// Book comparison

The Design of Everyday Things vs How to Win Friends and Influence People

Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

At a glance

The Design of Everyday Things How to Win Friends and Influence People
Rating ★ 4.9/5 ★ 4.9/5
Pages 368 288
Reading time ~9.2 h ~7.2 h
Published 1988 1936
Author Don Norman Dale Carnegie
Category Marketing e Vendas Liderança
Publisher Basic Books Simon & Schuster

Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…

  • You're interested in marketing e vendas.
  • You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
  • You want the more recent perspective (1988).

Choose How to Win Friends and Influence People if…

  • You're interested in liderança.
  • You prefer a shorter read (~7.2 hours).

Key takeaways — The Design of Everyday Things

  • Priorize Discoverability e Feedback, garantindo que cada elemento do seu produto sinalize claramente sua função e ofereça confirmação imediata das ações do usuário.
  • Alinhe o design do seu produto ao Modelo Mental do Usuário, reconhecendo que as pessoas interagem com a tecnologia com base em experiências anteriores e analogias intuitivas.
  • Use Constraints como um Escudo Estratégico, limitando intencionalmente as opções do usuário para evitar erros catastróficos e orientar o cliente pelo caminho mais eficiente para o sucesso.
Read full The Design of Everyday Things summary →

Key takeaways — How to Win Friends and Influence People

  • Pratique Reconhecimento Radical identificando e reconhecendo as forças sinceras dos membros da sua equipe — essa é a forma mais eficaz de inspirar alto desempenho e lealdade.
  • Domine a Perspectiva Empática, buscando sempre entender os motivos e as necessidades das suas partes interessadas antes de tentar persuadi-las a partir do seu ponto de vista estratégico.
  • Evite Críticas Diretas e, em vez disso, use métodos indiretos para apontar erros, garantindo que você preserve a dignidade da outra pessoa e mantenha um ambiente de trabalho colaborativo.
Read full How to Win Friends and Influence People summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you specifically need liderança, How to Win Friends and Influence People is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.

❓ FAQ

Is The Design of Everyday Things or How to Win Friends and Influence People better? +

The Design of Everyday Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Design of Everyday Things focuses on marketing e vendas, while How to Win Friends and Influence People focuses on liderança. See the verdict below.

Which is shorter, The Design of Everyday Things or How to Win Friends and Influence People? +

How to Win Friends and Influence People is shorter (288 pages, ~7.2 hours) compared to The Design of Everyday Things (368 pages, ~9.2 hours).

Should I read The Design of Everyday Things or How to Win Friends and Influence People first? +

If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHub.