To be honest, this book, (although a great premise), does in no way contain the best and worst personal ads of all time, not even close - but more a collection of hundreds of repetitive Victorian era ads, about half a dozen from the twenties, and a whopping 3-4 ads written past the year 2000.If you think you might gain some insight when writing your own ad, don't count on it. This book is just an interesting glimpse at a very distant past, which is fine, but is about as honest a title as your online date showing up at the restaurant after posting pics of themselves a much attractive ten-fifteen years younger. I think you know what I mean.I would rename it: A Collection of Quaint Personals from a Past Era - because that is what this book is.