It's easy to tell by looking through a book if it is what you like or not before you buy it. If I buy online I read all the reviews. The best reviews are on quilting blogs and this board. Connecting Threads has previews of all the quilts in the books sold there. I buy quilt books for the construction method or new use of rulers not so much for patterns. I love EQ 7. I can draft any quilt block pattern from a picture of a quilt. Anyone can construct a quilt using computer software. The new software is so easy to use. Have you seen the kid's design software programs out now? Amazing. Start with the basic birdhouse and go to elaborate forts and tree houses to space stations. LOL.