I highly recommend this book. Written from the perspective of an "Interaction Designer" it is a great survey of the feild of User Interface and User Centered Design.

I just read this during a vacation in Belgium. Helped to clarify some things for me as to why certain aspects of Software Development are chronically broken, and put a few more tools in my toolbox.

Great practices, principals, and patterns are discussed. Slanted towards Microsoft and traditional UI, but mentions alternative platforms such as web, phone, medical, etc.

The core of the book is a focus on Goal-Oriented user focused design written by consultants with a ton of real world experience delivering end user applications. Provides a really broad context on the software development process, giving the reader and solid vocabulary.

Excellent work. ( )