Books › The Psychology of Everyday Things
The Psychology of Everyday Things
First published 1998 · 370 pages
An empowering lens shift that transforms daily frustrations with objects into a fascinating exploration of human psychology.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like putting on a pair of glasses that suddenly brings the invisible architecture of the world into sharp focus. It moves at a steady, conversational pace, acting as a deeply empathetic guide through the daily frustrations we usually blame on ourselves. Instead of feeling incompetent when you cannot figure out a shower faucet or a confusing door, you are enveloped in an intellectually stimulating and surprisingly validating atmosphere that points the finger squarely at bad design. The prose is clear and pragmatic, stripping away academic jargon in favor of relatable, everyday examples. It will delight curious thinkers, tinkerers, and anyone seeking the quiet thrill of finally understanding why the objects around us behave the way they do.
- Mood
- intellectually stimulating
- eye-opening
- pragmatic
- Tone
- empathetic
- analytical
- accessible
- wry
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- human-centered design · the hidden language of objects · overcoming user frustration · psychology of interaction
- The writing
- Clear, conversational, and grounded in highly relatable, everyday anecdotes that make complex cognitive concepts feel like common sense.
- The arc
- Transitions from the relatable frustration of everyday incompetence to an empowering, enlightened understanding of the built world.
- Who it's for
- Curious observers, aspiring designers, and anyone who has ever felt foolish pushing a door that was meant to be pulled.
About the book
The Design of Everyday Things is a best-selling book by cognitive scientist and usability engineer Donald Norman about how design serves as the communication between object and user, and how to optimize that conduit of communication in order to make the experience of using the object pleasurable. One of the main premises of the book is that although people are often keen to blame themselves when objects appear to malfunction, it is not the fault of the user but rather the lack of intuitive guidance that should be present in the design.
Description from Open Library.
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