Don't Make Me Think A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition

I was apprehensive to read this book because I couldn't imagine how it would live up to all of the hype and accolades it has received. I was wrong and I'm glad I finally broke down and took the plunge. Even for an experienced web designer like myself there are a few things to learn that justify the time it will take you to read. The book is written very well, is engaging and to the point.

Very clear, very humane. Underneath his smiley-grumpy homilies is an intuitive brand of cognitive science. (He gives a couple of scientific citations, but the model has much more to do with simple sympathetic cynicism than evidence.) That is: Minimise text; have a strong visual hierarchy of size, prominence, clickability; have clear spaced sections of content on each page; keep page names literal; keep the background quiet; never write instructions - make it wordlessly, mindlessly obvious; use conventions unless you have a good reason not to. Which is obviously all good stuff, but overall I didn't like the dad-joke air.

I will probably be recommending this to beginner's asking me what HTML book to get. (This stuff is far more important.)

The book is full of concepts, not tips. That means you will have to refresh your mind and start reading it as a faction book, not a speedy web designer tips sheet. After all it is full of fantastic and basic concepts for successful web design.