Hooked - Book Notes
An Entrepreneur's Guide to Building Habit-Forming Products
"Hooked" by Nir Eyal is an incredibly insightful and actionable book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As someone who works in software development, I was drawn to this book because I'm always looking for ways to improve user engagement and build products people love. And let me tell you, Eyal does not disappoint.
What I loved most about "Hooked" is that it offers a clear framework for creating products that aren’t just functional, but that users can form lasting habits around. Eyal's Hook Model consists of four stages: trigger, action, variable reward, and investment. Each stage is crucial in creating products that keep users coming back for more. Eyal provides practical examples of how companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest have used this model to create highly addictive products.
One of the things I appreciated about Eyal's writing style is that he doesn't just offer theoretical insights. He also provides actionable steps that anyone can take to design better products. For example, he suggests that companies focus on creating internal, rather than external triggers. In other words, products should be designed to tap into users' emotions and desires, rather than relying on external cues to drive engagement.
As I read through "Hooked", I couldn't help but think about the products that I use on a daily basis and how they've been designed to keep me coming back. For example, the fitness app that I use sends me push notifications reminding me to “close my move ring”, creating a trigger that encourages me to engage with the app. The app also provides variable rewards, such as letting me know when my family and friends have completed their move rings (i.e. hit their step count), which keeps me motivated to continue using the app.
Eyal's insights are not just applicable to tech companies, but to any company that wants to create products that people love. As he notes, "The products that successfully form habits are the ones that fit seamlessly into the daily routines of users and fulfill a deep-seated emotional need." This is something that any company can strive for, whether they're building a physical product or a digital one.
Overall, "Hooked" is a must-read for anyone who is interested in product design, marketing, or psychology. Eyal's writing style is engaging and accessible, and his insights are incredibly valuable. I can confidently say that I will be referring back to this book for years to come as I continue to design products that people love.
See some of my favourite quotes from this book on my website → My Favourite Quotes from Hooked