Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition by Steve Krug Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition
Book Review: If you only buy one book on web design, make it this one.
Summary: 5 Stars
Steve Krug wittily and succinctly takes you through all the essentials of making your web site actually work in real life. This is the ammunition you need in your fight against bloated graphics and bizarre navigation.Book Review: The best book on Web Usability that I have read.
Summary: 5 Stars
In a subject that is often preachy, dry and sometimes event pedantic in style, Krug's approach is a breath of fresh air.The book is entertaining and informative at the same time - it uses lots of illustrations to make its point, and that point is dead simple - Don't Make Me Think!
Unfortunately, it is the user that shouldn't have to think - designers, architects, developers and content authors really do need to think hard about how to create websites for the audience. This book goes a long way to helping them.
I would recommend this book to anyone involved in website design (and indeed I have!).
Book Review: a bed time read - not a cherished reference
Summary: 3 Stars
Since the inception of the internet there have been a plethora of usability experts, many of whom have published books offering usability advice, Mr Krug is one such expert. His publication entitled 'Don't make me think - a common sense approach to web usability' is perhaps most note worthy for the clear and concise manner in which Mr Krug's arguments are presented. The book, and the apparent focus of his consultancy business ('advanced common sense - I'm sure it was funny once), concentrates on providing basic common sense usability advice (with a touch of satirical humour) whilst avoiding the all too common 'site bashing' diatribes.If you have a friend, colleague or client who doesn't get it when you talk about usability give them this book to read. Its very accessible and can be read front to back during a single evening. If you work in the field of usability or are studying it don't waste your money - the book's arguments are very, very basic and you won't learn anything new from it ... if you do your in the wrong job / studying the wrong subject.
Book Review: Great sections on navigation, home page design, usability
Summary: 5 Stars
What makes this book valuable:- in-depth treatment of navigation design. The sections on tabs and breadcrumbs are especially excellent;
- great section on effective home page design. Get this book along with Nielsen's "Homepage Usability", and you're set in this department.
- wonderful primer on usability testing. If your web team is small, this could be all you need to get started with informal user testing. My own experience supports Steve's: you don't have to have Ph.D. in human factors to facilitate fruitful usability tests;
- last, but not least, the book is very easy to read due to its witty tone, short paragraphs, and tons of bullets.
One thing this book could do better:
- make the headings more informative, saving the witticisms for the body copy. This would have made it a quicker at-a-glance reference.
Conclusion:
The book scores a perfect 10 with its target audience: the designers, developers, project managers, producers, marketers, and those who "sign the check". Just buy it.
Book Review: A must to read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is first time I have ever written a review on Amazon. But this book is a must for anybody that wants to really understand what makes web sites work (or not). Easy and quick to read, it makes a few fundamental points that you can see are being ignored day in day out in the construction of web sites. Terrific