Rating: 
Summary: These guys know way more than they're letting on.
Review: This is a good primer on Information Architecture. But I get the feeling that these guys decided just to knock off after 150 pages. That was easier than contending with the knotty implications of all the conflicting structural imperatives that IAs deal with day in and day out.Given that the authors work at nothing but Information Architecture, I sincerely hope that they have a far greater depth of knowledge than this book conveys. Mostly, the message that rings through this brochure is: "Principle x is highly valuable sometimes, but it all depends on how it interacts with principles y and z, and you'll just have to figure out what's the most important as you go along." Well, duh. Those compromises between design principles are the hard part of the job, and the authors don't provide a solid practical or theoretical framework for working through the compromise process.
Rating: 
Summary: Do Not Pass this Book
Review: I picked up this book because of two reasons: it's an O'Reilly book (which I think are some of the best written books on computing), and because it was thin enough to look inviting! After reading the first two chapters I was convinced that the authors were on the right track. with web development in its infancy there are no standards for development of web sites that one can go by. This book, while in no way attempting to set or define any standards, attempts to list the principles and approach that an information architect should be taking when starting out on a web design project. I found the fourth, fifth, and sixth chapters to be the very best. These chapters touch upon Navigation, Labelling, and Searching systems. The chapter on navigation systems was a relevation. Many a time navigations systems make absolutely no sense on even some of the more reputed web sites. The chapter on Navigation systems is followed by the one on Labeling Systems. The relevation that emerges from this chapter is 'Know your target audience, and be consistent!'. If I like this book, why don't I give this book 5 stars? Because I feel that because the authors do such a great job of explaing what 'Information Architecture' I was very disappointed by the lack of detailed examples in the book. There is one chapter at the end that deals with a real world example, but that is not enough. Something like the entire layout of a real world web site (or a hypothetical example even) that set out that web site's labelling system, the navigation system, the Searching system, etc.. would have made this book worth its weight in cybergold! Hence the 4 stars. But still a must read, must have.
Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening!
Review: I have to admit I was nervous about purchasing a Web book that's more than two years old, but the reviews made me decide to try it out anyhow. They were right!
Reading through this book has helped me to better understand why some of my sites have been called "confusing" or "hard to navigate" by visitors. Some of the concepts were simple ones that I had gained a half-understanding of myself while others were entirely new to me.
Although the book describes itself as Architecture for the Web, I've also found it helpful in my day job as a programmer/analyst and a number of my screen designs and process flows have changed based on things I first discovered in this book.
If you've ever wondered why people find the data on your site confusing, I'd strongly recommend reading through this book and comparing your site to their suggestions.
Rating: 
Summary: Some Good Some Bad
Review: The good stuff was spelling some things out to explain to people what Information Architecture is. Explaining which professions bring different dishes to the information table. The bad parts. 1. Interesting Reading in some places, boring in others. A better book to pick out what you need, rather than read cover to cover. 2.As a degreed librarian, I must take issue with their treatment of librarians. The authors feel anyone can do what we do. NOT SO! Useful to have at your side if you are a starting Information Architect. Authors could have been a touch more sensitive.
Rating:
Summary: Web Development Requires a Solid Foundation!
