Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Why read Hooked?

In this book, author Nir Eyal answers questions like: “Why do some products capture our attention while others flop?” “Why do we engage with certain things out of habit?” and “Is there a pattern in how technology influences us?” His answer is the ‘Hook Model’—a four-step process that, when embedded in products, subtly encourages user behavior.

What is the Hook Model?

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 to building better products. Hooked is written for product managers, designers, marketers, start-up founders and anyone who wants to understand how products influence our behaviour. Eyal offers readers practical insights to create user habits that stick and actionable steps for building products that people love. The Hook Model is a behavioral design framework consisting of four steps that keep users coming back:

• Trigger: an internal or external cue that prompts the user to act.
• Action: the behavior performed in anticipation of a reward.
• Variable Reward: an unpredictable reward that reinforces the behavior.
• Investment: a user contribution that increases the likelihood of returning.

Eyal explains how each of these steps can be built into a product to create lasting engagement.
It’s not about manipulation—it’s about creating meaningful user habits.

Who should read this book?

Hooked is not academic theory—it’s a practical how-to guide rooted in Eyal’s experience as a startup founder. It’s a must-read for:

• Product managers who want to understand and shape user behavior.
• UX and UI designers applying behavioral psychology to product design.
• Marketers aiming for stronger engagement and retention.
• Founders who want to build sticky products from day one.

In short, anyone involved in building digital products that users return to again and again.

Practical application in product development

At GlobalOrange, we embed similar behavioral insights during our Digital Strategy Sprint. There, we translate behavioral models like Hooked into strategic product foundations. This approach helps our clients shape products that tap into real user needs. By combining the Hook Model with our proven GOdna framework and UX research, we ensure the product not only adds value but builds lasting engagement.

From insight to action: take the next step

Want to act on the insights from Hooked? Begin with a strategic foundation. In our Go-to-Market Strategy session, we map your audience, value proposition, and channels—bridging the gap between product and real-world usage.

For teams ready to move fast, our Product Discovery Workshop is a smart next step. In just two days, we co-create the blueprint for a product people truly want—and keep using.