Top UX Research books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite UX Research books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of UX Research

Understanding the concepts of UX Research starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People

We design to elicit responses from people. We want them to buy something, read more, or take action of some kind. Designing without understanding what makes people act the way they do is like exploring a new city without a map: results will be haphazard, confusing, and inefficient. This book combines real science and research with practical examples to deliver a guide every designer needs. Wit…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights

Interviewing is a foundational user research tool that people assume they already possess. Everyone can ask questions, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. Interviewing Users provides invaluable interviewing techniques and tools that enable you to conduct informative interviews with anyone. You'll move from simply gathering data to uncovering powerful insights about people.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Think Like a UX Researcher

Think Like a UX Researcher will challenge your preconceptions about user experience (UX) research and encourage you to think beyond the obvious. You’ll discover how to plan and conduct UX research, analyze data, persuade teams to take action on the results and build a career in UX. The book will help you take a more strategic view of product design so you can focus on optimizing the user’s exp…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

User Research: Improve Product and Service Design

User experience research, also known as UX research, focuses on understanding user behaviours, needs and motivations through a range of observational techniques, task analysis and other methodologies. User Research is a practical guide that shows readers how to use the vast array of user research methods available. Written by one of the UK's leading UX research professionals, readers can benef…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Interviewing Users

Interviewing is a foundational user research tool that people assume they already possess. Everyone can ask questions, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. Interviewing Users provides invaluable interviewing techniques and tools that enable you to conduct informative interviews with anyone. You'll move from simply gathering data to uncovering powerful insights about people.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy

Think Like a UX Researcher will challenge your preconceptions about user experience (UX) research and encourage you to think beyond the obvious. You’ll discover how to plan and conduct UX research, analyze data, persuade teams to take action on the results and build a career in UX. The book will help you take a more strategic view of product design so you can focus on optimizing the user’s exp…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional UX Research Reading

These books are not required for you to learn UX Research, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Just Enough Research

Good research is about asking more and better questions, and thinking critically about the answers. Done well, it will save your team time and money by reducing unknowns and creating a solid foundation to build the right thing, in the most effective way.

Erika Hall distills her experience into a guidebook of trusted research methods you can implement right away, no matter what size tea…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The User Experience Team of One

The User Experience Team of One prescribes a range of approaches that have big impact and take less time and fewer resources than the standard lineup of UX deliverables. Whether you want to cross over into user experience or you're a seasoned practitioner trying to drag your organization forward, this book gives you tools and insight for doing more with less.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research

Filled with real-world experience and a wealth of practical information, this book presents a complete toolbox of techniques to help designers and developers see through the eyes of their users. It provides in-depth coverage of 13 user experience research techniques that will provide a basis for developing better products, whether they're Web, software or mobile based. In addition, it's writte…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Specializations and Deeper UX Research Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. UX Research is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Building User Research Teams ( Advanced )

Starting or growing a research team? Upgrade your UX Research and make successful products. Successful products require good decisions. Good decisions need good information. User researchers run robust and repeatable studies to find that information, but they need some tools and support to get started.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Research Practice: Perspectives from UX researchers in a changing field ( Advanced )

While other research books offer standard operating procedures, this book provides something more durable in the real world. It’s a practical field guide that will give you the encouragement to get started, no matter what your background. Research Practice captures the day-to-day of the practice of user research—what it looks like to work with peers and stakeholders, to raise awareness of rese…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

Augment your UX Research books

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

Only 1 Spot Left

Hi there! I'm currently a Senior UX Designer at Apple. I've got 7+ years of design experience in both the consumer and enterprise space. I started my career in medical school and worked in the world of business, before finally pursuing my childhood dream of becoming a designer. Being a …

$290 / month

Only 2 Spot Left

Student or Junior UX Designer? I can help you refine your CV and portfolio, create new case studies to showcase your skills, and more generally help you grow as a designer. Additionally, I can share valuable insights and advice to help you navigate the workplace, whether you're just starting or …

$80 / month

Only 2 Spot Left

Throughout my seven years in Product Leadership at Royal Bank of Canada, Amazon and Vivint, I have mentored several product managers, and led cross functional teams of 15+ members to launch five products from 0->1 through innovative approaches. I have also led 15+ technical and process improvements with high impact …

$110 / month


Hello! Looking for help from a seasoned UX leader? Let's talk. Here are some of the things I can help with: - Resume reviews - Portfolio reviews - Cover letter creation - Interview preparation - Career changes into UX - Career progression Looking for quick help on one of these? …

$240 / month

Only 3 Spot Left

Hi there! My name is Jeremy, and I am a Principal UX Researcher with a decade of experience in the industry. With a unique blend of expertise in UX research and a strong foundation in Neuroscience, I am passionate about understanding the intricacies of human behavior to design impactful, user-centered …

$120 / month

Only 4 Spot Left

As a senior user researcher with over 15 years of experience running international research projects for global companies such as PlayStation, Spotify, and in the finance industry, I have developed a keen eye for what makes a successful UX researcher. Through my experience as a mentor, I have helped many …

$300 / month

Browse all UX Research mentors

Still not convinced? Don't just take our word for it

We've already delivered 1-on-1 mentorship to thousands of students, professionals, managers and executives. Even better, they've left an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for our mentors.

Find a UX Research mentor
  • "Naz is an amazing person and a wonderful mentor. She is supportive and knowledgeable with extensive practical experience. Having been a manager at Netflix, she also knows a ton about working with teams at scale. Highly recommended."

  • "Brandon has been supporting me with a software engineering job hunt and has provided amazing value with his industry knowledge, tips unique to my situation and support as I prepared for my interviews and applications."

  • "Sandrina helped me improve as an engineer. Looking back, I took a huge step, beyond my expectations."