Why do some products make the leap to greatness while others don't?
Creating inspiring products begins with discovering a product that is ... read full description
reviews
Jan 26, 2012
Adam
rated it: 
"Inspired" is a well-written, thorough, and down-to-earth work covering all aspects of product management at software companies.
To paraphrase/summarize: the job of the product manager is to discover a product that is useful, feasible, and valuable. They do this through understanding users and potential users in detail and evaluating opportunities to solve problems for those users. Once an opportunity is identified, they create a prototype, validate the prototype with users, More...
To paraphrase/summarize: the job of the product manager is to discover a product that is useful, feasible, and valuable. They do this through understanding users and potential users in detail and evaluating opportunities to solve problems for those users. Once an opportunity is identified, they create a prototype, validate the prototype with users, More...
Dec 30, 2009
Adam
rated it: 
I really enjoyed this and thought it was probably one of the best product management books that I have picked up in some time.
Among my likes were that it was concise and easy to read and it had a focus on software development, as opposed to hardware or general technology, which most product management texts tend to have. I thought that most of Marty's points were very good; in fact, it is hard to read this book without looking back at your own organization and taking notes on past m More...
Among my likes were that it was concise and easy to read and it had a focus on software development, as opposed to hardware or general technology, which most product management texts tend to have. I thought that most of Marty's points were very good; in fact, it is hard to read this book without looking back at your own organization and taking notes on past m More...
Oct 02, 2011
Johan
rated it:
This book is great reading for any product manager both the experienced but also (especially) one new to the profession.
I really like all parts of the book and how Marthy Cagan explains the different roles that usually are needed to ship a great product and how failing to assign a person to each role and/or giving the same person (usually the product manager) to many roles will have a very negative impact to the success of the product.
I also enjoyed how the author stress the More...
I really like all parts of the book and how Marthy Cagan explains the different roles that usually are needed to ship a great product and how failing to assign a person to each role and/or giving the same person (usually the product manager) to many roles will have a very negative impact to the success of the product.
I also enjoyed how the author stress the More...
Feb 26, 2011
Forrest
rated it:
I’ve worked with one or two outstanding product managers over the years, and a whole bunch of mediocre ones. Unfortunately, most of my practical knowledge of the field comes from the latter group. That’s why Inspired was such a fantastic revelation for me. Writing with the voice of experience in a direct, honest manner, Marty Cagan cuts straight to the heart of where those mediocre managers went wrong and why the good ones are so successful.
In addition to the excellent breakdown of rol More...
In addition to the excellent breakdown of rol More...
Jan 03, 2011
Dan
rated it:
A good cursory look at the importance of product management (how to get a software product from idea to implementation). The books is a general outline of the Product Management role at various companies with some discussion of tangent roles and the different practices and techniques used to successfully manage product creation. Worth a read for anyone engaged in product investigation, product marketing, product engineering or usability and interactive design.
Jun 08, 2011
Lindsey
rated it:
A great overview of the product manager role in modern software development companies. It leads off with a solid case for why you would want to add this position into a software team. The heart of the book are the middle chapters that supply the what and the how, giving a smart guide to all of the areas that a PM could or should spend time and attention on. The last few chapters are quick hits of the author's lessons learned over the years.
Dec 02, 2010
Liz
rated it:
All the info (and some new logic / rationale) that you should know of a PM...but a good reminder since it's all in one easy-to-read book. I wish more executive leadership (product management, C-level people, and Engineering executives) of big and small companies, would actually read this, too.
Sep 21, 2011
Simone
rated it:
Though I think Cagan's advice is best for more structured environments (and not for startups, which is where I'm trying to figure in some product management), Inspired did give me a bunch of ideas to work with. Cagan's advice is CERTAINLY more useful than the more old fashioned stuff taught to me in business school, so I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick look at some useful product management practices.
Apr 24, 2011
Robert
rated it:
Great book. I loved it. I had my whole team buy it. It does a great job of simplifying and affirming the important aspects of Product Creation.
I got many great nuggets of information out of this, that we are using to transform our performance.
I got many great nuggets of information out of this, that we are using to transform our performance.
Mar 01, 2009
John
rated it:
Great book on how to be a good product manager. Has a lot of good points on how to figure out what to build, and how to build it with minimal cost & risk by making sure it's what people will want to use.
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Dec 10, 2010
Harish
rated it:
I was seeking out books that would help explain the product craft, and this hit the mark for its great overview of product management-- what it entails, who can do it, and how to do it well. It's a great foundational read-- nothing too advanced or revolutionary, but valuable for providing a nice, thorough explanation of PM.
Jun 19, 2011
Igor
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How to be a good product manager, what to do, how to do, how to create a good products. Mostly about developing consumer Internet services, but not at all.
May 01, 2011
Andrew
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Although I'm not a subject matter expert here, I would think this would be required reading for anyone interested in product design and development in the software industry.
Apr 21, 2011
Cliff
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A great book that lays out many of the fundamental needs of Product Management and Design for any consumer or B2B product.
May 30, 2010
Ilia
rated it:
If you are a product manager or aspire to be - read this book.
If you've ever had any role in a development organization, even a non-product one, you will have a lot to learn. Reading this book it's impossible not to come away with lots of ideas for what you should be doing better, and recognizing many past mistakes.
Product discovery was for me a big revelation. We were already doing it, kind of, but no-one was aware of it as a separate activity. It was very enlightenin More...
If you've ever had any role in a development organization, even a non-product one, you will have a lot to learn. Reading this book it's impossible not to come away with lots of ideas for what you should be doing better, and recognizing many past mistakes.
Product discovery was for me a big revelation. We were already doing it, kind of, but no-one was aware of it as a separate activity. It was very enlightenin More...
Jun 14, 2009
great book on product management. attention product managers: read this
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Jun 28, 2009
Great book. Give great information on details of Product Management.
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Oct 30, 2011
April
rated it:
It's logical, explanatory, and just a really interesting and useful read.
Dec 09, 2010
A friend loaned this to me, and was excited that I would read it, but not before calling me "the laziest smart person he knew"
Now, months later, I'm starting ;p
Now, months later, I'm starting ;p
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