Usability Book Reviews

Usability is a testing-oriented approach to creating systems that are easier to use. If you create software or Web sites, you can probably produce better systems in less time and with less money by applying simple usability techniques. Usability methods are so widely ignored that you can gain a competitive advantage with minimal risk.

Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity by Jakob Nielsen: A Top Ten Book List selection.; This book explains how to build better Web sites using the results of numerous usability tests. If you want to know how to construct your own usability tests, try Usability Engineering. Most emphatically recommended. Review added May 2000.
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman: A Top Ten Book List selection.; If you have ever struggled to get the shower temperature right in an unfamiliar hotel, you’ll love this book. Design shows how to look at the world of things (including software) as a user. If you are involved in software development, this book should inspire you to create simpler-to-use software. Highly recommended. Review added June 2000.
Usability Engineering by Jakob Nielsen: A Top Ten Book List selection.; There isn’t a better introduction to usability engineering. Most highly recommended. Review added 1998.
Handbook of Usability Testing by Jeffrey Rubin: This book offers concrete and specific instructions for many kinds of usability tests, and it is less formal than Usability Engineering. I particularly appreciated the comments on introducing usability methods into an organization for the first time. Highly recommended. Review added June 2000.

If you need specific user interface guidelines, check the User Interface Book Reviews page.
If you want to read more about usability on the Web, check the Usability Links page.
If you are interested in Web usability and design, check the Web Design Book Reviews page.

Read a great book lately? Send an email to dpadams@island-data.com.

Usability Book Reviews

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