I was to young to take an interest in girls when Playboy started publishing. By the late 50s, I had an avid interest in Playboy but prudence required caution. Miscellaneous copies were a teenager's access to the centerfolds. I followed Playboy through the 60s and early 70s and always checked the centerfold first. Older, married with children I stopped following each issue and in time, lost track of Playboy's centerfolds. However, the Playboy centerfold is always part of my life. Depending on the centerfold, I am in High School, Viet Nam or a number of other places. They provide an instant mnemonic that recalls a flood of memories. Most men have the same reaction, the difference being when they started and ended checking out the centerfold.
The Playboy Centerfold has always been a "looker"! Even the one you consider a poor choice is a knockout by any reasonable standard. What is "looker" a in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond has changed. This book is a history of beauty and sexuality from the 1953 to 2007. Over fifty years of centerfolds allows you to follow the changes in hair, makeup and physical appearance. In addition, you can see how the definition of allowable nudity changed during this time. While Playboy was always on the leading edge, they never got to far ahead of public decency. That fact means that Playboy moved with America's majority on nudity.
This is a well-done book. Every centerfold from Marylyn Monroe in the 1953 unnumbered issue to December 2007 is present. This is the centerfolds, without the staples or folds. The introduction and other observations are nice and do not distract in any way. What you are buying is a photo of over 600 of the best-looking women, naked and a history of America's concept of beauty.