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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: January 08, 2003 Book Review: The Elements of User Experience (WebWord) -- "I wish that this book and the diagram upon which it is based were available when I first attempted the design of user experiences. It could have saved me from false starts, sub-optimal choices, and other hard-won lessons, and would have made it much easier for me to communicate my ideas to my fellow team members and to the managers for whom I worked." (Comments: Guest article written by Dick Miller.)
Reader Comments...
Good review - I like the emphasis on what type of book this is and who it would typically appeal to. I think many expectations were put on this book that left readers dissapointed. It's a great little book for what it sets out to do, not for what some have expected it to do. Posted by: Lydia on January 9, 2003 06:51 PM
Hey, if you want to read wimpy "kiss ass" reviews of books, just head over to Digital Web where James McNally writes the most suck-up reviews on this planet. He writes as if he were an adoring puppy. It's sickening to see his gushing praise without even a hint of critical analysis. Posted by: Charlie Xavier on January 10, 2003 12:58 AM
This is a well written book review that makes me want to read more reviews by Dick Miller. Why do I now trust Dick as a book reviewer? I will only ever review books that I like, as I don't want to 'waste' the time on a sub standard book. But as a reader I would probably be more interested in the reviews that gave me some negative view of the book. However, if I had written a book that was unfairly reviewed I would be very hurt and upset. Books reviews can often de-humanise the author in the same way that some usability reviews can de-humanise the designers and the users. Posted by: Mac on January 10, 2003 08:51 AM
I am a big fan of the diagram! Think "user/customer experience" is something I now hear marketing people talk about it and if its something that can further assist promote the idea of usability - thumbs up! Posted by: Daniel Szuc on January 10, 2003 08:58 AM
Consider three reviews of the book Web Site Usability: A Designer’s Guide by Jared M. Spool (Editor), Tara Scanlon, Will Schroeder, Terri DeAngelo, and Carolyn Snyder (ISBN: 155860569X): We just don't know! ..... Yet! Posted by: Ron Zeno on January 10, 2003 02:35 PM
I don't think I'll trust Dick Miller's reviews any more. Thanks for those links, Mr. Zeno. Some people clearly have too much hero worship going on. Posted by: Wolverine on January 10, 2003 11:54 PM
To take an analogy from the movie biz, the world needs more Leonard Maltins. Leonard Maltin generally likes everything he reviews. Even if he doesn't like it, he usually has something nice to say. I think I have heard/read one review that really didn't have something nice to say, but it at least said the bad stuff in a nice way. Obviously, some people have called him a wimp and a kiss-ass, but I like his style. Aside from being a class act who doesn't cruelly run down someone who might have put his sweat and blood into the effort, I like that he still seems to find wonder in movie making. I'd rather read his reviews than the words of a critic who drips bile and bitterness if the film did not meet his personal standards or have enough hot chicks. When I need to narrow down a choice, I'll read a few reviews: the good, the bad, and the ugly, as they say. I take away what I want to from each review and make my decision whether to look at the book (or movie). While Mr. Miller's enthusiasm is large, it doesn't make for a bad review in my book. Posted by: Lydia on January 13, 2003 10:04 PM
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