Select the Filter button from your Contact List View
You can save filters you use most with "My Saved Filter List"
Type in the "search filter fields" box to quickly find the filter you want
You can apply any number of filtering criteria for Contacts, Contact Activity, Associated Companies and Associated Deals
You can add multiple filters to your search:
Click on the & icon to change the criteria to OR
Brackets group your searching criteria together. In the example below I can search for anyone who has a "prospect" as the contact status and is in either the 25-35 or 35-50 age range.