Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 Databases: Beta Preview by John Kauffman and Thiru Thangarathinam is a practical guide for web developers learning database integration in ASP.NET 2.0 (beta release). It covers connecting to SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and XML, using data controls like GridView, and implementing data manipulation, caching, error handling, and presentation techniques, making it ideal for developers preparing for ASP.NET 2.0.