Originally published under the title:: The Psychology of Everyday Things. New York : Basic Books, c1988. Reprinted in paperback 2002, with a new preface by the author.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-247) and index.

The psychopathology of everyday things -- The psychology of everyday actions -- Knowledge in the head and in the world -- Knowing what to do -- To err is human -- The design challenge -- User-centered design.

Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure out which switch turns on which light or stove burner, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door. The fault lies in product designs that ignore the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. A bestseller in the United States, this classic work on the cognitive aspects of design contains examples of both good and bad design and simple rules that designers can use to improve the usability of objects as diverse as cars, computers, doors, and telephones.--From publisher description.