Books

Scroll down to see all of Berkun’s books. For audiobook versions: Libro.fm (DRM free) or Audible. Buy print editions from from bookshop.org to support independent bookstores.

Why Design Is Hard

The sequel to How Design Makes The World, written for designers. It teaches designers how to reframe their biggest frustrations working in organizations into solvable problems. Designers want to believe their ideas will be adored and they will influence big decisions, yet most of the time others make the decisions designers wish were theirs to make. With humor, insight, and practical advice on the common and most difficult situations designers face, this book will help you create a fulfilling and healthy design career.

“I just finished—and recommend— Berkun’s latest book, “Why Design is Hard.” the real struggle, the daily grind, is not so much about the work but about contexts, constraints, and personalities that make designers question their very existence. Scott’s book is concise, breezy, yet filled with excellent strategies for succeeding when the world—or, at least, your organization—is tilted against you.” Michael McWatters, Vice President, Product Design for Max / HBO Max

“I don’t know how they authors fit so much into a 100-page essay: power dynamics, office politics, game theory, the psychology of persuasion, masking, organizational inertia, emotional intelligence, and so much more.. its about reaching a fulfilling career by focusing on ways to increase your power, influence, and/or self-awareness.” – Ben Rush, Creative Director

“A refreshingly honest take on why design work often feels like an uphill battle. The authors nail the real challenges designers face: organizational politics, limited resources, and the challenge of turning good ideas into meaningful impact… grab this book.” Adam Michalski, Product Designer

How Design Makes The World

Everything we use, from our homes to our smartphones, from highways to hammers, was designed by someone. How did they decide what was good for the rest of us? What did they get right and where have they let us down? And what can we learn from the way these experts think that can help us make decisions in our own lives?

This book teaches everyone:

What good design is and why it’s so important
How our lives are defined by designs, good and bad, made by others
How to ask better questions of everything we buy, use and make

And it gives designers and makers:

A fun and fast way to explain what we do to coworkers and friends
A tool for making organizations more design mature
Stories to use to be a better ambassador for good design

Early praise and reviews:

“This fascinating book will help you see design everywhere and question why it works—or why it fails” – Ellen Lupton, curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

“An invaluable, essential resource that demystifies and democratizes design for everyone who lives with it—which is to say, all of us.” – Khoi Vinh, Principal Designer at Adobe and Former Design Director of The New York Times

“Design does indeed make the world, and Scott Berkun has written a highly readable book about this fact.” – Henry Petroski, author of Small Things Considered: Why There Is No Perfect Design

“Nobody’s better at explaining how the world really works than Scott Berkun.” – Jeffrey Zeldman, co-founder of A List Apart

The Dance of the Possible

“Concisely debunks all kinds of misconceptions about the creative process in a book that’s no-nonsense, fun, and inspiring.” – Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work

The powers of creative thinking can be yours if you’re willing to laugh and learn in this concise, cliche free and memorable short book.

With challenging chapters on topics like creative confidence, making bold decisions, and separating the need for feedback from the desire for encouragement, even if you’ve read other books on the subject or if this is your first, The Dance of The Possible will surprise you, make you think, laugh and perhaps even dance when you get back to work.

Read the FREE chapters here. Read related blog posts about this book.

“You’ll find a lot to steal from this short, inspiring guide to being creative. Made me want to get up and make stuff!” – Austin Kleon, author of How To Steal Like An Artist

“A fun, funny, no-BS guide to finding new ideas and finishing them. Instantly useful.” – Ramez Naam, author of the Nexus Trilogy

“Concisely debunks all kinds of misconceptions about the creative process in a book that’s no-nonsense, fun, and inspiring.” – Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work

“This book will undoubtedly increase your abilities to invent, innovate, inspire, and make things that matter. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s phenomenally effective.” – Jane McGonigal, author of the New York Times bestsellers Reality is Broken and SuperBetter

“Highly recommended for anyone whose employment just might depend on the quality of their next idea.” – Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative

“Creativity is the nature of the mind. It is our birthright and our gift. The Dance of the Possible, beautifully, reminds us of how to open it.” – Sunni Brown, author of Gamestorming and The Doodle Revolution

“This new nugget of genius from Scott is the best thing I’ve read about creativity in a long time.” – Dan Roam, author of The Back of The Napkin and Draw To Win

“This short, irreverent-yet-authoritative book from Scott will set you on the right path to get inspired and take action on what you create.” – Chris Guillebeau, NYT bestselling author of The $100 Startup and host of Side Hustle School

The Ghost of My Father

“A sobering, lucid memoir about the uncanny, precarious nature of family, masculinity and childhood.” Kirkus Reviews

From bestselling author Scott Berkun comes this powerful story about family, identity and self-discovery. A captivating and honest exploration of who we are, and how we must choose our own way forward in life no matter what happens to us. Berkun’s relationship with his father defined him, until he chose to try and define himself.

With thoughtful stories that explore the meaning of Darth Vader, the mysteries of Frankenstein and the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, Berkun combines themes from his own life with famous films and legends, to help readers ask universal questions about the first adults we know in our lives.

Read the FREE chapter here.

