Pluses: For something "Made in China," it is overall, a very study, somewhat heavy, notebook that looks visually appealing. Good stitching; a sturdy metal closure; and six (6) thick rings that line up perfectly and snap shut with an audible snap, paper won't slip out between those rings! The paper is thicker than regular 3-ring notebook paper.Cons: The exterior has a vinyl-feel which I dislike and which makes me worry that it could scratch or tear easily. I am returning the notebook because the actual writing space is smaller than I expected. The actual width of the paper is 4" wide, edge to edge. However, you lose about 3/8" writing space because of the punched holes. The actual writing area is just under 3-3/4" in width, from the edge of the punched holes to the un-punched edge of the paper.Note: I ended up purchasing a much nicer looking refillable Filofax notebook for myself for about the same price. In fact, I purchased several extra Filofax notebooks for gifts because they looked a lot better than the vinyl-exterior of this notebook.