Review: Today many Website design technologies and rigid content requirements have made Web development a more demanding task. Although there are many fine Website design books around to assist Webmasters, a return to the basics of design layout is in serious order. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web offers readers the guidance they need to design Websites that are easy to manage, navigate, and expand as mission requirements change. Rather than discussing strict HTML and Web graphics design, the authors focus upon the actual mapping out of Websites to insure that they are properly structured and will deliver content in an efficient and orderly manner. Rosenfeld and Morville outline the main job tasks of the information architect and the disciplinary background they should possess or cultivate. They cite backgrounds in library science, journalism, engineering, marketing, graphics design, and computer science as essential disciplines to be embraced. When brought together and put into practice they will perform important roles in developing an eye and mindset for successful Web development. The authors discuss important Website design considerations such as the productive use of screen real estate, navigational bars, frames, pull-down menus, and other features that can be employed to effectively deliver Website content. Although this line of instruction is not the main emphasis of the book, the brief addressing of these features assist readers to gain added perspective of the overall strategy of delivering, you guessed it, Web content! Readers are instructed to perform thorough research to determine answers to questions such as: What are the goals? What can your clients afford? Who are the intended audiences? Why will people visit a site? What types of content should and should not be part of the site? Answers to these and other questions should be determining factors throughout the entire Web development process. Readers will find the discussions involving brainstorming extremely helpful. This activity should be of major concern during the Web development process. The use of boards, flipcharts, mockups, design sketches, developing prototypes, metaphor exploration, creating scenarios, and structured blueprints can greatly enhance the entire development process. Reading this book will be for many a refreshing and stimulating experience. Readers will gain valuable behind-the-scenes insight necessary to successfully design Websites that not only look good but perform well to achieve intended goals. Good HTML, programming language scripts, and flashy Web graphics are not enough. Pick up some solid visionary thinking skills. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: If you don't fall asleep you might learn something
Review: Reading textbooks is not how a lot of people learn best. This book contains too few real-life examples and could not hold my attention. The sections of the book I was able to stay awake through were generally common sense topics that people should know if they have been in the web industry for more than 1 month.
Rating:
Summary: The only book you need to begin your career as an IA
Review: This book is amazing. Each chapter succinctly describes the key attributes of good "Information Architecture" - what it is and what it is not. It does involve navigation but not the content. It does involve labeling but not very much creative design. Especially useful for consultants - sample questions and worksheets to give clients to help you get a better understanding of what they want and help them understand your role? They show you examples of sites that have bad navigation, labeling etc. and examples of good sites too. It contains a lot of useful usability information - why frames are bad etc. Also at this price every web programmer/designer should have a copy.
Rating:
Summary: Applied Common Sense
Review: I'm quarter way through this book. Some things have been pleasing, like reading that they find flashing gifs everywhere annoying, and I use these to show my clients that my original gut-feeling was right (they had a few and I said 'lose them'). But really its like applied common sense. Of course people like the powerful facilities at hand etc. I found most of what I'm reading covered on two twenty minute chats with Drue Miller on webmonkey radio
Rating:
Summary: Very informatitive; Presents info in a new light
Review: For myself, this book really helped me find the best way(s) to group and lable content - - something that when dealing with a 'catch all' intranet can get out of hand. For my boss & co-workers, this book provided me with a better way to present information architecture to them. These are people who think that IA is just something that anyone can go out there and do, whether they have internet developement experience or not. They believe that IA is not really important. After reading some of this book and taking notes, I was able to present my ideas and the book's ideas in a way that made it clear to my boss and co-workers that IA isn't something that can be skimmed over. I haven't finished the book yet but already I feel I've gained a bunch of insight and new ideas on how to work the information architecture angle of a site, and from there, work to build a better site.
Rating:
Summary: At last! A concise, practical guide to web site design!
Review: I had been looking around for a book like this for some time now: one that guides me through the crucial conceptual design phase of web site development. Most books on web site design are really about user interface design. This book offers a top-down planning approach to getting from the recognition of a need for a web site through to the final working design. It plugs up a lot of the gaping holes that topic-specific design texts leave open. The over-riding concern and emphasis in the first section of the book is on how to organize the information on the web site in such a way that the target audience can readily get at it. To this end, the authors focus on three 'systems' that need to be developed, implemented and coordinated on a web site: a navigation system, a labeling system and a searching system. Once these systems are thought through and designed then the rest of the work becomes a matter of filling in the information content, functionalities and the bells and whistles. Clear, concise and even a bit humorous, this book will definitely give you a peace of mind if you find yourself a bit overwhelmed at times when deciding on just how you will approach building a web site.
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