Secondly, the author is still stuck in largely tables-based HTML presentation methods. Usability means building a site that works on hand-held and telephonic devices as well as assistive interenet devices. This can be accomplished through XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets. In fact, separating markup from presentation is a large part of what Mr. Krug should be discussing, but doesn't.

Thirdly, Mr. Krug's examples are of large, well-branded sites. That's fine, but his comments and suggestions seem best-suited to those sites, not small business or other small-site needs. This shows in his lack of information about designing pages that will expedite search engine effectiveness. In fact, he outright dismisses the usefulness of the introductory paragraph often found on homepages as "happy talk", stating that "happy talk must die" (p. 46). Many search engines print this paragraph, or a portion of it, as part of the information you see when you're searching for a topic. Why not tell developers how to utilize this paragraph to advantage? Is it because his examples are large sites with well-known branding that don't require additional information? The wording of that paragraph can make or break a search engine user's decision about visiting a site.

Even though it is painfully lacking in some very vital information, Mr. Krug's book is worth reading. However, a savvy developer will not take everything he says as gospel, but will continue to learn more about what usability *really* is, what new developments are coming 'round the bend, and will seek out more fully-rounded information before committing development hours and money just to end up with a half-usable site.


Buy it, but take chapters 9 and 10 with a helping of salt...   August 9, 2001
 27 out of 31 found this review helpful


If you are looking for an accessible introduction to the topic of web usability, Steve Krug’s straightforward, humorous approach will fit the bill. Don’t Make Me Think! is a lively overview of usability principles for the WWW, filled with clear illustrations and real-world examples from familiar e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Gap.com and Quicken.com. At less than 200 pages, this book is a quick read written in a direct, approachable conversational style rather than in dry academic terms or complicated technical jargon. Despite its brevity and breezy style, Krug manages to cram it full of critical insights into the psychology of Web users. However, in my opinion he does his readers a disservice by downplaying the importance of user characteristics, especially with regard to usability testing.

While I agree with Krug’s assertion that users of mass market e-commerce sites will vary widely in their likes, dislikes, motivations and preferred navigation styles, this does not negate the need for careful selection of usability test participants. Krug suggests "grabbing some people" at random for testing, but this approach may backfire if the participants do not share the navigation style or goals of the critical user bases for the site under development. While his suggested approach to testing and recruitment may be cost effective for testing navigation structure or familiar transactions such as a shopping cart application and is certainly better than performing no testing at all, it may have expensive consequences for the design of complex, high risk web applications – especially within the environment of a corporate intranet.

Here’s an example: let’s say you were designing a web based application for a high-use call center that required users to look up complex information while speaking to your customers on the phone. Your call center is located in the Midwest, but your developers work in your corporate headquarters in Northern California. Since the developers have no call center experience, and little understanding of the relative importance of various parts of the application, and since they consider the Midwest call center personnel to be relatively unskilled computer users, they decide to create an easy to learn mouse-driven interface requiring several clicks to move between screens. Using Krug’s approach to usability testing, the developers go down the hall and recruit a few web-savvy colleagues to “test” the interface. Sure enough, the designers and developers participating in the test are able to complete particular tasks, and the usability test is declared successful. But when the application is launched, the call center experiences a slowdown in workflow because critical screens are difficult to reach, and the increased reliance on using a mouse for navigation results in an increase in repetitive stress injuries. Both issues result in increased costs to your company, and furthermore, your customer satisfaction ratings plummet as a result of the slowdowns in the phone queue!

When participants in a usability test are not representative of the end users of a web driven application, important aspects of its usability, such as the context and frequency of use, are likely to be overlooked. Additionally, the view of the users held by the developers of a system may be flawed, and those misperceptions can have disastrous results for the usability of your web site. Despite Krug’s assertion that “it doesn’t matter who you test”, our experience has shown that including representative users in the testing of high impact, high cost web applications provides an important reality check in the development process.

