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How to Make Sense of Any Mess
Everything is getting more complex. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of information we encounter each day. Whether at work, at school, or in our personal endeavors, there’s a deepening (and inescapable) need for people to work with and understand information.Information architecture is the way that we arrange the parts of something to make it understandable as a whole. When we make things for others to use, the architecture of information that we choose greatly affects our ability to deliver our intended message to our users.We all face messes made of information and people. I define the word “mess” the same way that most dictionaries “A situation where the interactions between people and information are confusing or full of difficulties.” — Who doesn’t bump up against messes made of information and people every day?This book provides a seven step process for making sense of any mess. Each chapter contains a set of lessons as well as workbook exercises architected to help you to work through your own mess.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
November 13, 2014
This book is a brilliant introduction to information architecture. It's short and easy to read but covers all the bases. It will make sense and prove valuable to anyone who messes with information. In other words, Abby really has written a book for everybody.
May 16, 2016
This book is a mess. It's not a book really; I'd call it a pamphlet.
The text gives basic common sense-level knowledge about sorting out "messes". Now this doesn't sound that bad. The book explores some important points, such as "Start with why", "Who matters", "What before how". These considerations are indispensable for information architecture work and design-related work of any kind. Unfortunately the book is in a severe shortage of substance. These points need to be really well understood, accepted, internalized. If a book can help to get there, it's fantastic. Not this book though. It repeats overly generalized points in page-long shallow chapters, but adds no substance and doesn't do anything to turn them into knowledge. A header often says it all.
One good thing is a list of 10 types of diagrams. Then again, not that it's hard to find it elsewere.
The language is extremely simplified on purpose, as it is "a book about information architecture for everybody." The simplified definitions are good and it never harms to repeat them. It also makes for the blandest read ever.
The text gives basic common sense-level knowledge about sorting out "messes". Now this doesn't sound that bad. The book explores some important points, such as "Start with why", "Who matters", "What before how". These considerations are indispensable for information architecture work and design-related work of any kind. Unfortunately the book is in a severe shortage of substance. These points need to be really well understood, accepted, internalized. If a book can help to get there, it's fantastic. Not this book though. It repeats overly generalized points in page-long shallow chapters, but adds no substance and doesn't do anything to turn them into knowledge. A header often says it all.
One good thing is a list of 10 types of diagrams. Then again, not that it's hard to find it elsewere.
The language is extremely simplified on purpose, as it is "a book about information architecture for everybody." The simplified definitions are good and it never harms to repeat them. It also makes for the blandest read ever.
May 17, 2015
I came to this book with very high expectations after I heard it called the "Don't Make Me Think" of Information Architecture. Sadly, it didn't live up to that hype. In the hands of a good teacher I have no doubt this would be an excellent textbook to accompany a course, but on its own it's only OK. In trying to write a succinct and versatile primer on IA for anyone, Covert has gone too far in eschewing concrete examples. Many of the self-contained page-length lessons, which would otherwise be valuable, leave it up to the reader to supply a context for the information presented and it just doesn't work a lot of the time, at least not for a true beginner. Context and concrete/visual examples are precisely what made Don't Make Me Think such a great intro text.
March 11, 2017
This is a deceptively thoughtful read, written as a short and snappy layman's guide to information architecture that belies its sophistication. It serves well as a intuitive reminder of the effort and focus necessary to solve sense-making problems effectively.
Abby does a great job of reframing complex concepts in a straightforward manner and the book helps shine a light on the implicit assumptions, biases, shortcuts and oversights often inherent in the work we do when architecting information.
Oddly enough, I really didn't like this book at first. Until about a third of the way through I felt it was trying too hard to be all things to all people (Abby explicitly states the 'beginners guide' as an aim), without necessarily succeeding in avoiding example scenarios and terminology that exposes the author as a digital web professional. Judged by this criteria it may not be an absolute success. However, the latter half of the book does an impressive job of dealing with complex themes without losing the concise simplicity of the writing style.
