Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability Paperback – 18 Aug. 2005

This is the best book on the subject that I have ever read. It points out the very kinds of usability issues that I, as someone who has worked in this area of business, has tried and failed to make developers understand.It makes a very simple point - by designing a web user interface that is logical, simple, clear, intuitive, helpful and robust, people will find them easier to use, have fewer problems, will need less documentation/help, will come back, and will have a positive view of you and your products.It is so full of logic and startling truth, I found myself yelling "yeah!" a few times at what it had to say. To put it another way, if you think that it's focus on the obvious is, well, all too obvious for you to have not already noticed, then think again!If there is one book I would impore developers to read (no matter what software they develop) it would be this. It should be mandatory reading.

Great read 💯

The book itself is brilliant and I highly recommend it. The ideas inside are genius even though they're actually pretty simple. You'll kick yourself when you read it and ask why you haven't already thought of the concepts yourself. There's some great advice and if you're into any UX design, either website or reporting dashboards, you'll definitely get something from the book.The delivery by Brit Books was a disappointment though. It had been wrapped in plastic and sent, which meant the corner of the book was bent and curled when we received it. There was damage to the spine we wouldn't have expected either. So I recommend the book, but less so the seller. I don't think they sent it in that condition mind, it's more likely the fact the book wasn't very well packaged meant it was damaged in transit.

Everything this book says is just common sense. When designing websites, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that people will actually be using your published work! How many times have you been to a site only to think "where's the search box" or when entering some details into your online bank account and then press the "enter key" it doesn't login, it goes off to a "apply for a new savings account". Very confusing. In these circumstances, your brain has to think about what has happened, leaving a negative impression in your mind. Not good if you're trying to sell something!When it comes to the web, first impressions count. Take Amazons new redesign for 2008. Amazon gets quite a lot of coverage in the book as an example of good design, so it's interesting that they have gone away from their old design, that's been around for about a decade. I don't like the new look, because every time I use it I have to think whereas before it was intuitive. That's the whole point of "dont make me think". You should never have to think about how to use a web site. If you need to use your brain to do something simple, the designer has FAILED."Dont make me think" is a quick and easy read. It's quite small at 200 pages. It's often reduced on Amazon so keep an eye out for a bargain.Highly recommended for all developers, even if you don't often do user interfaces. The advice can be applied to all interfaces and not just the web.

I found this book very interesting, it really helped me to propose better solutions thinking and acting like the final user, trying to solve their problems and make their life far easier. Once you have read this book I also recommed Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, to understand how humans take decisions and how we can work on solving their problems with more usuable and accessible solutions.

i saw this on a book shelf in Barnes & Nobles in the US but the price was $40 or something, but i also looked at the publish date as I do, it was early 2011 and I tend to only buy this years books (note in November 2010 i saw books with published 2011 in them so obviously publishers consider this important in technical books) however, it must have been my imagination as this book is 2005 or something.Either way, it took my fancy in the book store mainly because of the illustration on page 126 of the 4 different ways people in an organisation want their site. However, this book is pretty dissapointing really. The fundementals are there, but its 11 years out of date!!! And it really shows. For example he does a walk through of one of his favorite sites, E-Tours which FELL VICTIM TO THE WEB CRASH 2001 JUST AFTER HE WROTE THE BOOK. Its like taking a time machine back to when the internet was designed by 5 year olds with crayons. The whole book revolves around considerations based on the way the internet was in 2000.He makes constant reference to the evolution of the amazon navigation system which has now changed completly from what he reffers to, and countless other antiquated sites.He talks about drop downs like they were what they were, with no reference or consideration to mega menus or anything.Its ironic as the book made me think. It left me think whether it was worth buying.However, I did anticipate this and took the precaution to buy two other books on the topic at the same time, Undercover User Experience Design and About Face. It did this as I always look at the publish date first in a book and knew that 2006 would not cut the mustard BUT that the book is constantly reffered to as the bible. I brought three books as I wanted to get a balanced AND up to date grasp on this area.That said, it is an ok book, one of its strengths being its illustrated nature (its achilles heel) so its sort of worth 'having read' as you would a classic (just brought PROPOGANDA by Ed Bernias) but this is not a good book anymore for people looking to be at the cutting edge, as I do.Im looking for ways to leverage the HERE AND NOW of CSS3 and HTML5 and User Experience. I subscribe to dot net and web designer mags and UX is constantly being pushed as the latest thing and so instead of relying on magazine articles i wanted to invest in books to give me a solid background for going forward. In this context Steve Krug doesnt really offer me much to be honest. Its out of dateness is just too much of a compromise.However, many of the principals he deals with are still very valid and poignent. Things I picked up on, but already knew, but just hadnt seen it spelt out was that people dont read web sites they scan them. His perceptions that surfers dont think they just take what looks like the best route (firefighters) and the issues relating to stakeholders and the front page. Its all good stuff, and good to reffer to so its worth buying.My advise, only buy this if you are ok dealing with backward time travel. Its as relevent as David Brewsters guide to taking photos with the pin hole camera. Interesting, with lots of good advice, but better placed in another century.

excelente libro para tenerlo como cabecera y darle a nuestras páginas interés y ser amenas al visitante.Puntos y explicaciones que hacen reflexionar.

Una buena elección

I'm sure the physical edition is fine, but DO NOT BUY THE KINDLE EDITION. The format is all messed up, it's basically unreadable.

An absolute must-have for any website:CMS owner, developer and designer; content strategist or producer and anyone who has anything to do with digital users. While some may find the approach a little too flippant and 'American', there really is everything essential you need to know about usability. It is a well-set out, easy to skim through book, with practical examples and support - so to me, that reflects actual usability. Worth every cent.

I bought the Kindle version of this book. At the time I was desperate to figure out how to build one of these seemingly mythical 'usable' web apps. The book was the right fit at the right time. Our team was in the middle of designing webpages where I was the least knowledgeable person. This helped me see issues we were facing, like trying to cram all types of things on the home page above the fold.Making the purchase was easy, I got the sample than it seemed like exactly what I needed to solve my lack of usability knowledge. I recommend to all internet entrepreneurs who are the 'business guy' trying to understand web development.