Rating: 
Summary: Well, at least this train ain't Amtrak.......
Review: ......or is it? After all, one design firm they profile in this book already went defunct. At least the book has the honesty to tell you that upfront.Actually, I've been waiting for a book like this for some time. In my 6+ years of designing sites and 5+ years of doing Flash, I always try to stray away from the cookie-cutter, portal, hit-em-over-the-head approach so many websites try to do ala Yahoo. Considering the city where I currently call home, New Orleans, isn't the most sophisticated and well-educated city going, you can imagine how so many people here get so confused going to sites like that. Instead, I try to sell each individual website as an experience in which you really do feel like you're part of the atmosphere that the client is trying to produce with the brand. TOT effectively explains this in full detail. Promoting simplicity in most cases over the whack-a-mole approach or the extreme simplicity (read: usability) of Nielsen. Kind of interesting then that Lenker bashes Nielsen BUT praises his partner in crime for actually figuring it out. While definitely not your typical web design book (you won't learn Flash or Dreamweaver here.) The book is loaded with lots of inspirational sites and ideas to reinvigorate your mind better than any can of Red Bull could ever do. (Personally, I prefer 180 over Red Bull. 180's got a better orang-y taste....oh wait.....this isn't epicurious.com now is it?) I thoroughly enjoyed the book and i think it'll definitely get people talking. Now let's just hope these ideas won't make us as bankrupt as Amtrak is........
Rating: 
Summary: Lenker captures what it is that appeals to the simple minded
Review: After reading some other books on the topic, I got the impression that some of these authors are so intellectual (or trying so hard to be), that they forget the fact that 99% of the world is simple, uninterested, and in a hurry. In this book, John captures and analyzes what it is that stimulates the average mind. He challenges you to understand the people that realistically you aim to target as a web designer. Today after reading this book, I feel like a more cognizant, perceptive person as it relates to what it is that makes me click - no pun intended.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Outstanding
Review: I can't recall the last time I was so utterly (and pleasantly) suprised when I opened a book. Books that espouse usability don't tend to be much to look at, but this book is exquisite. Lenker is going to have to expect the negative reviews from all the Nielsen drones who think that the world should have all the character and appeal of a sign post (sans the sign). Those who are more open-minded (and I would argue, more in tune with the real world) will be treated to a far more balanced perspective on usability. You'll actually get useful information in every chapter--not just the same basic and essentially obvious concepts repeated chapter after chapter like so many "popular" usability books tend to do. I only hope people don't listen to the sign post lovers. This book is simply outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: It is hard to be a pioneer!
Review: I guess I read a different book than some other reviewers.
It appears that at least two of them are mired in old-think. One wanted a "show and tell" book and the other wanted to read something that was "usable" (i.e. comfortable). Neither seems to have wanted to read something stimulating.
Having been bogged down on numerous occasions with trying to create more useable sites, I have been at constant odds with web designers who always want to do it the same old way. That same old way is the techie way - in opposition to the way most of the rest of the world thinks and works.
Lenker's book is not more of the same. It is not show and tell. To that extent, it probably is not "useable" in the normal web designer parlance. It forces one out of a comfort zone and requires that the reader become actively engaged in relating the words and graphics. It is clearly a whole-brain exercise with the graphics being a sublime component.
The purpose here seems to me to be to jolt us out of our routine thought process. It cannot be accomplished by taking the same old path, using the same comfortable nomenclature. The value here is in stimulating us to think and approach the issue differently and maybe make our designs more useable.
The title is Train of Thoughts not Training How to Think.
...
Rating:
Summary: It is hard to be a pioneer!
Review: I guess I read a different book than some other reviewers.
It appears that at least two of them are mired in old-think. One wanted a "show and tell" book and the other wanted to read something that was "usable" (i.e. comfortable). Neither seems to have wanted to read something stimulating.
Having been bogged down on numerous occasions with trying to create more useable sites, I have been at constant odds with web designers who always want to do it the same old way. That same old way is the techie way - in opposition to the way most of the rest of the world thinks and works.
Lenker's book is not more of the same. It is not show and tell. To that extent, it probably is not "useable" in the normal web designer parlance. It forces one out of a comfort zone and requires that the reader become actively engaged in relating the words and graphics. It is clearly a whole-brain exercise with the graphics being a sublime component.
The purpose here seems to me to be to jolt us out of our routine thought process. It cannot be accomplished by taking the same old path, using the same comfortable nomenclature. The value here is in stimulating us to think and approach the issue differently and maybe make our designs more useable.
The title is Train of Thoughts not Training How to Think.
...
