this is the author of Design of Everyday Things, which I have to assume is at the high end of the unread-after-buying ratio. Still a super impressive person.
Hmmm, I dunno about that assumption. Only because the writing is very engaging and the subjects are novel. It's not a dry textbook, staid non-fiction, or a doorstop...
Admittedly, I have only read specific chapters, but all were easy reading.
> Design of Everyday Things, which I have to assume is at the high end of the unread-after-buying ratio.
I don't believe that. I'd say the high-end begins with Knuth's TAOCP with the end of the spectrum being something like HOTT
https://homotopytypetheory.org/book/
We read it at an HCI class I took in college, and I found it to be one of the most useful, if not THE most useful class for my software engineering career.
Those who own it and haven't yet read it are missing out. Even if your role isn't design (i.e., it's more tech / code) DoEDT is a solid foundation that anyone who works on product - digital or physical - should read.
Admittedly, I have only read specific chapters, but all were easy reading.