String: Unraveling the History of a Twisted Piece of Twine »

Adam Hart-Davis is a freelance photographer, well-known broadcaster, and the author of many books. He has always been enthusiastic about string and knots, learning many of the skills from necessity while sailing, camping, and building improbable contraptions.

String gathers together every strand of information on string to weave a fantastic overview of this multi-faceted material. This book presents a captivating look at string, from its first development in prehistoric times and the ancient building of the pyramids through different cultural uses to the latest scientific applications and even touches on the "string theory." Throughout the book are practical uses of string, whether you need to secure a fishing hook or a shoelace, tie up your roast turkey, create an impressive "string figure," or simply play a game. Illustrated with over 200 2-color drawings, this quirky subject matter is embodied in the distinctive aesthetic of the book, complete with a string-tie binding.

It will surprise most readers to discover that such a simple thing as string has so many varied and interesting uses, with a special appeal across ages and culture. The seven chapters include:

• Roping Yarns: an overview of string including its long history, its varieties, and how its made

• String-a-long: shows all the many fun games and crafts and includes other intriguing facts and statistics

• Get Knotted: has step-by-step instructions that explain how to tie all the most useful knots

• Loopy Science: reveals the ingenious ways in which string has helped, or occasionally hindered, scientific discoveries

String will fascinate and inform readers on in almost every aspect of string from music and sports to science and games.