• Part 1 Prehistory and antiquity: speculations on the first knots; about knots and swamps; ancient Egyptian rope and knots. Part 2 Non-European traditions: inuit knots; Chinese knots; the Peruvian quipus. Part 3 Working knots: rope and cordage through the ages; knots at sea; fishing knots; history of life support knots. Part 4 Towards a science of knots: studies on the behaviour of knots; topological knot theory; other knot theories. Part 5 Decorative knots and other aspects: a history of macrame; a history of lace; doilies - history and computer classification; knots in heraldry; on the true love knot. (Part contents).

"... it is a veritable compendium of information about every aspects of knots, from their links with quantum theory to attempts to measure their strength when tying climbing ropes together ... the huge scope of this book makes it one I have turned to many times, for many different purposes."New Scientists"I enjoyed browsing through all the chapters. They contain material that a mathematician would not normally come across in his work."The Mathematical Intelligencer