Despite these shortcomings, the readability of Don’t Make Me Think! makes it a valuable book, especially for those new to the idea of designing usable web sites or who need convincing that usability testing is an important part of the design process. If you are having difficulty getting the decision makers or developers in your organization to understand why usability is important, I recommend giving them a copy of this book and suggesting they read it on their next plane trip....


Web Designers, Read This   March 12, 2001
 26 out of 26 found this review helpful

"Don't Make Me Think" is incredibly clear, concise, and helpful - as well as surprisingly enjoyable. Every web designer or developer should read it and take its message to heart. I develop web sites at an e-business solutions provider, and these are the kind of issues I tackle every day. I am reading three industry-related books and ten industry-related magazines on any given day, and I managed to make it through this book in lightning speed. Kudos to author and editors for creating such an easy-to-swallow dose of usability advice, and for adding excellent sprinkles on top in the form of good-natured humor throughout and a resource section at the end.

Web design is a young field, and because of that, many people who design web sites today have no formal training in web or interface design. A background in print design or technology is a great start, but not sufficient when it comes to creating a usable web site. It is crucial to take usability into account when creating a site that you want people to interact with - ESPECIALLY when you want people to buy something from your site.

This book provides a terrific outline of usability issues, as well as a look into usability testing, in a very accessible and encouraging manner. Anyone involved in designing or developing web sites can benefit from it. Especially if you have never conducted a usability test and don't realize how average people (ie, non-web-savvies) interact with a web site - this book will open your eyes to some vital information which will help you create better, more usable sites.


Engaging book about web design with excellent advice   March 6, 2001
 21 out of 21 found this review helpful

"Don't Make Me Think" is an excellent book for those designing web sites. It's a great title, and a great motto for designing any type of technology, not just web sites. Krug calls it "thinking" when you have to stop focusing on your task to figure out the web site, even if only for a few milliseconds.

The book is very well written in an engaging, informal style that feels more like a conversation than a lecture (not easy for a book that is essentially preaching). The layout is wonderful and follows its own advice. Each page is designed to make one good point, and the gazillions of images are simple, clear, and effective in supporting the points. Although a lot shorter (by design) than Jakob Nielsen's "Designing Web Usability," I found it provided a lot more specific, on-target advice -- both per pound and overall. Whereas Nielsen focuses mainly on page design and site design, Krug handles these as well as interaction design, which is missing from Nielsen's book. It has some good examples that you are encouraged to work through before looking at "the answers." It's a good technique. He also has a terrific section that lays out exactly how you conduct a usability test, from greeting the person to interpreting their behavior.

Sure, there's a lot more to learn about good web design and about usability testing, and probably some people will object that he doesn't do justice to the complexity of these professions. But I think this book does a great job of pointing you in the right direction with a lot of good, solid advice and some encouragement. It's short enough that you're inclined to read the whole thing, and compelling enough that it might really affect your designs.


Steve Krug's Mother must have reviewed this book!   February 5, 2002
 19 out of 43 found this review helpful

Anyone in the web design business who doesn't already know the basics that are in this book is in the wrong business. I'm disappointed because I thought I might learn something new about web design and usability. This is the same old ugly thing. And lets face it most web sites are pretty ugly. They usually try to look like Yahoo or something like that because the whole idea is to grab investment money.
Why do Martha Stewarts magazines and books look so terrific and her website is so ugly? Why does Target do such fabulous television ads but when you go to the website it doesn't even look like the same company?
I'm tired of these ugly, crowded sites complete with tiny little postage stamp pictures, vile web safe colors, and silly banner ads. I want to see something intelligent and beautiful for a change, and I know I'm not the only one.
Steve Krug is obviously part of that "Web Design" group. Same old thing, same old people. The really talented graphics, advertising and media people are obviously not yet as involved as they should be in web design. I'm certain if they were we would be seeing more spectacular presentations.
I think Steve Krug got all of his friends to write five star reviews on this book. They obviously subscribe to the same boring philosophies. Why doesn't somebody create something clever and beautiful for a change, the way they do in television and print media land? That's a book I would buy.