Business

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

  • Downloads：3866
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-03-24 14:23:36
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Nir Eyal
  • ISBN：0241184835
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Why do some products capture our attention while others flop？ What makes us engage with certain things out of sheer habit？ Is there an underlying pattern to how technologies hook us？

Nir Eyal answers these questions （and many more） with the Hook Model - a four-step process that， when embedded into products， subtly encourages customer behaviour。 Through consecutive "hook cycles，" these products bring people back again and again without depending on costly advertising or aggressive messaging。

Hooked is based on Eyal's years of research， consulting， and practical experience。 He wrote the book he wished had been available to him as a start-up founder - not abstract theory， but a how-to guide for building better products。 Hooked is written for product managers， designers， marketers， start-up founders， and anyone who seeks to understand how products influence our behaviour。

Eyal provides readers with practical insights to create user habits that stick; actionable steps for building products people love; and riveting examples from the iPhone to Twitter， Pinterest and the Bible App。

Nir Eyal spent years in the video gaming and advertising industries where he learned， applied， and at times rejected， techniques described in Hooked to motivate and influence users。 He has taught courses on applied consumer psychology at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and at Fortune 500 companies。 His writing on technology， psychology， and business appears in the Harvard Business Review， The Atlantic， TechCrunch， and Psychology Today。

Ryan Hoover's writing has appeared in Tech- Crunch， The Next Web， Forbes， and Fast Company。 After working on Hooked with Nir Eyal， Hoover founded Product Hunt， a company that has been described as "the place to discover the next big things in tech。"

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Reviews

ylva kravis ，

This book nicely exposes the heuristics behind various successful products and how why we get so addicted to them。 However， to set your expectations straight - while it does indeed outline steps for creating hooks yourself， its "How to" title refers to the usage of the framework itself， not the actual product-building process。 This book nicely exposes the heuristics behind various successful products and how why we get so addicted to them。 However， to set your expectations straight - while it does indeed outline steps for creating hooks yourself， its "How to" title refers to the usage of the framework itself， not the actual product-building process。 。。。more

Vlad ，

The exact thing it says on the cover。 It gives you a clear framework on how to make products that essentially turn into habits。 A great read for people that work in:- Product Development;- Sales / Marketing;- Start-ups。

Karo ，

Quite a disappointment。One of those books that could have been an article。 But easy to read in one sitting。

Aviva Rosman ，

Straightforward， useful advice around designing habit-forming products。 Very good that the author addresses the potential for this advice to be abused （he write that it wouldn't be a superpower if it didn't have the potential for evil - a bit worrying。）I like the central idea - using the mechanics of our brain to "build products to help people do the things they already want to do but for lack of a well-designed solution don't。"Can definitely be skimmed， but overall a valuable book for entrepren Straightforward， useful advice around designing habit-forming products。 Very good that the author addresses the potential for this advice to be abused （he write that it wouldn't be a superpower if it didn't have the potential for evil - a bit worrying。）I like the central idea - using the mechanics of our brain to "build products to help people do the things they already want to do but for lack of a well-designed solution don't。"Can definitely be skimmed， but overall a valuable book for entrepreneurs and product designers。 。。。more

Regimantas Urbanas ，

A comprehensive recap of some proven methodologies around building highly engaging and relevant products。 The whole book is separated in 5 sections - five steps to think through as you're building a good product 1。 Identify the internal triggers - What do users really want？ What pain is your product relieving？ 2。 What brings users to your service？ （External triggers） 3。 Action。 What is the simplest action users take in anticipation of reward， and how can you simplify your product to make this ac A comprehensive recap of some proven methodologies around building highly engaging and relevant products。 The whole book is separated in 5 sections - five steps to think through as you're building a good product 1。 Identify the internal triggers - What do users really want？ What pain is your product relieving？ 2。 What brings users to your service？ （External triggers） 3。 Action。 What is the simplest action users take in anticipation of reward， and how can you simplify your product to make this action easier？ 4。 Variable reward。 Are we leaving users fulfilled by the reward yet left wanting more？ 5。 Investment。 What “bit of work” do users invest in your product？ Does it load the next trigger and store value to improve the product with use？It goes through the real life product examples and extensive frameworks in explaining each stage。 Biggest chuck of the content in this book feels very intuitive and a little dated as I read it in 2021， yet it's definitely worth a read！ 。。。more

