// Book comparison
The Design of Everyday Things vs The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.
The Design of Everyday Things
by Don Norman
★ 4.9/5
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Design of Everyday Things | The Hard Thing About Hard Things | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 368 | 304 |
| Reading time | ~9.2 h | ~7.6 h |
| Published | 1988 | 2014 |
| Author | Don Norman | Ben Horowitz |
| Category | Marketing & Sales | Startups & Entrepreneurship |
| Publisher | Basic Books | HarperBusiness |
Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…
- → You're interested in marketing & sales.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Key takeaways — The Design of Everyday Things
- ✓ Prioritize Discoverability and Feedback, ensuring that every element of your product clearly signals its function and provides immediate confirmation of user actions.
- ✓ Align your product’s design with the User’s Mental Model, recognizing that people interact with technology based on past experiences and intuitive analogies.
- ✓ Utilize Constraints as a Strategic Shield, intentionally limiting user options to prevent catastrophic errors and to guide the customer toward the most efficient path of success.
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Understand the difference between Peacetime and Wartime Leadership, recognizing that a crisis requires a shift from collaborative consensus to directive, high-velocity decision-making.
- ✓ Manage Your Own Psychology during 'The Struggle', recognizing that the ability to stay calm and objective when the organization is at risk is a leader's most critical strategic asset.
- ✓ Prioritize The Truth in your organizational communication, ensuring that bad news travels fast and that every employee understands the reality of the firm's strategic challenges.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you specifically need startups & entrepreneurship, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Design of Everyday Things or The Hard Thing About Hard Things better? +
The Design of Everyday Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Design of Everyday Things focuses on marketing & sales, while The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Design of Everyday Things or The Hard Thing About Hard Things? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to The Design of Everyday Things (368 pages, ~9.2 hours).
Should I read The Design of Everyday Things or The Hard Thing About Hard Things first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.