Seth Godin started a mini buzz about replacing an MBA education with about 30 books (blog post). People have also started sending him lists of books they feel should be on it. Never one to miss an opportunity to jump on a bandwagon I’ll publish my list of top 10 web books:
Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
This is absolutely the best book on web design there is, period. It’s really easy to read and full of straight forward common sense thinking. In fact you should probably re-read it once a year.
Designing with Web Standards by Jeffrey Zeldman
You may think you know CSS, I know I did, but I was wrong. This book was nothing short of a religious CSS experience. I design everything differently now, and it is good.
Homepage Usability: 50 Websites Deconstructed by Jakob Nielsen
Jakob takes 50 homepages and picks them apart and makes suggestions for improvement. The designs may be a little dated, but the principles and concepts are still useful.
The Non-Designers Design Book by Robin Williams
If like me, you come to the web from a technical background, and not a design background, this book helps you think about and understand good design. It won’t make you Michelangelo but it will make you better, and no it not that Robin Williams.
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte
This is not a web book. It’s about learning how to present and display data and information in a visual way and make it meaningful. How is that going to help you? Ok it was his graphs that led to the connection between low temperature and the o-ring failure on the space shuttle explosion.
Information Architecture by Louis Rosenfeld
Unless all of your websites are going to have less than 12 pages you are going to need to organize them. This book can help you understand not only how to organize your website, or any large set of data. Yes it’s a bit dry but important stuff none the less.
Professional Web Site Optimization by Michael Tracy
In an age of always on broadband connections it’s easy to forget about code bloat, bad design other issues. While not the problem they once were, a quick and fast website always will be more desirable than a slow one.
Color Index by Jim Krause
Many times I have a hard time choosing a color palette for a website. When I do this is where I start. It has over 1100 different color combinations. While only the back part is browser safe I use the whole book as a starting point for finding web safe colors
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
You may be asking what they heck does that have to do with the web? Nothing. That’s right nothing, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So go out read some fiction, read a biography, read about anything else other than the internet. Remember silly muggles you have to take time to sharpen the saw now and again.
Advanced PHP for Web Professionals by Christopher Cosentino
Until this January I didn’t know a single line of PHP. I did know how to program in ASP and SQL but those tools are not only out of the budget of small companies but not really needed. I tried a couple of books but this one taught me the most. Don’t let the title scare you, if you have any programming skill you’ll be able to get through it.
Related posts:
- Web Tools: Color palates Back when the web was new responsible designers were only...
- Top Posts From 2010 As 2010 draws to a close I’d like to thank...
- Tips for Controlling the Top 10 While this strategy is never going to work for anything...
- Does Your Website Have a Squeezy Top Does Your website have a squeezy top? Is it designed...
- Web 2.0 Weenies and Bullshit Social Media Economics This weekend I watched an amazing video from Mike Rowe...
Advertisers:
- Text Link Ads - New customers can get $100 in free text links.
- BOTW.org - Get a premier listing in the internet's oldest directory.
- Ezilon.com Regional Directory - Check to see if your website is listed!
- Need an SEO Audit for your website, look at my SEO Consulting Services
- Directory Journal - Get permanent deep links in a search engine friendly directory
- LinkWheel SEO - Get Web 2.0 Backlinks
- TigerTech - Great Web Hosting service at a great price.
- Article-Writing-services.org - Article Writing Services creates quality content for websites and blogs at no cost to site owners.
- Link Building Services - Hire WeBuildLink.com for well-planned advanced link building campaigns. Very affordable. Contact us now for a FREE evaluation.
- Join 500+ top agencies & publishers who rely on The HOTH every day. US based, enterprise-grade support. High quality, contextually relevant links. 100% money back guarantee. Try it now.
- Professional website designs - Get a unique brand image with website designs that sets you apart and convert your visitors into customers. Make a brand, not just a website
See my disclaimer about advertising and affiliate links