Andy ，

I've previously read both Contagious: Why Things Catch On and Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones so this book didn't really give me any new information。 I found it to be more based to product makers and not marketers， so I personally couldn't benefit from this book。 However， it is well structured and the writing is simple。 The case studies were also quite new and easy to follow。 I've previously read both Contagious: Why Things Catch On and Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones so this book didn't really give me any new information。 I found it to be more based to product makers and not marketers， so I personally couldn't benefit from this book。 However， it is well structured and the writing is simple。 The case studies were also quite new and easy to follow。 。。。more

Chi Tran ，

I’m glad I picked up this book upon hearing about in a podcast。 To me， the book covers new concepts and facts that make me pause， think and reflect on my own past and present behaviors。 I have to admit I am hooked to many mobile apps。 From the moment I wake up， I immediately reach out for my phone and scroll through IG and Facebook feed to make sure I didnt miss out anything。 Then throughout the day， I will conveniently use Google for things I dont know or cant remember。 I will also lose track o I’m glad I picked up this book upon hearing about in a podcast。 To me， the book covers new concepts and facts that make me pause， think and reflect on my own past and present behaviors。 I have to admit I am hooked to many mobile apps。 From the moment I wake up， I immediately reach out for my phone and scroll through IG and Facebook feed to make sure I didnt miss out anything。 Then throughout the day， I will conveniently use Google for things I dont know or cant remember。 I will also lose track of time looking at items on Shopee apps to check my delivery and getting new purchases。 How scary it is to realize we live in an addicted world！I would highly recommend this book to get started in product development in the digital world。 。。。more

Praveen Gupta ，

I rated 2 just because this book reinforced the tribe methodology that if so many has liked it， I should like it。 Second star is to the fact if you have invested in product（ in this case this book） you tend to hooked more and that the reason I completed reading this book。 I guess， I read book late。 Nir presented the ideas which are obvious in 2021 but might not have been on 2008。

Jaime Moncada ，

Brinda un marco de trabajo sobre cómo desarrollar productos que generen hábitos。 Un libro muy práctico orientado a la puesta en marcha y aplicación de la metodología en productos principalmente digitales。 Un libro obligado para cualquier startup y/o desarrollador de productos。

Anna Cabiling ，

Very easy to read focusing on habit-forming products。 A lot of points mentioned in this book are obvious and predictable。

Mariona ，

Very well written and clear。 2 stars rating because it is infuriating how this is the gold standard framework for product design。 Sickening to have people openly promote the levaraging of inner pains to create what are， by definition， addictive behaviours。

Terence ，

Very good book。 A little dated but still valuable。

Sophia ，

This book is kind of fluffy and could have been half its length。 It feels like a business-y version of the Power of Habit， adding on the investment step。 It was too high-level and didn’t go into more depth about each one， providing more concrete steps on how to uncover the answers to each question posed at the end of each chapter。 The conclusions you come to shouldn’t be done in a vacuum， and it’s incredibly important to talk to customers and internal customer-facing teams。 The “What are you goi This book is kind of fluffy and could have been half its length。 It feels like a business-y version of the Power of Habit， adding on the investment step。 It was too high-level and didn’t go into more depth about each one， providing more concrete steps on how to uncover the answers to each question posed at the end of each chapter。 The conclusions you come to shouldn’t be done in a vacuum， and it’s incredibly important to talk to customers and internal customer-facing teams。 The “What are you going to do with this？” chapter is incredibly naive and lacks nuance。 It’s better if you watch the Social Dilemma instead of reading this chapter。 。。。more

Adriano Silva ，

Depois que li esse livro minha visão para criar， remodelar， redefinir novos produtos ficou muito mais clara。 A facilidade com que o autor Nir Eyal transcreveu seus conhecimentos neste livro foi engajadora。Recomendo viemente a leitura deste maravilhoso livro。

Michal ，

I would give 5 stars for the quality of work the author put out， but the idea that this is the way apps are designed now disgusted me so much。 But。。。good to know I guess。

