In no particular order, I have chosen 5 books that have helped develop my UX knowledge over the years. Whether you’re looking to start a new career in UX, or in need of some inspiration to top-up your preexisting UX knowledge, then check out these excellent titles…

Don’t Make Me Think — Steve Krug

This witty and commonsensical classic is a common-sense approach to human-computer-interaction and web usability. Don’t Make Me Think is short, profusely illustrated, and best of all — fun to read.

It doesn’t matter how many times I have to click, as long as each click is a mindless, unambiguous choice

Steve Krug, a usability consultant, demonstrates the principles of intuitive navigation and information design by using practical examples we can easily relate to. For instance, Krug uses a simple supermarket analogy to describe website search and assistance.

Although Don’t Make Me Think is suited more for the beginner, there are still many interesting points which a UX rockstar can still learn from.

So, whether you’re a UX a designer (at any level), developer, or anyone looking to learn more about web usability, I recommend this book.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People — Susan Weinschenk

An excellent book that will open your eyes to new ways of thinking about why and how people use products.

When we’re unsure about what to do or buy, we look to testimonials, ratings, and reviews to tell us how to behave

Susan Weinschenk, a behavioural psychologist, demonstrates through psychology case studies how to increase the effectiveness, conversion rates, and usability of your design projects by finding the answers to questions, such as What grabs and holds attention on a page or screen? Or, how do you motivate people to continue to the next step?

As a UX practitioner, I turned to this book as a way to learn more about user psychology to enhance my understanding of what makes people tick. And today, I still go back whenever I need to remind myself of behavioural aspects to aid with research and design.

The Design of Everyday Things — Donald Norman

A classic and a must-read for anyone creating or marketing products. The Design of Everyday Things is about how to design things that are usable and useful for people.

Design is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the designer is communicating

The Design of Everyday Things, was written by Don Norman, an American researcher, professor, and author, more than 30 years ago — and is still relevant to the design industry today.

Although The Design of Everyday Things is a heavy read, Norman tells some great anecdotes on design interaction, including human actions and fundamental design principles.

Even though some of the examples may seem outdated, much can still be learned from Norman’s philosophy, as well as business strategies and methodologies, such as Design Thinking — a team-based approach to problem-solving.

Designing Multi-Device Experiences — Michal Levin

This is one of the most eye-opening books I have ever read. Designing Multi-Device Experiences is a good starting framework for creating multi-device experiences including the Internet of Things and wearable technology.

Almost 9 out of 10 Of U.S. Consumers Watch A Mobile Second Screen While Watching TV!

Michal Levin, UX Manager at Verily (Google Life Sciences), demonstrates the variety of ways devices relate to each other, as part of an ecosystem, to deliver superior, integrated experiences.

Levin particularly defines a conceptual yet highly practical model of the 3Cs — Consistent, Continuous, and Complementary. This essential framework can support product and brand multi-device strategies for creating better and richer user experiences.

Designing Multi-Device Experiences was published in 2014 and is now even more relevant in today’s world. Why? Because there is a growing demand for data synchronisation and seamless multi-device experiences.

Rocket Surgery Made Easy — Steve Krug

Another profusely illustrated and fun book by Steve Krug. Rocket Surgery Made Easy focuses on do-it-yourself user testing.

When fixing problems, always do the least you can

Krug demonstrates with various use cases on how you can user test your products with a low budget and a short schedule. And even if you’re already conducting user research, this book can provide practical materials to complement your studies.

You can either be a novice or an expert on user research to appreciate this book. And, there are plenty of tips, tricks and useful guidelines to equip you on your first and many user testing studies.