For those times I pull my shoulder-length hair back, I wanted some styling ideas more sophisticated than a ponytail. This book provided what I was looking for. I'm only giving it 4 stars because some of the styles are dated (but perfect if you're seeking a retro look), and some of them are either time-consuming or difficult to execute. However, there were enough gems (easy-to-do in a reasonable amount of time) to make me happy. The instructions are generally clear, and the pictures illustrate them well.