// Book comparison
The Design of Everyday Things vs Think Again
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and Think Again by Adam Grant.
The Design of Everyday Things
by Don Norman
★ 4.9/5
Think Again
by Adam Grant
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Design of Everyday Things | Think Again | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 368 | 320 |
| Reading time | ~9.2 h | ~8.0 h |
| Published | 1988 | 2021 |
| Author | Don Norman | Adam Grant |
| Category | Marketing & Sales | Leadership |
| Publisher | Basic Books | Viking |
Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…
- → You're interested in marketing & sales.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose Think Again if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~8.0 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2021).
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 — Think Again
- ✓ Adopt a Scientist Mindset by treating your business strategies as hypotheses that require constant testing and validation against new market data and feedback.
- ✓ Cultivate Confident Humility, acknowledging the limits of your knowledge to remain open to better ideas and more accurate strategic insights from your workforce.
- ✓ Foster a Rethinking Culture within your team by rewarding the 'courage to be wrong' and encouraging the regular questioning of established organizational best practices.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you specifically need leadership, Think Again is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Design of Everyday Things or Think Again 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 Think Again focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Design of Everyday Things or Think Again? +
Think Again is shorter (320 pages, ~8.0 hours) compared to The Design of Everyday Things (368 pages, ~9.2 hours).
Should I read The Design of Everyday Things or Think Again 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.