The Design of Everyday Things
★★★★★Shelved Apr 10, 2014
One of those highly recommended books that when you finally read it is disappointing. The premise is great - talk about designing those objects we use everyday, doors and stereos and light switches. The spin is right - the author points out how stupid it is that so many of the things we use everyday are poorly designed. Objects should be simple to use. But that's where the book poops out, at least for me. He has suprisingly little insight into how to actually design things well and his few attempts at cognitive science explanations seem pretty weak. I think this would make a better 20 page essay than a book.
Goodreads readers give it 4.15★, from 49,391 ratings. I gave it 2★, −2.2, where I'm usually −0.9: I liked it less than most.
Readers call it Design, Business, Psychology, Science, Art, Engineering, Technology, Art Design.