Abby does a great job of reframing complex concepts in a straightforward manner and the book helps shine a light on the implicit assumptions, biases, shortcuts and oversights often inherent in the work we do when architecting information.
Oddly enough, I really didn't like this book at first. Until about a third of the way through I felt it was trying too hard to be all things to all people (Abby explicitly states the 'beginners guide' as an aim), without necessarily succeeding in avoiding example scenarios and terminology that exposes the author as a digital web professional. Judged by this criteria it may not be an absolute success. However, the latter half of the book does an impressive job of dealing with complex themes without losing the concise simplicity of the writing style.
September 3, 2023
When the author says "If you rip out the content from your favorite book and throw the words on the floor, the resulting pile is not your favorite book." she is right. Unfortunately, she didn't apply this thinking to her own book.
If you throw a bunch of tweet-long ideas, comments, observations and statements into a book, the result is not a very good book. Some diagrams are good, though.
If you throw a bunch of tweet-long ideas, comments, observations and statements into a book, the result is not a very good book. Some diagrams are good, though.
April 28, 2015
While I enjoyed and appreciated this book for what it was, a high altitude overview of IA, I really hoped the author would get a bit more into the details as they pertain to specific industries such as website design. Maybe a follow-up?
May 22, 2016
I think this is a great book for getting started with information architecture. I read it in about 100 minutes. I have the great big polar bear book ("Information Architecture for the World Wide Web"), but confess I have never gotten around to reading it. I am not an Information Architect, but I am interested in understanding information architect. Because it is not my job, I have made do with reading articles here and there over the years, but never reading that bigger book.
I regard this book as an introduction or "setting things straight" book, and as such, I feel it was great. Over the summer, I will read Andrew Hinton's "Understanding Context". That will be a much more substantial, more in-depth look at information architecture. Reading Abby Covert's book is a nice preparation for that. I can see me sharing sections of it with developers, system architects, product owners, etc. via the online version of the book (http://www.howtomakesenseofanymess.com).
The diagram section, especially the matrix diagram, is useful. I want to try the matrix diagram on a particular project I have, and I think it would be useful on some other projects in the pipeline. I have made diagrams before, but it was nice to have her top 10 styles laid out like this for comparison. It gave them more context.
I really like the language section in Chapter 4: Choose a Direction. This is stuff I do know, but I like the way she presented the information. To use her own words, "language matters". I could see me using this to explain some of my work to people not in my field (technical communication). I feel I get tongue-tied (annoying when you are a communicator!!) when people question something I do and the question is unexpected or new to me. Abby Covert has a few chapters that can get my words in order once more. :)
I finished reading the book, but I will re-visit it again. There are some exercises at the end of each chapter. I did not do them while reading. I did think about them for a bit, but I think they are good exercises (like doing scales on the piano), so they are handy to use when I need some practice.
I think this book is also a quick answer to the discussions I've (anecdotally) heard about on the internet among UX people - "are we forgetting our roots in information architecture?" Those people can grab a coffee or two and get a refresher course from this book in less than two hours.
Now I am ready to read Andrew Hinton's "Understanding Context" book over the next couple of months!
I regard this book as an introduction or "setting things straight" book, and as such, I feel it was great. Over the summer, I will read Andrew Hinton's "Understanding Context". That will be a much more substantial, more in-depth look at information architecture. Reading Abby Covert's book is a nice preparation for that. I can see me sharing sections of it with developers, system architects, product owners, etc. via the online version of the book (http://www.howtomakesenseofanymess.com).
The diagram section, especially the matrix diagram, is useful. I want to try the matrix diagram on a particular project I have, and I think it would be useful on some other projects in the pipeline. I have made diagrams before, but it was nice to have her top 10 styles laid out like this for comparison. It gave them more context.
