If you looking for a good book on the fundamentals of web usability I would highly recommend "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug. Many people in the usability community consider this book as an excellent starting point to web usability.
While much of what he says is common sense and somewhat obvious. Definitely “Don’t Make Me Think" is solid book explaining web usability in layman terms.
Whether you are a newbie to usability or a veteran looking for a quick refresher course, go ahead and pick yourself up a copy.
Don’t Make Me Think: Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition