Rating: 
Summary: Agree or not, this is an important book
Review: You might be familiar with Cooper's previous, and fairly influential, book "About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design." Cooper is also known as "The Father of Visual Basic" for his work on the original version of Visual Basic for Microsoft.This latest book goes way beyond the nuts-and-bolts concerns of Cooper's "About Face" book--in fact, it's not really a nuts-and-bolts book at all. Programmers are not the target audience. Rather, "The Inmates Are Running the Asylum" is about the insanity that results from the lack of a proper design process, run by trained professionals, in the software life cycle. That brief description really does not do the book justice, though. This is a manifesto, a call to change for the whole industry. I predict (or perhaps "hope" would be a better word) that in ten years, this book will be viewed as a major milestone for the software industry, on par with Frederick Brooks's "The Mythical Man Month", Codd's relational theory papers, Constantine and Yourdon's "Structured Design", DeMarco's "Peopleware", and McConnell's "Code Complete." I know I'm going out on a limb with a statement like that, but I think this an important book. I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read, not a technical book. Just to temper some of my hyperbole, this is by no means a perfect book, and many will disagree with Cooper's assessment of and approach to the problems at hand. I certainly have had my disagreements with Cooper in the past. But this book, in my opinion, is generally right on. Even if you don't agree, you won't be able to ignore the floodgates that I hope it opens. Check it out.
Rating: 
Summary: Like reading a typical computer manual...
Review: The book starts out with some good examples of how putting computers into commonly used devices turns them into unusable devices (i.e. alarm clocks, VCRs, etc.) Unfortunately, his writing style is more like whining, and you just want to tell him if he's that annoyed with these products, just don't buy/use them! Get some common sense! As for the rest of the book, he may have had some valid ideas, but again, his writing style got in the way. It was like reading a computer manual - good reading if you want to get to sleep. I ended up skimming the headings, then placing the book in the recycling bin.
Rating:
Summary: The ones who need it most won't read it!
Review: As a shallow user (both Macs and PCs), I am continually frustrated and angered by the rudeness and obfusation of computers. We need Alan's message!!! The issue of who is to blame is a red herring. He SAYS that programmers are to blame, but then DESCRIBES a situation in which both programmers and managers (and the system) are responsible. The anecdotes are fun and to the point, and his writing style is lively and informal. The book should be carefully read by everyone in the industry. Unfortunately, I know from personal experience that the ones who need it most are resistant -- "I don't have time". Maybe when some programs get easy to use, all the difficult ones will die....I wish. Submitted by Kim Cooper
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book that all designers and developers should read
Review: I think that "The Inmates are Running the Asylum" is a fascinating look into the world of software development. Alan Cooper points out everyday occurances and shortcomings with the way software is developed. I think it is a must read for any young or even experienced programmer/developer.
Rating: 
Summary: Great picture of the software design scene, with one caveat:
Review: I'm a professional UI designer, and Cooper's book seemed to come right out of my very own experiences. He has successfully carried out his own recipe for good UI design (providing power and pleasure) in his writing. This book is funny, yet real and practical. Humor in storytelling often delivers the most truth with the least effort in the most memorable form. He goes out on some long limbs, and that is precisely what impresses me the most about his writing. He has the courage to present his often contrarian, polemic ideas as what they are: Opinions, or theories, based on experience. Theories are judged by their usefulness, and his are useful. No, all programmers are not guilty. Yes, MBAs have also screwed up products. At least Cooper targets a real, known issue and has drawn attention to it without biting off too much. His anecdotes are memorable fables of the software design industry, which I already find myself dropping in conversations.
Rating: 
Summary: Could be a lot more dense
Review: This book could be a lot more dense; there are some interesting ideas, but theses could be presented on 80 to 100 pages easily. "Interaction design" is necessary, yes, I agree. But I don't like redundancy, at least not in such amounts. The cure that Cooper proposes for insanity-inducing high-tech products could lead to some improvements, but perhaps not more or less than usability engineering or any other structured, conceptual, mature approach.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars Plus
Review: As a veteran of 5 technology start-ups, some successful, some failed, I wish this book had been around to read much, much earlier. Cooper's novel approach to designing for the infamous "end-user" is worth the read alone -- there's real, useful meat here that you can take action on as soon as you learn it (I know I did). And as an "end-user" myself to a myriad of technology (aren't we all), the book opened my eyes to how our everyday encounters can be improved (most recent example: did you ever notice how the LCD-readout prices for gasoline at credit-card pumps disappear at the very moment you actually might want to look at them--right after you've inserted your card and are really ready to make a choice?). Don't be dissuaded from reading this seminal book by the "religious wars" being raised in these other reviews I've read above--that's all inside political turf war about "who's to blame". Doesn't matter: the point is, how can we fix this stuff? Cooper's got the answer, no fooling. *****+ - Must Read.
Rating: 
Summary: The Technical Personnel Are Not The Problem!
Review: I am a senior IT specialist with over 27 years in the field and was looking forward to reading Mr. Cooper's book until I read the reviews and noted his emphasis on technical personnel as the primary catalysts for poor software. They may be a factor but not the primary catalyst. Unfortunately, it is and has always been corporate management that have initiated much of the problems we are all facing today. Computers in the hands of the individual or the scientist can offer a tremendous enhancement to their work and lives in an increasingly difficult and complex world. However, in the hands of business management and/or under their aspices the computer has become a plaything for fools who rampantly execute decisions against their technical communities based more on fantasy and personal agenda than that of reality and common sense. And since it is the business realm that produces much of what the consumer uses the results tend to be less than stellar. Most fail to remember that technicians have very little say in the finality of their projects that are usually run by an organizational stream of management. This is not to say that there aren't plenty of bad technicians who are as equally guilty of incompetence and the infusion of their own personal agendas into a project. There are more than enough. Yet management has consistently failed to understand in depth the technologies they are having implemented which would then allow them to develop quality teams with a balanced forum for input from both sides. Instead, management prefers the "glory" of the technical implementation with the attitude that they they "don't understand this stuff". And how can they when most technicians themselves are having a difficult time keeping up with the high-speed evolutionary pace of their own technology. If Mr. Cooper had more experience in the everyday development environments that most have to contend with I believe his book would have had a much more balanced emphasis and thus a superior impact on the reading public which is what is really needed. Changing the way software works will not alter the stupidity behind it!
Rating:
Summary: I'm free!
Review: If you think you can be part of the design process (manager/designer/programmer) without reading this book and applying it's principles, you're fooling yourself and hurting your product. Alan Cooper presents an irrefutable business case and the general tools with which to approach it. "Interaction design" has taken another step towards acceptance in the hi-tech world.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Silver Bullet, but Cooper is worth reading !
Review: You might say that some of Cooper's contentions are bias since as a Design Consultant his team doesn't actually have to DELIVER applications on time, in budget, in the "real world" ! I disagreed with much of what Alan Cooper says in this book, but, I also think that Cooper is a visionary and his books have definately helped me deliver better solutions to my customers, and for THAT he has my thanks. This book SCREAMS for a "how to" technical follow on book that teaches his detailed design techniques. I'll probably disagree with much of that book too - but I'll be early in line to get my copy ! Joe@ASPGurus.com
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