I really like the language section in Chapter 4: Choose a Direction. This is stuff I do know, but I like the way she presented the information. To use her own words, "language matters". I could see me using this to explain some of my work to people not in my field (technical communication). I feel I get tongue-tied (annoying when you are a communicator!!) when people question something I do and the question is unexpected or new to me. Abby Covert has a few chapters that can get my words in order once more. :)
I finished reading the book, but I will re-visit it again. There are some exercises at the end of each chapter. I did not do them while reading. I did think about them for a bit, but I think they are good exercises (like doing scales on the piano), so they are handy to use when I need some practice.
I think this book is also a quick answer to the discussions I've (anecdotally) heard about on the internet among UX people - "are we forgetting our roots in information architecture?" Those people can grab a coffee or two and get a refresher course from this book in less than two hours.
Now I am ready to read Andrew Hinton's "Understanding Context" book over the next couple of months!
May 3, 2022
Хорошая начальная книжка по тому, как заниматься систематизацией информации. Здесь это подаётся как информационная архитектура, но для меня выглядит как построение онтологий или введение к системному мышлению. При этом учёт субъективных точек зрения не идёт, и в книге описываются только приёмы по описанию происходящих процессов.
March 11, 2020
Nice introduction to Information Architecture, with simple advice on how to process and organise a complex topic. With templates to guide you and some examples, it's easy to follow and to read, and most of the times it feels all common sense, but the one that is not so evident to apply.
I think a good way to make the most of this book is to take an example of some "mess" of yours and try to apply as you read the steps. Else, it makes a collection of good-to-know recommendations on defining intent, structure drawing, concepts definition, measuring... That stays very conceptual.
I think a good way to make the most of this book is to take an example of some "mess" of yours and try to apply as you read the steps. Else, it makes a collection of good-to-know recommendations on defining intent, structure drawing, concepts definition, measuring... That stays very conceptual.
January 27, 2017
A book filled with such generic advice that it's applicable to (almost) anything. Which makes it fantastic and disappointing at the same time; disappointing if you were hoping for a "magical" solution, or expected some hard, precise, specific instructions when you picked it up.
There's no magic, but then again, it's not that complicated either - just answer a bunch of questions about yourself/your work/whatever problem you're facing, and you'll solve it in no time...right? Right?
Still, some really good quotes in there. And depending on your current state of mind, parts of it might actually motivate you to finally tackle that one thing you've been putting off for too long.
There's no magic, but then again, it's not that complicated either - just answer a bunch of questions about yourself/your work/whatever problem you're facing, and you'll solve it in no time...right? Right?
Still, some really good quotes in there. And depending on your current state of mind, parts of it might actually motivate you to finally tackle that one thing you've been putting off for too long.
May 29, 2018
2 and a half stars. Too vague to be much use when read alone as an introduction to IA. The only scenario I can envision in which this would have much value would be as a design book club choice. I'm sure that in the hands of experienced designers, the abstract, nebulous one-page lessons that comprise the content would serve as jumping off points for many an enlightening discussion. As it stands, though, the lack of concrete examples (beyond facile references to supermarkets etc) mean that you'll likely turn the final page having gained little of practical benefit.
July 17, 2018
Una introducción elegante y abierta sobre el concepto de arquitectura de información. El libro ofrece una metodología y una serie de lecciones aplicables a cualquier contexto en el que necesitemos organizar información para que otras personas puedan acceder a ella y tomar las acciones oportunas.
Si te estás iniciando en arquitectura de información o quieres tener un conocimiento básico de la materia es un libro muy recomendable como punto de partida.
Si te estás iniciando en arquitectura de información o quieres tener un conocimiento básico de la materia es un libro muy recomendable como punto de partida.
January 14, 2022
The style of this book is fascinating. The ideas are presented briefly and succinctly, almost as if it was written for a child, and yet without condescension. As the book goes on the ideas start to resolve into something far larger than the opening sections would have suggested. It’s big ideas about information architecture presented in bite sized pieces.
January 8, 2023
In trying to be general enough to be useful in a variety of settings and situations, this may be too general. It doesn't mean much just reading it straight through. But, it's designed as sort of a workbook, and there are some very useful questions and patterns of thinking. I don't think I'll know how useful it is until I apply it to a particular problem and see how well it serves me.
