Fingertips:

Review: If you are wondering why people pay no attention to that brand new web site you just developed, the solution might just be in this book!

Its chalk full of valuable insights into how people really use the web.  The harsh reality is that most web users are either mentally lazy or in a down right hurry when they browse.  Some points the book makes are:

• Web users tend to be much less cerebral when navigating than you might expect. Plan for users that take a lot of mental shortcuts.
• Pictures are powerful connectors. Almost nobody actually reads the text.  Visual comprehension is key.
• If web users do not quickly understand what they can/should do on your site, they won't dig in to figure it out - they will simply leave.

Knowing these and other core principles in the book ahead of time is very helpful to the design process.  Without them it is easy to design a logical, well scripted web site that totally confuses the end user.

It is poignant that the author follows his own advice, since book itself is full of pictures and is concise and easy to understand.  It takes about 4 hours to read.

You can preview a couple of the chapters online:

• Chapter 2 - How we really use the Web
• Chapter 11 - Accessibility, Cascading Style Sheets, and you

I highly recommend Don't Make Me Think for its insight into the subconscious ways that people behave.  It's main message is about web usability, but it also raised my awareness and got me to analyze all of my modes of written communication.  In particular it has had a beneficial effect on the way I craft e-mails for readability.

One last thought is to be sure to get the 2nd edition. The material is updated to cover the rapid evolution in web sites and Internet technology that has occurred since the 1st edition was published in 2000.

Happy web surfing!

-Andrew B. Bartels