In this how-to companion to Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Steve Krug spells out an approach to usability testing that anyone can easily apply to their own web site, application, or other product. --from publisher description.

You don't see any elephants around here, do you? -- I will now saw my [lovely] assistant in half -- A morning a month, that's all we ask -- What do you test, and when do you test it? -- Recruit loosely and grade on a curve -- Find some things for them to do -- Some boring checklists -- Mind reading made easy -- Make it a spectator sport -- Debriefing 101 -- The least you can do -- The usual suspects -- Making sure life actually improves --Teleportation made easy -- Overachievers only -- Happy trails/to you.