December 30, 2019
Absolutely brilliant book. Possibly my second favorite professional book of the year (after Brave New Work). Essential for anyone doing knowledge work, solving problems, or spending time in new territory. Extremely readable and well-designed, perfect for always being on my desk.
July 30, 2021
Muy buen libro para empezar a aprender a estructurar un proyecto, saber qué elementos se deben de tomar en cuenta tanto del producto como de stakeholders, limitaciones, tiempos, etc.
Brinda un panorama amplio que se puede complementar muy bien con un curso básico de Arquitectura de la Información.
Brinda un panorama amplio que se puede complementar muy bien con un curso básico de Arquitectura de la Información.
August 25, 2021
For anyone dealing with mess and chaos. Well which organisation isn't? 😀
The advice can be applied to information structuring as well.
The advice can be applied to information structuring as well.
March 16, 2025
Симпатичная книжка, но поверхностная, больше буклет, чем полноценная книга, к тому же по высокой цене.
April 30, 2023
Através de um formato nem “for dummies”, é possível fazer uma leitura bem rápida e produtiva. Abby vai direto ao ponto, com perguntas e questionamentos importantes, que vão além do público alvo (designers). Eu diria que muitos questionamentos servem para a carreira da maioria das pessoas, de um modo geral.
Alem disso, são apresentados alguns conceitos e técnicas bastante importantes e abrangentes para lidar com ambiguidade.
Recomendo essa leitura para qualquer pessoa que gosta de um formato bem straightforward, e que precisa lidar com situações/informações ambíguas, desorganizadas e por aí vai.
Para mim, além da reflexões, aprendi algumas técnicas que pretendo aplicar no meu dia a dia (trabalho).
Alem disso, são apresentados alguns conceitos e técnicas bastante importantes e abrangentes para lidar com ambiguidade.
Recomendo essa leitura para qualquer pessoa que gosta de um formato bem straightforward, e que precisa lidar com situações/informações ambíguas, desorganizadas e por aí vai.
Para mim, além da reflexões, aprendi algumas técnicas que pretendo aplicar no meu dia a dia (trabalho).
December 30, 2016
Meta-książka. Żywy przykład na stosowanie rekomendacji wymienionych w niej samej.
Każda strona to mikro-felieton bądź mikro-definicja związana ze sposobami na opanowanie chaosu przez stosowanie zasad architektury informacji.
Całość jest przyjazną sekwencją idąc od najważniejszych, wręcz aksjomatycznych pojęć (różnica między informacją, daną a wiedzą) i przechodzi płynnie do struktur oraz taksonomii a kończy na roli biznesowej architektury informacji.
To nie jest książka, którą odkłada się na półkę po przeczytaniu. Warto ją mieć zawsze blisko, gdy zwątpisz czy wiesz co robisz (jeśli projektujesz coś skomplikowanego)
Każda strona to mikro-felieton bądź mikro-definicja związana ze sposobami na opanowanie chaosu przez stosowanie zasad architektury informacji.
Całość jest przyjazną sekwencją idąc od najważniejszych, wręcz aksjomatycznych pojęć (różnica między informacją, daną a wiedzą) i przechodzi płynnie do struktur oraz taksonomii a kończy na roli biznesowej architektury informacji.
To nie jest książka, którą odkłada się na półkę po przeczytaniu. Warto ją mieć zawsze blisko, gdy zwątpisz czy wiesz co robisz (jeśli projektujesz coś skomplikowanego)
December 14, 2016
There are some good bits of advice in here about things to think about when you're trying to convey information but oddly enough, for a book on information architecture, it seemed a bit random.
I felt like I didn't quite grasp a process or a system to use so much as a few principles. (And some examples of tables and charts which was useful.)
Ultimately, a book I wanted to like more than I actually did.
