I love this book because it is full of patterns for plain coloured socks that you can actually wear inside a shoe! If you really want to knit socks for everyday wear, then I think you should consider this book. The knitting interest comes from the range of patterns and myriad heel and toe shapings that the book offers. Patterns for women predominate, though there are some for children and men (though any sock pattern is easy to adapt, once you get in to the swing of it). The patterns have all been adapted from an old 19th and 20 century knitting magazine called Weldons. My mum remembers Weldons, so I leant her my copy, and haven't seen it since.