If you're short on time: http://joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html http://joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html Spolsky's wo

If you're short on time: http://joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html http://joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html Spolsky's work is light and easy to read. This work is geared towards "progammers", although that is not mutually exclusive with the word "CEO". It'll help you avoid more obvious mistakes. Nielson and About Face are more thorough. I haven't read Don't Make Me Think but I've heard good things (and lots of comments here, so obviously I should read that one...)