Arjun Nair ，

This read is not engaging， but I'm still going to finish it。 This read is not engaging， but I'm still going to finish it。 。。。more

Pedram ，

Amazing and mind blowing book。 I recommend reading it multiple times。

Natarajan Mahalingam ，

An enterprising read on a step-by-step process designed by author Nir Eyal， explained with relevant research， case studies， and living enterprise examples。 This book is especially relevant and a must-read for people involved in building products or services - designers， entrepreneurs， and innovators。 There is also a do-along exercise if you're looking to apply the learning from each section of this book An enterprising read on a step-by-step process designed by author Nir Eyal， explained with relevant research， case studies， and living enterprise examples。 This book is especially relevant and a must-read for people involved in building products or services - designers， entrepreneurs， and innovators。 There is also a do-along exercise if you're looking to apply the learning from each section of this book 。。。more

PutraFarras Anggara ，

I think if you have learn psychology before especially behavior psychology， that include reinforcement and punishment。 This book will not add much to your theoretical knowledge。 Rather the book put it in the context of product especially digital product。

Andres Sanchez ，

In this book the author proposes a four step model for building products that are able to create habits in their users。 Although this might sound manipulative， he repeats several times that the moral implications of doing this should always be factored in， and that this should only be used for beneficial behaviors。The author defines this model as the "hook" method which is comprised of four stages:Trigger: an internal or external call for attention to usersCall to action: prompts the user to do In this book the author proposes a four step model for building products that are able to create habits in their users。 Although this might sound manipulative， he repeats several times that the moral implications of doing this should always be factored in， and that this should only be used for beneficial behaviors。The author defines this model as the "hook" method which is comprised of four stages:Trigger: an internal or external call for attention to usersCall to action: prompts the user to do something with minimum frictionReward: give a random and changing reward to the user。Investment: guide the user to invest some time， data， effort or similar， into your productHe describes in detail how these steps work and at the end of each chapter there is a brief section with questions and homework for people who are building digital products。 Therefore， this book is best suited for people who are already building something or are in the process of giving shape to an idea， if that is not your case this book might not be very useful and somehow boring。 In my case I am in the process of building a digital product， however， it's not something that's supposed to be used as frequently as social networks or fitness apps （most examples in the book are of these kind）; therefore， I was able to get some good insights， but nothing memorable。 。。。more

Kyle ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book was very insightful for products/services that people use frequently。 If I did have a product or service that individuals used frequently I would read this book again to help me sell more。

Barack Liu ，

315-Hooked-Nir Eyal-Tool-2013Barack2021/02/27" Hooked "， first published in the United States in 2013。 It mainly explains how some successful products make users addicted by explaining the Hook model。Nir Eyal was born in Hadera， Israel in 1980。 Studied at Emory University and Stanford University。 Representative works: " Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products。 " etc。Table of Contents1。 The Habit Zone2。 Trigger3。 Action4。 Variable Reward5。 Investment6。 What Are You Going To Do With This？7 315-Hooked-Nir Eyal-Tool-2013Barack2021/02/27" Hooked "， first published in the United States in 2013。 It mainly explains how some successful products make users addicted by explaining the Hook model。Nir Eyal was born in Hadera， Israel in 1980。 Studied at Emory University and Stanford University。 Representative works: " Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products。 " etc。Table of Contents1。 The Habit Zone2。 Trigger3。 Action4。 Variable Reward5。 Investment6。 What Are You Going To Do With This？7。 Case Study: The Bible App8。 Habit Testing and Where To Look For Habit-Forming Opportunities" The evening version of my morning run had triggered a behavioral script that instructed my body to carry out my usual， run-related activities — all without mindful awareness。 Such is the nature of ingrained habits — behaviors done with little or no conscious thought — which by some estimates， guide nearly half of our daily actions。 ”In the process of evolution， organisms tend to do things in the most energy-efficient way。 So most of us the decision is actually made unconscious， without thinking， and that is why we say that ultimately shapes our life， is our habit。Deliberately use willpower to do one thing is very energy-consuming。 We can not all do so in everything， if we develop a bad habit， we will no consciousness to do it on our own harmful things， and if developing good habits， our body will Do things that are good for us unconsciously。From a single point of view， this is not a big deal。 But over time， and gradually accumulate， the gap between people arises。 Therefore， we must make use of this characteristic， consciously cultivate every little habit that is beneficial to ourselves， and get rid of every little habit that is harmful to ourselves。 This process is not easy， but when it becomes a habit in itself， we can find that our progress is getting easier and easier。“ Habits form when the brain takes a shortcut and stops actively deliberating over what to do next。 The brain quickly learns to codify behaviors that provide a solution to whatever situation it encounters。 ”A habit so that we can cents effortlessly do things， which makes us more physiological strength and spiritual， to do more difficult things。 Therefore， to measure a person's long-term development， we must see if he has good habits。There are good habits， you will be able to expend more energy to do those things more difficult。 Deliberate training is the only way to success， and deliberate training is based on a strong spiritual power。 Relying on habits to cope with daily life frees us up the energy needed for deliberate training。" Like nail-biting， many of our daily decisions are made simply because that was the way we have found resolution in the past。 The brain automatically deduces that if the decision was a good one yesterday， then it is a safe bet again today and the action becomes a routine。 ”The reason why a habit becomes a habit is that we have tried it in the past and found it to be useful， so our body will continue to act in this mode subconsciously。 And when we met something had never experienced when we will have to concentrate， carefully， weigh， in order to avoid possible risks and to maximize our own interests。Benefits habits， on the one hand， that， for us to save a lot of energy。 On the other hand， it also means that we probably will not take the initiative to seek to find new ways to solve the problem， but will always be satisfied with the last of the established path。Physical habits may be better to change because it is visible and can be changed with coercive force。 But the habit of thinking is difficult to change， because it is invisible， and it is even more difficult to change。 Addictive products actually use the power of this habit of people。 。。。more

