This book shows you how to tie 50 knots! Some have been chosen for their fame, some for their beauty, and some because they are knots that everyone should know how to tie. On every great theme, there are always possible variations, and, as the text makes clear, from time to time people come up with new effective methods of tying. Many of the knots featured are strongly associated with sailing, but even the saltiest of them have extensive applications on land: adhesive tape and Velcro have their uses, but they have not rendered knots redundant; no technological advance ever will.