Rating: 
Summary: A good read, although difficult to accept his major thesis
Review: This book covers in detail the role technology has pervasively interrupted our lives by intruding into everyday living. His major point is that we should have small, independent devices that do one task and one task well, rather than a general-purpose computer to do many tasks. Personally as a technologist I disagree with his major assumptions and points and found the book and some of it's major themes troubling.An example is the way children interact with computers compared to senior citizens. When a child grows up with something is becomes natural. Most children who have access to a computer at an early stage find it as natural as using a video/DVD player, television or CD player. If the technology is introduced at an early stage it become part of the natural language of the child. Normal disagrees with this, and I think although he is a well researched observer that this is one failing of the book. It wasn't until I reached the last quarter of the book that I could start to agree with his ideas and see the point he was trying to make. That is that some devices work as an appliance. The examples of the TiVo (which we don't have here in Australia) seem best to fit the example. They do one thing, and do it well. Network Computers are the other example, where the complexity of the device is hidden from the user (although he still feels uncomfortable with NC's as they are still "computers".) Norman's style of writing made me think I had skipped back a few pages every now and then as he often will repeat himself in greater detail over points he thinks are important. If you're a technologist you should read it. But don't take it as gospel. Although Normal is correct in some of his point, you need to use your own experience and environment to understand the points he is trying to make, rather than accepting them carte blanch.
Rating: 
Summary: The book is a revelation
Review: this book is a good possesion. especially bcoz of its price tag.
Rating: 
Summary: Valuable insights but a bit verbose
Review: While I fully agree with the thrust of Don Norman's book and find it entertaining and easy to follow, I also think it is somewhat verbose - but perhaps I am already too familar with many of the usability arguments. There are many reiterations. At times you think, when the hell will he get to the point? On page 4 you read: "For my purposes, the story of Thomas Alva Edison is the most relevant; he played a major role in many of those early information industries.." (yes yes go ahead); a few paragraphs later you read "Edisons's story is a great place to start. In many ways, Edison invented the high-technology industry.." - this is what sends me into skimming and skipping mode. You are beginning to suspect the book hasn't quite received the final trim. Nevertheless, well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Great ideas... if lacking in firm foundations
Review: While this book generally manages to be a good read for those developing both the management technique behind the software and the software itself, it spends a great deal of time looking at problems and fails to offer any real solutions. Norman is a great writer, and the ideas set out are important - just lacking completion.
Rating: 
Summary: Suitfeed
Review: Yeah, right. Edison didn't know what he was doing because he wasn't "customer centered" enough to make flat records. All he ever did in his life was invent sound recording, plus four or five other basic technologies and major pieces of several more. And he died a rich man. What a slacker. If he'd been really smart, and emulated Gould, Fisk, and Morgan, he might have been a real *success.* If you're fascinated by suitspeak and willing to embrace mediocrity and corporate B.S., then you'll get a lot out of this book. But if you've been working in the business for ten or twenty years, then Norman's blatherings are going to look like just more pin-stripe, synergy-leveraging suitfeed. And, BTW, the set-top box he touts as a good idea was a failure. Edison failed the same way with his first invention (the vote recorder), but was honest enough with himself to call a failure a failure. Norman fails to.
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