. As you already know there is a huge collection of Power BI books written by experts in the domain. Getting trained by reputed edtech platforms partnered with Microsoft will help you achieve your leaning goals and also give you ample material to practice Power BI skills. By enrolling in KnowledgeHut Power BI training, a Microsoft partner, you will be trained and prepared to pursue a career in data analytics.
Conclusion
Power BI is the best business intelligence software used by data professionals to help businesses gain invaluable insights and succeed in their business goals. Having the skills and expertise to use these tools and create impressive dashboards and reports needs analytical thinking, problem solving abilities and an eye for detail. Communicating the entire data into clear and concise visuals is a very important aspect of a data analyst's role. By reading books by experts and industry experts, one can get a lot of information and practical examples to implement in their role and use these books as a reference point.
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