Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited
by Steve Krug · 2000
Krug's usability bible: if a site makes me think, it's losing me.
Worth reading? Don't Make Me Think is the shortest, most humane UX book: obvious navigation, don't make users think, test early with real users. Required for anyone shipping web products. Skip it only if you've internalized it.
| Author | Steve Krug |
|---|---|
| Published | 2000 |
| Category | Business & Money |
| Favorite quote | “Don't make me think.” |
The Verdict
Don’t Make Me Think is the shortest, most humane UX book: obvious navigation, don’t make users think, test early with real users. Required for anyone shipping web products. Skip it only if you’ve internalized it.
designers, founders, and PMs shipping any user-facing product
you already run usability tests and follow the conventions
Book Summary
Krug's usability bible: if a site makes me think, it's losing me. It earns its place by giving you a clear lens you can apply, not just inspiration. Don't make the user think, clarity beats cleverness. Conventions are your friend; don't reinvent navigation. The practical move is to read it once, then act on the one idea that maps to your current bottleneck, rereading the whole thing rarely adds more than executing the part you skipped.
Top 5 Lessons from Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited
- Don't make the user think, clarity beats cleverness.
- Conventions are your friend; don't reinvent navigation.
- Test with real users early and often.
- Omit needless words; every element must earn its place.
- The home page must answer 'what is this, where do I start?'
Top 2 Quotes from Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited
"Don't make me think."
Steve Krug, Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited
"If something requires a detailed explanation, it's a sign it could be designed better."
Steve Krug, Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited worth reading?
Yes, if the description fits you, designers, founders, and PMs shipping any user-facing product. Skip it if you already run usability tests and follow the conventions.
What is the main idea of Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited?
Don't Make Me Think is the shortest, most humane UX book: obvious navigation, don't make users think, test early with real users.
Who should read Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited?
Designers, founders, and PMs shipping any user-facing product. Skip it if you already run usability tests and follow the conventions.
What will you get out of Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited?
A clearer, opinionated take you can act on, plus the sharpest lessons pulled into a short list so you don't have to read the whole book to decide.
Ready to read it?
Get Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited on Amazon
