Books about basics of Human Computer Interaction:
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (Voices That Matter) (2011)
This book covers most of the topics in psychology needed for understanding people and being able to design for them. Each of a hundred chapters in the book is based on research in the field, and there are also (several) examples of using the research outcomes in practical cases. Definitely worth reading, especially for designers!
Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition (2005)
This book shows designers how to put themselves in a position of the website visitor, and how to understand what users like to do and what they hate. Many practical examples demonstrate how to apply usability principles in webdesign, and what is the positive effect on visitors consequently.
The Design of Everyday Things (2002)
The classical title in user-centered design, industrial design and human-computer interaction literature. Don Norman explains importance of good user-friendly and usable design of technologies and demonstrates his arguments on practical examples, described in hilarious stories. The first edition of this book was written in 1988, and therefore parts of the books may seem to be outdated nowadays. However, the core ideas and principles are still relevant and could be easily applied on today's technologies. This book will change your view of technologies around you.
Interaction Design: Beyond Human - Computer Interaction (2011)
The book covers wide range of topics that go beyond human-computer interaction (HCI). Authors demonstrate usage of psychological and social aspects of users to design interactions with emphasis on user needs, requirements, and usability. Many examples help reader to understand the core principles and apply them on their own products and/or services.
Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction (5th Edition) (2009)
Ultimate reference book covering all areas of human-computer interaction (HCI) practice and research. The book also provides amount of references for further reading in all discussed topics. This book should not be missed by anybody interested in HCI - from novices to skilled professionals.
About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design (2007)
Alan Cooper is expert in interaction design and the creator of personas used by designers to model users. This book provides comprehensive overview of interaction design techniques - containing qualitative research methods, working with user scenarios and product stories, personas, user requirements, and overall design process.
Human-Computer Interaction (2003)
One of the best books covering broad field of human-computer interaction (HCI) and relevant sub-fields. This book is essential source of information especially for all newcomers in the field of HCI. Technical aspects of HCI are covered deeply enough, and in well understandable way at the same time. Nowadays some parts of the book may seem a bit outdated. However, the important ground of HCI are still relevant and well covered.
HCI Models, Theories and Frameworks: Toward a Multidisciplinary Science (2003)
The book covers many disciplines relevant to multidisciplinary field of human-computer interaction (HCI) and provides a comprehensive guide through all of them. Author addresses both technical and socio-psychological parts of HCI in understandable manner for both novices and professionals in the field.
Designing Interactions (2007)
Hefty 800-pages book by Bill Moggridge, the founder of IDEO, contains short essays about product and interaction design. These essays explain the reasoning behind the shapes and functionalities of well-known design artifacts such as the first ocmputer mouse, early Mac computers, or Google website. These examples show the reader what are the key principles leading to well-designed product.
Observing the User Experience, Second Edition: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research (2012)
Second edition of the bestseller Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research provides detailed description of user research methods in updated and extended form. The book describes most used techniques that designers use to understand their users. Extremely valuable book for those who conduct user research.