Train of Thoughts: Designing the Effective Web Experience (Voices) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I've gathered valuable insights from Lenker's writing that will help me in my work to lead multimedia development efforts." -- Dr. Michael Allen, Creator of Authorware; CEO, Allen Interactions Inc.

"In this eloquent and well-designed book, Lenker charts a new path toward conceptually rich and intellectually meaningful Web experiences." -- Dr. Paul Bieganski, Technology Strategist, CTO, Net Perceptions

"Lenker's book is thoughtful and provoking. It challenges your assumptions and guides you to produce better sites." -- Lynda Weinman, Author and Educator

"This insightful guide to constructing web sites does what is often neglected—seriously consider the psychology of the web user" -- Richard Jackson Harris, Professor of Psychology, Kansas State University

Product Description

Is creativity the enemy of usability? How do you judge the success of a person's experience interacting with a web enterprise? Is the effectiveness of an online resource defined only by how "usable" it is? In Train of Thoughts, web strategy and design consultant John C. Lenker Jr. provides insight into how web enterprises must interact with people to be successful in the twenty-first century.

Train of Thoughts is non-technical and written not only for web designers and developers, but also for any stakeholder in a web enterprise that has a vested interest in ensuring that their online resources become more meaningful and valuable. In this book, you'll learn to understand what motivates people's online behavior and then convert that motivation into online results; communicate with people effectively online so that they really understand what the value proposition of an online resource is; combine forward-thinking information design techniques with systems that pave experiential pathways for people to journey along in pursuit of their interests and goals; properly employ personalization to build relationships; understand the true role of creativity online; uncover screen-space designs that aid and inspire the mind; reconcile business objectives with stakeholder needs; approach process in a way that keeps projects on time, on budget, and on target; create online resources that actually work when they're completed; and actualize creative vision appropriately for the web.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: New Riders Press (June 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735711747
• ISBN-13: 978-0735711747
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #919,709 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why is Lenker getting railroaded?, July 13, 2002

By	Kent Hathaway (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

There's no doubt that this will be viewed as one of the most controversial books written on the subject of Web design. Even so, having just read some of the early reviews trashing this book, I had to laugh. The design community has been crying out against the extreme rhetoric of the usability experts, but hasn't had a solid academic rallying point from which to argue until now. Lenker comes along with some solid intellectual arguments FOR creativity and content development and people seem to be crying bloody murder. It would seem that a few nerves have has been touched!

Truly, Lenker has written an inspired work that draws from research, experience, and original thinking. Some reviewers are claiming that the book is poorly designed, but so far, not one critic has substantiated their criticism by giving examples of design principles that the book violates! Also, not one person has given any example of a specific point Lenker makes that they think is off-base. The reason? Well, my guess is that they haven't actually read the book -- these early reviews were posted two days after the book shipped. I've had an advanced copy, and I'm just now finishing it!

Sure, it's true that there's some room left on every page for imagery--it's called white space and this is a good thing. The reason is that Lenker was smart enough NOT to overwhelm people with page after page filled with solid text containing his thoughtful arguments. I did a quick estimate and it would appear that there are anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 words in this typographically refined, full color, 1-inch thick, 9" x 9"
book. Yes it's a picture book suitable for your coffee table, but it will likely also serve as a college textbook. Imagine that--could making a college textbook interesting to read be a good idea? Must be why there are a number of people with PhDs that have written glowing editorial reviews for this book.

Make no mistake. This is not a Web design "show-me-how" book. There are no "step-by-step" examples. Why would there be? This is an online communications philosophy book (says so on the back cover) and presents theories and principles that are solid enough to go toe-to-toe with the one-sided arguments presented in Jakob Nielsen's "Designing Web Usability."

At the end of the day, if you're looking for something written at the third-grade level that you can breeze through in an evening of light reading--read something else. There are plenty of slapped-together-books for you to choose from. If on the other hand, you're looking for something to jump-start your work as a Web designer, read Train of Thoughts. This well conceived, well designed, and well argued book will challenge you, inspire you, and will teach you then concepts needed to design truly effective Web experiences (just like the title says).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Thinking, August 16, 2002

By	"openingfrequencies" (London, England) - See all my reviews

The best pieces of work in art, music and literature always stir extremely strong emotions in people. An audience's reception to the 'New' is always varied, as understanding and preconceptions (in the case of 'Train of Thoughts', the way in which we view and understand the web experience) are challenged. This is nothing but a good thing.

Instead of advocating archaic rules and conventions that are merely reactionary to the mistakes made in the last few years, 'Train of Thoughts' takes steps to review and proactively improve/expand upon the manner in which we communicate and do business on the web in the future. The views here are a world away from Nielsen et al - and as such are extremely valuable for at the very least providing balance to the usability argument, and at the most, changing your perception of what is and isn't a good website and providing you with new ways to approach your work.

I have been in the web industry in the UK for 6 years now, and I have a constant battle to change perceptions in people - both within the company I work for, and in clients (potential and existing) of the company I work for. This book is going to be a great help to me in changing those perceptions.

Whether you agree with John Lenker's views or not (for the record - I do), this is a fantastic book that every web professional whether design or business focused (or both) should read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Outstanding, July 12, 2002

By	J. Hamlin (Round Rock, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't recall the last time I was so utterly (and pleasantly) suprised when I opened a book. Books that espouse usability don't tend to be much to look at, but this book is exquisite. Lenker is going to have to expect the negative reviews from all the Nielsen drones who think that the world should have all the character and appeal of a sign post (sans the sign). Those who are more open-minded (and I would argue, more in tune with the real world) will be treated to a far more balanced perspective on usability. You'll actually get useful information in every chapter--not just the same basic and essentially obvious concepts repeated chapter after chapter like so many "popular" usability books tend to do. I only hope people don't listen to the sign post lovers. This book is simply outstanding.