Chapmans Guide to Knots

Knots and how they form are perplexing puzzles for mathematicians - but not for Brion Toss. For him knots are tools with logical form, learned by understanding the rules, and by using the knot. He begins with the basics - a round turn, a crossed round turn, a hitch, a loop and a bend. And moves on to splices, belays, coils, mechanical advantage, often called purchase. All with attention to why the knot behaves as it does, to the logic of its structure, and its uses - always with elegant line drawings that demonstrate each step in the knot's formation. It is a great purchase that will solve your knotty problems.

This is the best book on knots that I've seen, and I've looked at a lot of them for both Scouting and sailing. The diagrams are clear and easy to follow. The uses and limitations of each knot are also explained, making the learning much more practical.

I really enjoyed this book. I took it on a long airplane trip with a three-foot length of rope and entertained myself for hours learning the knots, what they are used for, and why they are better than other knots for particular purposes. It's probably literally true that there are 100 knots described in the book, but many are variations of a basic knot. The instructions and diagrams are easy to understand and follow, as are the history and physics of the knots. Plus the book is physically small and flexible, so it's easy to take along.