Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

The title of the book is its chief personal design premise. All of the tips, techniques and examples presented within it revolve around users being able to surf merrily through a well-designed site with minimal cognitive strain. Readers will quickly come to agree with many of the book's assumptions. For example, "We don't read pages--we scan them" and, "We don't figure out how things work--we muddle through". Getting to grips with such hard facts sets the stage for Web design that then produces top-notch sites.

Using an attractive mix of full-colour screen shots, cute cartoons and diagrams, and informative sidebars, the book keeps your attention and drives home some crucial points. Much of the content is devoted to proper use of conventions and content layout, and the "before and after" examples are superb. Topics such as the wise use of rollovers and usability testing are covered using a consistently practical approach.

This is the type of book you can blow through in a couple evenings. But despite its conciseness, it will give you an expert's ability to judge Web design. You'll never form a first impression of a site in the same way again. --Stephen W Plain

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.


Short and effective, makes a powerful point   October 27, 2003
Frank Carver
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

At last, an author who follows his own advice! This book is short and easy to read (at 200 pages, I read it in a day), but surprisingly deep. The book is peppered with colour screenshots, black and white cartoons and pithy quotes and headings. A pleasure, not a chore, to read.

The basic premise is simple; people don't like hard choices or stopping to think, they just want to get something done. The more self-evident a web site is, the easier it is to use. Implementing it, and being sure you've got it right, is tricky, though. Krug covers site and page layout, navigation design, usability testing on a shoestring as well as a broad and engaging model of how people really use the web.

It doesn't deal with internationalization at all, seems to assume a mostly static site, and offers no real help in getting your idea to the web in the first place, but will help you make good choices along the way. Well worth a read, and probably worth a refresher each time you start a new project to keep you on track.


The best book on Web Usability that I have read.   March 19, 2002
Richard Leader (UK)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

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!).


The best book on the topic I have ever read   August 26, 2003
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

The title says it all. For the novice, or casual browser, you won't find a clearer, better written or more effective book.

For the experienced IA or designer, this is a tutorial in how to communicate your ideas.

Anybody who has even a passing interest in web design should buy this book.


No experience necessary   July 10, 2006
ashpotter
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

I found this book clear, easy to understand, pleasant to read and very useful. Steve Krug approaches the topic from a principles perspective, which means that readers do not need web development knowledge or experience. The text is very easy to read and accompanied in many places by pictorial examples showing what the author is explaining. If you have an interest in your own website or your company's website, even if you're not a techie, then this book is for you. You'll never look at a website the same again.