I felt like I didn't quite grasp a process or a system to use so much as a few principles. (And some examples of tables and charts which was useful.)
Ultimately, a book I wanted to like more than I actually did.
February 15, 2018
A short and succinct read on thought processes around designing an Information Architecture. Abby Covert keeps the language simple and tries to keep the topics generic enough so it can be applied to all disciplines. As an experienced designer, it was a helpful reminder of the fundamentals but it felt a bit too dumbed-down. I think it’s geared for beginners but if that’s the case, it’s too generic and lacks thoughtful examples to help a beginner frame these principles.
March 9, 2019
I don't know if it makes sense, but the book is somehow messy. The very high level thougths as they are exposed may give something to think about, but miss the practical dimension. Probably this very short text doesn't address the beginner, therefore I had hard time to appreciate it.
Ma note de lecture en Français ici
Ma note de lecture en Français ici
June 26, 2019
This book is so useful as a thought exercise but tough as a practical workbook for approaching information architecture for documentation. Because it lacks specificity, it’s on the reader to take the high-level questions and really sit with them. Not for the faint of heart, but a great read when sitting in the midst of many challenging messes. I took more notes as the book progressed and got slightly more concrete.
August 28, 2016
Excellent introduction to Information Architecture.
It's a very concise and straight-forward book, focusing on a handful of core topics.
Each topic's examples are were simple and yet were very powerful to summarise the underlying idea of the topic/chapter.
I'm looking forward to explore some of the recommended books from the "Further Reading" section.
It's a very concise and straight-forward book, focusing on a handful of core topics.
Each topic's examples are were simple and yet were very powerful to summarise the underlying idea of the topic/chapter.
I'm looking forward to explore some of the recommended books from the "Further Reading" section.
December 1, 2020
This book should be required reading for anyone who organizes things and/or works on the web. I was initially disappointed by what felt like a lack of concrete examples, but the carefully crafted thought process and lessons on each page won me over. I would love to read more by this author.
March 29, 2016
I didn't care for the format, which was basically like a collection of 100 one minute elevator pitches. It made for a quick read, but it lacks substance and depth. I guess that was kind of the point, but I didn't get as much out of it as I'd hoped to.
July 5, 2017
This book is awesome and super helpful! Abby Covert, has done some great work explaining how to organize systems and information in a simple and precise way. Best quote in the book: " Perfection isn't possible, but progress is." I'll be repeating that one 'til I'm dead.
April 22, 2025
Интересная попытка максимально простым языком рассказать про информационную архитектуру, онтологии, таксономии и прочие слова для описания сложной реальности. В отзывах многие жалуются, что слишком мало конкретных примеров — так и есть, это скорее словарь и набор методов, а не наглядное пособие. Я пока не проверял на практике, помогает ли это все упорядочивать реальность, но в голове у меня точно что-то упорядочилось.
Книжка есть в общедоступном виде на сайте: https://www.howtomakesenseofanymess.com/
Цитаты:
«Information is architected to serve different needs. If you rip out the content from your favorite book and throw the words on the floor, the resulting pile is not your favorite book.»
«For every amusement park you make, you're not making a video game. When you intend to be fun for kids, you can use stories but not metaphors. If you want something to be relaxing, it's harder to make it educational.»
«You can turn a space into a place by arranging it so people know what to do there. This act is called placemaking. If you arrange a table and chairs in the middle of a room, meetings, meals, study, and play are all potential uses of that place. But if you add a fancy dining set and linens to the table, you're suggesting that it's a dining area.»
«When we decide that a word or concept holds a specific meaning in a specific context, we are practicing ontology. Here are some examples of ontological decisions:
– Social networks redefining "like" and "friends" for their purposes
– The "folders" on a computer's "desktop" you use to organize "files"
– The ability to order at a fast food chain by saying a number»
«Before we go on, I have to warn you of the many opportunities ahead to lose faith in yourself as you climb through and understand the details of your reality. It can start to feel like the mess wants you to fail in making sense of it. Don't worry. That thought has occurred to everyone who has ever tried to change something. We all have to deal with reality. We all want what we want and then get what we get.»
