// 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.

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 & Jualan Permulaan & Keusahawanan
Publisher Basic Books HarperBusiness

Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…

  • You're interested in pemasaran & jualan.
  • You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).

Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…

  • You're interested in permulaan & keusahawanan.
  • You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
  • You want the more recent perspective (2014).

Key takeaways — The Design of Everyday Things

  • Utamakan Discoverability dan Feedback, pastikan setiap elemen produk anda memberi isyarat secara jelas tentang fungsi dan mengesahkan tindakan pengguna secara segera.
  • Sesuaikan reka bentuk produk anda dengan Model Mental Pengguna, sedar bahawa manusia berinteraksi dengan teknologi berdasarkan pengalaman lalu dan analogi intuitif.
  • Gunakan Constraints sebagai Perisai Strategik, secara sengaja mengehadkan pilihan pengguna untuk mengelakkan kesilapan besar dan membimbing pelanggan ke jalan kejayaan yang paling efisien.
Read full The Design of Everyday Things summary →

Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things

  • Fahami perbezaan antara Kepimpinan Semasa Keamanan dan Semasa Peperangan, sedar bahawa krisis memerlukan perubahan daripada keputusan berkolaborasi kepada pengambilan keputusan pantas dan tegas.
  • Kelola Psikologi Anda Sendiri semasa 'Perjuangan', sedar bahawa keupayaan untuk kekal tenang dan objektif apabila organisasi berisiko adalah aset strategik yang paling penting bagi seorang pemimpin.
  • Utamakan Kebenaran dalam komunikasi organisasi anda, pastikan maklumat buruk disampaikan dengan cepat dan setiap pekerja memahami realiti cabaran strategik syarikat.
Read full The Hard Thing About Hard Things summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you specifically need permulaan & keusahawanan, 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 & jualan, while The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on permulaan & keusahawanan. 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.