5 Must-Read Books For Product and UX Designers

In this short video, members of the AJ&Smart team share the ESSENTIAL books they're MOST excited about reading over the holidays, and into 2020 to help level up their careers!

These are not just Product / Design related books, but we also feature marketing, and mindset focussed reads which should help you boost your creative output in the new year, and beyond!

What books can you recommend reading to boost careers in 2020?! What non-product books have really helped your career out? Have you read any of our recommendations so far? Let us know in the comments!

#ProductDesign #UXDesign #DesignBooks

All books and links, in order of appearance (Full 2020 list coming soon!):

Amr's Book - Aesthetic Intelligence - Pauline Brown

Jonas' Book - Ego Is The Enemy - Ryan Holiday

Anastasia's Book - Obviously Awesome - April Dunford

Britta's Book - Universal Principles of Design - William Lidwell

Dom's Book - Ultra Learning - Scott H. Young

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5 Must-Read Books For Product and UX Designers

[AJSmart]

What are your MUST-READ books for 2020? 🤔What are you excited about reading and why?! 📖Let us know in the comments below!

[MohamedShaarawy]

thank you brother and thanks to AJ&smart people.
I recently finished a book called everything is f**ked, Presence, the 3 minute rule.

wish you all the best always :)

[DoFurther]

Why is no one reading the book: "how to listen one song at the office entire month and not being fired"?

[Jim_Dudley]

Thanks for all the inspirational content you and your team have published this year Jonathan. I have used the ideas and techniques in teaching my Design management students and also in some international projects. My recommendation for books would be The one thing by Gary Keller and any of the books by Chip and Dan Heath, especially Moments. Have a great holiday season, keep up the good work, Jim from Switzerland.

[shilitatembhre]

I bought sprint book as you told in some of your video

[volocake]

Thank you, AJ&Smart! (and the best podcast of the universe, Jake and Jonathan), you are the reason for all the books that I bought in the last year (or two) 🙈. Love you, everyone! ❤️

[DerMichael]

Ha, I am currently taking a bachelor's course called "Universal Principles of Design" (3:27) in which we read the book and try to prove or disprove some of the principles, because some are kind of debatable (Hunter-Nurturer Fixations). 😅
I am going to read "The Moderator's Survival Guide: Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research" next year.

[berdilaovidiu]

I am currently reading Autonomy by Lawrence Burns. I have always wanted to know more about the history of the automobile and where it's heading. Very interesting reading, especially because it's written by an inside person from GM.

[SaraBrunettini]

I red Ego is the Enemy, very inspiring!

[yashsolanki]

Please suggest some more books for UI designer also 🙌
I would like to read universal principles of design 🤗
Thanks

[thecolorblinddesigner]

What's the list Anastasia is talking about? Would love to indulge in some marketing books for the next year!

[gabyaguilo]

Super good !!! checking out your content thanks

[PavelGiorgobiany]

Are there two of Anastasia’s in this video? I am confusion!

[willsimao]

I'm reading The Making of Manager by Julie Zhuo, which I first heard about at PBC :D

[wilsonsanchez]

I liked seeing the bloopers, it made me smile! Good video again 👍

[Alon-chbb]

Your videos are always interesting.
Keep it up! <3

[hamzahqazi]

Like the books video series, very very precious!

Keep it up! 👍

[brettbucsak]

Do you recommend these books for beginners? I am currently learning ux design ans I wannt to increase my knowledge

[martadziabiola]

Thank you so much for this video! I am super excited to read all the books you've recommended. The one I am currently reading is a UX classic: "UX Strategy: How to Devise Innovative Digital Products that People Want" by Jaime Levy. I've recently finished "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein, and I would recommend it to everyone who is changing their career path and have some doubts about it.

[sshushant]

I'm currently halfway through Hacking growth, Thank you, Jon, for the amazing recommendation!

Outside of the books mentioned in the video, could you maybe recommend me something to improve my UI/Visual skills? Thank you again a chara :)