I just finished reading what may be the first anthology ever written by a collection of prostitutes and strippers explaining proper etiquette to their would-be clients. What a shame that it's so redundant.

I thought perhaps this book might give me a special glimpse into the world of prostitution. It did, but the view was neither racy and titillating nor as informative as I might hope.

The essays rapidly become tedious as the realization dawns on the reader that all these escorts and prostitutes and strippers and phone sex workers pretty much want the same thing. For most of them, it boils down to the one word essay written by a writer calling herself Koko: "Bathe."

The rest of the advice is so mundane ("Smile. Be friendly.") and obvious ("Don't stalk me.") that I'm left wondering what sort of person actually requires this advice and, if there is someone who didn't know that it was bad form to stalk his favorite stripper, is he literate enough to benefit from this book?

Overall, Paying For It is an interesting novelty, possibly even a very funny gag gift, but don't expect to learn much about prostitutes and strippers beyond the idea that they all want to be treated with respect.

I feel that I learned more about prostitutes from reading other books, including: Whores and Other Feminists by Jill Nagle, Tricks and Treats by Matt Sycamore, and Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry by Frederique Delacoste and Priscilla Alexander.