// 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 | Pemasaran & Penjualan | Startup & Kewirausahaan |
| Publisher | Basic Books | HarperBusiness |
Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…
- → You're interested in pemasaran & penjualan.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startup & kewirausahaan.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Key takeaways — The Design of Everyday Things
- ✓ Prioritaskan Discoverability dan Feedback, agar setiap elemen produk secara jelas menunjukkan fungsi dan memberikan konfirmasi langsung terhadap aksi pengguna.
- ✓ Sesuaikan desain produk dengan Model Mental Pengguna, dengan memahami bahwa orang berinteraksi dengan teknologi berdasarkan pengalaman masa lalu dan analogi yang intuitif.
- ✓ Gunakan Constraints sebagai Perisai Strategis, secara sengaja membatasi pilihan pengguna untuk mencegah kesalahan besar dan membimbing pelanggan menuju jalur keberhasilan yang paling efisien.
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Pahami perbedaan antara Kepemimpinan Masa Damai dan Masa Perang, dan sadari bahwa krisis membutuhkan pergeseran dari konsensus kolaboratif ke pengambilan keputusan yang cepat dan tegas.
- ✓ Kelola Psikologi Pribadi Anda selama 'Perjuangan', dan sadari bahwa kemampuan tetap tenang dan objektif saat organisasi dalam risiko adalah aset strategis terpenting seorang pemimpin.
- ✓ Utamakan Kejujuran dalam komunikasi organisasi, pastikan kabar buruk disampaikan dengan cepat dan setiap karyawan memahami kenyataan tantangan strategis perusahaan.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you specifically need startup & kewirausahaan, 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 pemasaran & penjualan, while The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startup & kewirausahaan. 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.