Rating:
Summary: provacative and worthwhile
Review: I have to admit that I was initially put off by this book's unusual design. It felt heavy handed, as if the art direction would surely overwhelm the content - a case of form over function, or designer's ego over concern for the reader's experience, was my thought. Too fashionable - as in, this will go out of style about five minutes after it enjoys a short-lived "trendy" moment. The font seemed unreadable - too condensed for comfort, too many odd shapes and flourishes for a restful read. As I forced myself past my initial judgements, and read Lenker's words, I found myself thoroughly captivated and engrossed. The fact that the font was a little challenging to read made me concentrate a bit harder to absorb each concept put forth. The interesting background images allowed my mind to wander a bit as I rested after reading the text on each page. A few chapters in, I found myself enjoying the read and the design more than my first harsh suspicions would have thought possible. After finishing and thoroughly enjoying this book, I decided that the overbearing design made a point. Like David Carson's illegible type treatments that have forever altered typographic design, what was unreadable became imminently more interesting, what was challenging caused me to meet the challenge. This book taunts you to test your preconceptions. The disconcerting design is perfect. The content, provocative and original. The author took risks to state his true beliefs in an uncommon manner. His belief that design should not always be safe or predictable. His belief that our audience is more intelligent than we give them credit for, his belief that design, originality and creativity have value. Value to shock, value to intrigue and delight, value to make us stop to think. Value to make us feel things. In the end, this turned out to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. It didn't regurgitate what other web design books out there have to say. My highest respects to an author who took a risk, spoke his mind, backed it up with many clear ideas and obvious research. Thanks for writing this - it clearly contains heartfelt convictions. Something rare in this industry - indeed! This book provides a lot of stimulating thoughts for those willing to question authority and dig a little deeper. Kudos, and thanks to Lenker for writing it and New Riders for publishing it!
Rating:
Summary: A Controversial but Much-Needed Book
Review: In Train of Thoughts, Lenker analyses what we see, feel, and hear everyday. He breaks down concepts (learning, usability, emotion, etc) into even smaller concepts to show why people react the way they do. Once that is fully understood applications can be tailored to this new understanding. All aboard! Not likely any time soon. While Lenker gives many amazing "different" looks at the status quo (what is right and what is wrong) it is not likely that the industry will be changing any time soon. There has to be a first, and Lenker is that visionary. Hopefully designers, developers, and companies will takes this book as at the very least, a step in the right direction. There are problems with the web today. How can they be dealt with? Read the book!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Lenker approaches the subject of web design with insight and experience. This is an important book that needed to be written and now was the perfect time for it. The overall design of the book is great and Lenker clarify's his points with simple diagrams. I found the writting to be engaging and thoughtful. Lenker covers a lot of theory about how people learn and makes a good point about how web experiences are far more important then web sites. The web is still in its infancy and few have come close to utilizing its potential, but Lenker has a firm grasp as to what that potential is and where it can take us. This isn't a book about source code or how to make cool graphics, it's a theoretical approach to web design backed by the author's experiences and insights. Train of Thoughts is far from being a dry textbook. With usabilty experts like Nielsen and others dictating how the design of web sites should navigate, this book is a great counter point to there uninspiring approach to the web. I'm a graphic designer and I think other designers should read this book because it will help them better arm themselves against Nielsen and his followers. But it's also a great read for anyone involved with the web.
Rating:
Summary: Good 'Thoughts'... slightly hard to follow.
Review: Mr. Lenker has done an excellent job of bringing to the forefront an issue that has begun to plague many otherwise well-intentioned Web sites: the focus on usabilty as the exclusive barometer of Web site design success. As a Web designer/producer, I applaud his efforts to keep usability in perspective with the other important attributes of a well-designed user experience.
I did find the book a little difficult to read because of its formatting, but I appreciate the reinforcement of 'visitor experience' based on more than usability that Mr. Lenker provides.
Rating:
Summary: New Thinking
Review: The best pieces of work in art, music and literature always stir extremely strong emotions in people. An audience's reception to the 'New' is always varied, as understanding and preconceptions (in the case of 'Train of Thoughts', the way in which we view and understand the web experience) are challenged. This is nothing but a good thing. Instead of advocating archaic rules and conventions that are merely reactionary to the mistakes made in the last few years, 'Train of Thoughts' takes steps to review and proactively improve/expand upon the manner in which we communicate and do business on the web in the future. The views here are a world away from Nielsen et al - and as such are extremely valuable for at the very least providing balance to the usability argument, and at the most, changing your perception of what is and isn't a good website and providing you with new ways to approach your work. I have been in the web industry in the UK for 6 years now, and I have a constant battle to change perceptions in people - both within the company I work for, and in clients (potential and existing) of the company I work for. This book is going to be a great help to me in changing those perceptions. Whether you agree with John Lenker's views or not (for the record - I do), this is a fantastic book that every web professional whether design or business focused (or both) should read.
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