AI Product Psychology · Further reading

Nine Books to Thicken This Chapter

Every conclusion in this chapter has a source—the lessons only gave you the compressed cut. This section puts the originals on the shelf: nine books unpack nineteen psychology principles every PM needs, each tagged with its AI product application. Don’t grind them in order—start with the problem that hurts most right now.

How to use this list. Reading all nine cover to cover takes about three months; most PMs don’t make book two. A more practical path: pick one current product pain below—the shelf and cheat sheet light up matching books and principles; read the lit ones first. Each card footer says where to start; skip freely.
Step 1 · Pick your current pain

Tap a pain point—the shelf and cheat sheet below will shift together.

Shelf · nine books
One boundary up front. The variable rewards and investment loop in Hooked are as powerful as they are controversial. Everything in this chapter uses psychology to remove friction: make waiting less painful, align trust with ability, help users dare to use it. Using the same toolkit to manufacture anxiety and trap attention is another road—and products on that road end up fighting regulators and reputation. Read it to recognize the mechanisms; whether and how far to use them is your call.
Principle cheat sheet · nineteen, each with an AI application
Principle · sourceOne-line ruleAI product applicationRevisit
Principle-matching quiz · see the scene, name the principle
Don’t leave right after the cheat sheet. The four scenes below come from real AI product reviews; each stands on one principle from the table. If you can name it, the sheet is in your head; if not, skim once more.

What this section wants to share