Great Reads from Microsoft Research
What do we love even more than good ideas? Fantastic books that’re stuffed full of them!
The winter season’s such a good time to be a reader — whether you’re jet setting, hibernating, or just treating yourself to a little time of your own. Researchers at Microsoft did some looking to find a few of our favorites for the holidays, and do we have a list for you! From pop culture to practical ethnography, there’s something here for everyone. Our researchers had so many great contributions that we had to make two different lists. Look forward to part two of this series in the coming weeks!
Check out some of our favorites — for both giving and getting — below.
When Coffee and Kale Compete, by Alan Klement
Recommended by Ronette Lawrence
“My go-to!” says Ronette. “The book provides a great way to understand what job the user is hiring your product to do — a key part of our work here in user research.” In particular, Ronette loves the “jobs to be done” framework presented in Coffee & Kale, which offers an insightful way to provide clarity and user centricity in tech-led conversations.
“The theory of Customer Jobs and the idea that customers buy a product to complete a Job to be Done, help us understand all the creative destruction around us. Even though solutions and technologies come and go, the customer’s desire for self-betterment is always there.”
—Alan Klement
Visual Thinking for Design, by Colin Ware
Recommended by Michael Van Waardhuizen
Colin Ware might be better known for his textbooks, but this slimmer volume packs just as much punch. It reads as a standalone summary of the science of how we perceive design, getting right to the roots of visual design, information architecture, focus, and the patterns that underlie all visual interfaces.
“It’s one of those books that feels like it has the components of magic spells,” says Michael. As a user researcher, he knows all too well that visual communication almost always outperforms text, especially in interfaces. “This book enabled me to communicate better with designers, and develop much more robust recommendations for design.”
Practical Ethnography: A Guide to Doing Ethnography in the Private Sector, by Sam Ladner
Recommended by Meghan Stockdale
True step-by-step guidance is Meghan’s favorite part of this research essential. “If you work in the research field, you should have this book!” she says. The content focuses on ethnography and its related skillset in an enterprise setting — the world of user research.
“From scoping studies to managing stakeholders, what to bring with you into the field, and how to connect your insights to business goals and bottom lines, I refer to it time and time again.”
The book sets itself apart by distinctly focusing on good ethnography beyond the constraints of academia:
“Becoming a good private sector ethnographer means you must understand your research method and be able to explain it to your clients and stakeholders. Practically speaking, this means you must know how to do ethnography but also how to think about ethnography. It demands a higher order of understanding.”
— Sam Ladner
All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists, by Terry Gross
Recommended by Anil Shankar
“The title says it all: All I Did Was Ask,” says Anil. “You can witness and learn the active listening style from one of the best interviewers on NPR.” Terry Gross’s curiosity and openness make for some of the most interesting interviews in modern broadcasting. Anil cites her book as genuinely improving the reader’s skill to simply listen — how good listening works, how to improve, and what might be missing in your conversations.
“It’s also a great way to learn more about the renowned personalities interviewed in the book. They candidly share their personal stories. In the process, you can actually observe how Terry builds trust and gradually helps the interviewee to share interesting insights.”
Set Phasers on Stun: And Other True Tales of Design, Technology, and Human Error, by S.M. Casey
Recommended by Ashley Ferguson
Perhaps, like our team, you’re fascinated by user research — but maybe you’re just looking for a good read. Ashley recommends Set Phasers on Stun as an interesting, open-ended collection of stories to engage just about anyone.
The book is actually a compilation of 20 unique stories, all true, about technology — anything from spacecraft to medical equipment. It stresses the essential value of human-centered design.
“It’s fascinating how designing things without true focus on humans can have disastrous results,” says Ashley. “I actually read this book as an undergrad studying psychology, and it led me to where I am today!”
Do you have any go-to good reads for this season? Has the team highlighted any of your favorites? Let me know. We’re always looking for wonderful new books. And stay tuned for part two of our reading list!
Share your favorite titles — or your thoughts on this list —here in the comments, or tweet me @MelissaDeCapua or my team @MicrosoftRI!