“Ghost of My Father is a poignant example of the value of positive role models. ” – Amy Mack, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound

“Not only captivating, but also insightful… digs deep into many themes; family dynamics, forgiveness, grace, legacy, hope…” – Jen Moff

“Thought-provoking read, and highly recommended…” – Thomas Duff

“When I finished it, I felt more human and less alone.” – Heather Bussing

“Finished in one intense sitting. Intensely personal & gripping” – Michael van Lohuizen

“The author’s prose style is compelling, due in part to his interest in classical mythology and modern popular culture… Berkun’s memoir is ideally suited to an audience that’s similarly concerned with the challenges of adulthood and parenthood in the 21st century.” – Kirkus Reviews

The Year Without Pants: WordPress.com & the Future of Work

An Amazon.com Best Book of 2013. This behind the scenes story of the 8th most popular website in the U.S., where everyone works from home, no one uses email and dozens of improvements launch to customers every day.

“If you want to think differently about entrepreneurship, management, or life in general, read this book.” — Tim Ferriss, author, New York Times bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek

“The Year Without Pants is one the most original and important books about what work is really like, and what it takes to do it well, that has ever been written.”— Robert Sutton, professor, Stanford University, and author, New York Times bestsellers The No Asshole Rule and Good Boss, Bad Boss

“The underlying concept—an ‘expert’ putting himself on the line as an employee— is just fantastic. And then the book gets better from there! I wish I had the balls to do this.” — Guy Kawasaki, author, APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur, and former chief evangelist, Apple

Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds

This definitive best-of collection of Berkun’s online writings, provocative and entertaining, guaranteed to make you think & smile.

Essays include famous missives such as:

How to be a free thinker
The Cult of busy
Why smart people defend bad ideas
Street smarts vs. Book smarts
Hating vs. loving
How to make a difference
And more than 20 other provocations that will motivate, delight and inspire.

“The ideas contained in the essays are persuasive and it’s a fun, well focused read.”— Simon Moore

“What’s unusual about this book is the incredible directness of the author’s ideas… Scott Berkun in this book manages the art of speaking directly into my brain.” — James Fructerman

“Some great ideas here. Can be read from middle or end or anywhere in-between, i’m glad i got it. Written well and very motivating.” — Rory Gatfield

Confessions of a Public Speaker

In this hilarious and highly practical bestseller, Berkun reveals everything you need to know to speak well in front of any audience. It’s a uniquely entertaining and instructional romp through the powerful skills you need to have the influence you want.

Highlights include:

Berkun’s hard-won and simple philosophy, culled from years of lectures, teaching courses, and hours of appearances on NPR, MSNBC, and CNBC
Practical advice, including how to work a tough room, the science of not boring people, how to survive the attack of the butterflies, and what to do when things go wrong
The inside scoop on who earns $30,000 for a one-hour lecture and why
The worst — and funniest — disaster stories you’ve ever heard (plus countermoves you can use)

Filled with humorous and illuminating stories of thrilling performances and real-life disasters, Confessions of a Public Speaker is inspirational, devastatingly honest, and a blast to read.

“A fresh, fun, memorable take on the most crucial thing: what we say. Highly recommended.”— Chris Anderson, Wired

“Berkun tells it like it is… you’ll gain insights to take your skills to the next level.” — Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos.com

“Loved it! This is a very informative and entertaining look at the art of public speaking.” — Garr Reynolds, author of Presentation Zen

“Packed with Invaluable tips and advice.” — Tom Standage, Business editor for The Economist

The Myths of Innovation

This updated paperback edition of the classic bestseller, takes you on a hilarious, fast-paced ride through the history of ideas. You’ll learn to transcend the false stories that deceive many business experts, scientists, and much of pop culture, with history based lessons on how to invent, create and deliver on your own ideas. You’ll have fun while you learn:

Where ideas come from
The true history of history
Why most people don’t like ideas
How great managers make ideas thrive
The importance of problem finding
The simple plan (new for paperback)

Since its initial publication, this classic bestseller has been discussed on NPR, MSNBC, CNBC, and at Yale University, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Google, Amazon.com, and other major media, corporations, and universities. It has changed the way thousands of leaders and creators understand the world.

“Berkun sets us free to try and change the world.”— Guy Kawasaki, Apple Fellow

“Small, simple, powerful: an innovative book about innovation.” — Don Norman, author of Design of Everyday Things

“Brimming with insights.” — Tom Kelley, GM of IDEO

“Thoughtful, often contrarian, and a great read.” — Richard Saul Wurman, creator of the TED Conference

“Insightful, inspiring, evocative and just plain fun to read.” — Steven Johnson, author of The Ghost Map and Where Good Ideas Come From

Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management

In the updated edition of this critically acclaimed and bestselling book, you’ll learn field-tested philosophies and strategies for defining, leading, and managing projects. Based on his nine years of experience as a program manager for Internet Explorer and lead program manager for Windows and MSN, Berkun explains what it takes to plan and ship a large software or web development project.

How to make things happen
Making good decisions
Specifications and requirements
Ideas and what to do with them
How not to annoy people
Leadership and trust
The truth about making dates
What to do when things go wrong

Complete with a discussion guide for reading groups and in-depth exercises to for each chapter, it’s the book you and your team need within arm’s reach. It will serve you well with your current work and on projects to come.

“I learned more in the first 100 pages of this book than from my years of experience in the industry.”— Blogcritic.org

“Reading this was like reading the blueprint for how the best projects are managed at Microsoft.” — Joe Belfiore, VP Microsoft

“Outshines its class.” — Slashdot.org

“Highly recommended for CEOs, project managers, and hackers alike.” — Matt Mullenweg, Founder and lead developer, WordPress.org