Книжка есть в общедоступном виде на сайте: https://www.howtomakesenseofanymess.com/
Цитаты:
«Information is architected to serve different needs. If you rip out the content from your favorite book and throw the words on the floor, the resulting pile is not your favorite book.»
«For every amusement park you make, you're not making a video game. When you intend to be fun for kids, you can use stories but not metaphors. If you want something to be relaxing, it's harder to make it educational.»
«You can turn a space into a place by arranging it so people know what to do there. This act is called placemaking. If you arrange a table and chairs in the middle of a room, meetings, meals, study, and play are all potential uses of that place. But if you add a fancy dining set and linens to the table, you're suggesting that it's a dining area.»
«When we decide that a word or concept holds a specific meaning in a specific context, we are practicing ontology. Here are some examples of ontological decisions:
– Social networks redefining "like" and "friends" for their purposes
– The "folders" on a computer's "desktop" you use to organize "files"
– The ability to order at a fast food chain by saying a number»
«Before we go on, I have to warn you of the many opportunities ahead to lose faith in yourself as you climb through and understand the details of your reality. It can start to feel like the mess wants you to fail in making sense of it. Don't worry. That thought has occurred to everyone who has ever tried to change something. We all have to deal with reality. We all want what we want and then get what we get.»
March 3, 2020
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
I had to read this book for my Information Architecture course and it is by far my favorite book we have read up to this point.
This is a great first resource for learning about Information Architecture and the information provided is wide enough to be applicable to many situations outside of official information science areas. If you need to make sense of a mess in your life and/or profession, this is the book to find out how.
Covert writes in a way that is simple, informational, and, dare I say, fun. It is easy to see what she is talking about. One thing that I really enjoyed is that she practices what she preaches, so to speak, in providing clear definitions paired with examples that are easy to relate to. In some of my other class readings, the examples are so tech-heavy that I kind of get lost in them. Covert instead ops for more generalized examples such as putting away groceries, examining school grades, and tweeting while watching TV.
The book is broken down into seven sections that act as procedural steps to addressing your mess. Each chapter contains page-long lessons that are easy to digest, as well as scenarios that apply the principles and worksheets to help the reader do the same.
I also loved the indexed lexicon at the back of the book that combines an index and a glossary, making information even easier to find.
This was a great book and I honestly think I would enjoy it even if I didn't have to read it for class. The simple cover is a great representation of the information inside. It is clean and simple. Covert does her best to abstract a lot of information without overwhelming the reader, and I for one think it was a great success. She applies the principles she teaches to create a book that is helpful, useful, and interesting.
I had to read this book for my Information Architecture course and it is by far my favorite book we have read up to this point.
This is a great first resource for learning about Information Architecture and the information provided is wide enough to be applicable to many situations outside of official information science areas. If you need to make sense of a mess in your life and/or profession, this is the book to find out how.
Covert writes in a way that is simple, informational, and, dare I say, fun. It is easy to see what she is talking about. One thing that I really enjoyed is that she practices what she preaches, so to speak, in providing clear definitions paired with examples that are easy to relate to. In some of my other class readings, the examples are so tech-heavy that I kind of get lost in them. Covert instead ops for more generalized examples such as putting away groceries, examining school grades, and tweeting while watching TV.
The book is broken down into seven sections that act as procedural steps to addressing your mess. Each chapter contains page-long lessons that are easy to digest, as well as scenarios that apply the principles and worksheets to help the reader do the same.
I also loved the indexed lexicon at the back of the book that combines an index and a glossary, making information even easier to find.
This was a great book and I honestly think I would enjoy it even if I didn't have to read it for class. The simple cover is a great representation of the information inside. It is clean and simple. Covert does her best to abstract a lot of information without overwhelming the reader, and I for one think it was a great success. She applies the principles she teaches to create a book that is helpful, useful, and interesting.
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