Onyebuchi Ekejiuba ，

An eye opener for product builders。

Reza Kargar ，

از کتاب هایی هست که نمیشه با یک بار خوندن صرف، تمام مطابش را بخاطر سپرد، و سری اول که خوندیش دیکه کلیت موضوع دستت میاد هر موقع لازم شد میشه به عنوان یک مرجع و منبع خوب ازش بهره برد

Kevin Menzie ，

I know this is considered a classic book to read， but I really think this could have been a short Medium article vs。 a whole book。

Consuelo Valdes ，

As a UX designer reading this book， parts of it felt more like a dark UX patterns spell book than anything else。

Manu ，

quick， feels a bit surface but provides references to deep dive on your own。 Thanks Nir ！

Chris ，

Nir Eyal’s Hooked expands the depth of my reading and understanding of how habits are formed， with this being directly applied to products。 The other content that I have read either directly focused on building personal habits or， in the case of The Power of Habits， on a business or society。For the most part， Eyal applies the cue， routine， and reward model to engage customers again and again。 We want to create unprompted user engagement and not rely on prompts， pushes， and calls to action。 We al Nir Eyal’s Hooked expands the depth of my reading and understanding of how habits are formed， with this being directly applied to products。 The other content that I have read either directly focused on building personal habits or， in the case of The Power of Habits， on a business or society。For the most part， Eyal applies the cue， routine， and reward model to engage customers again and again。 We want to create unprompted user engagement and not rely on prompts， pushes， and calls to action。 We also want to remove any hurdles， allowing for an effortless experience that lets the customer build motivation。 Various strategies are offered as support， all of which serve as opportunities to make connections to my company’s products and how we might be better able to foster repeated use to generate successful customer outcomes。I did disagree with his fourth point。 He puts forward the idea that customers who invest time and energy have created a habit and are hooked。 His examples are Twitter in which you gather followers and Spotify in which you are delivered songs more similar to your tastes。However， he is describing switching costs， which have nothing to do with a habit。 Although he suggests that it is too painful to leave for a rival， this isn’t true; customers will stick around until a rival’s benefits outweigh the current pain of remaining a customer， and thereby they will transfer the established habits to another product。 You may have created a habit， but you aren’t “hooked” on the specific product。 。。。more

Varoon ，

Niche， actionable， study-backed claims with minimal fluff。 I’d give it 4。5 if possible。

Jan Hilado ，

This book is relevant is you own a digital product or service or software， not so much with businesses with physical products。 Still a good read though

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0