September 26, 2001

Good books on usability

“Can you recommend a couple of good usability books?”

For general principles from the off-line world, Don Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things is indispensable. So is Edward Tufte’s books, e.g. Visual Explanations. But bear in mind these don’t directly touch on the Web.

For software development in general (but very relevant to websites), my favourite book by far is Alan Cooper’s The Inmates Are Running The Asylum. Truly eye-opening. Treats the issue of Usability as part of the larger “Interaction Design” discipline.

For dry, academic usability testing and measuring methods, at great length and thoroughness, see Larry Constantine & Lucy Lockwood’s Software For Use.

The above are just the books that I know from having read them. You can also find book reviews at Usable Web and UIDesign.net. And of course by searching for “Usability” on Amazon.

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