// 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
- ✓ Bigyang-diin ang Discoverability at Feedback, upang malinaw na maipakita ng bawat elemento ng produkto ang tungkulin nito at agad na magbibigay ng kumpirmasyon sa aksyon ng gumagamit.
- ✓ I-align ang disenyo ng iyong produkto sa Modelong Mental ng User, na kinikilala na nakikipag-ugnayan ang tao sa teknolohiya batay sa kanilang mga nakaraang karanasan at intuitibong analogies.
- ✓ Gamitin ang Constraints bilang Estratehikong Panangga, na sadyang nililimitahan ang mga pagpipilian ng user upang maiwasan ang malubhang pagkakamali at gabayan ang customer sa pinakamabisang landas tungo sa tagumpay.
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Unawain ang pagkakaiba ng Pangulo sa Panahon ng Kapayapaan at Digmaan, na nagpapakita na ang isang krisis ay nangangailangan ng pagbabago mula sa kolaboratibong pagkakasundo tungo sa direktiba at mabilis na paggawa ng desisyon.
- ✓ Pangasiwaan ang Iyong Sariling Pag-iisip habang nasa 'Pakikibaka', na kinikilala na ang kakayahang manatiling kalmado at obhetibo kapag nanganganib ang organisasyon ay isang kritikal na yaman ng isang lider.
- ✓ Bigyang-priyoridad ang Katotohanan sa komunikasyon ng organisasyon, na tinitiyak na ang masasamang balita ay mabilis na nakararating at nauunawaan ng bawat empleyado ang katotohanan sa mga hamon ng estratehiya ng kumpanya.
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.