Why Knot? How to Tie More Than Sixty Ingenious, Useful, Beautiful, Lifesaving, and Secure Knots!

by Philippe Petit

"Mr. Petit is the perfect teacher" in this fascinating, educational volume on knot-tying--an art and science that has held civilization together ( The Wall Street Journal ).

Philippe Petit is known for his astounding feat of daring when, on August 7, 1974, he stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City. But beyond his balance, courage, and showmanship, there was one thing Petit had to be absolutely certain of--his knots. Without the confidence that his knots would hold, he never would have left the ground. In fact, while most of us don't think about them beyond tying our shoelaces, the humble knot is crucial in countless contexts, from sailing to sports to industrial safety to art, agriculture, and more.

In this truly unique book, Petit offers a guide to tying over sixty of his essential knots, with practical sketches illustrating his methods and clear tying instructions. Filled with photos in which special knots were used during spectacular high-wire walks, quirky knot trivia, personal anecdotes, helpful tips, magic tricks, and special tying challenges, Why Knot? will entertain and educate readers of all ages.

"In reading Philippe's book we are cogently reminded that without the ability to secure a rope, or tether a goat, or make fast the sheets of a galley, much of the civilization that we take for granted would disappear as easily as a slipknot in the hands of a Vegas conjuror." --Sting, musician and activist

"His descriptions are clear, he deploys humor frequently and he makes his points with anecdotes that are colorful and memorable. Explaining the purpose and creation of knots and thanks to those flawless drawings Mr. Petit earns perfect marks." -- The Wall Street Journal

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, How To, History

272 pages, Unknown Binding

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Philippe Petit became famous in August 1974 for his high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. His walk is known as the "artistic crime of the century". Petit has performed high-wire walks around the world, and a 2008 documentary based on his adventure, Man on Wire, won numerous awards and critical praise.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read this, leave yourself plenty of time to try all the exercises and learn what the best knots are good for

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

541 - 2020

Supaya ingat, tidak perlu dihafal, tapi perlu dipraktekkan.

Jadi ingat masa-masa pramuka... ilmu ini termasuk yang memudar dari ingatan sejalan dengan bertambahnya umur... dan karena jarang dipakai sehari-hari... paling-paling bikin simpul mati biasa...

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I wish I could give half stars, this is 3.5.

Lots of fun, and it really did make me lightly obsessed with knots and knotting for a few weeks.

My husband LOVED this book. LOVED IT.

http://blogs.slj.com/adult4teen/2013/...

[Gabriel Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning how to tie knots and how they can be used. I have collected 30 books about knots and “Why Knot?” provides by far the clearest explanation on how to tie knots. On top of that, this book is fun to read! Petit shares a part of his life with us and really engages the reader, through stories and instruction, to the point it feels like I am having a conversation with the man himself. No other book of knots has captivated me like this except for the knot Bible “Ashley’s Book of Knots” which, sadly, falls terribly short compared to “why knot?” in terms of clarity of instruction (perhaps the newest editions are more clear?).

1,000% 10/10 recommended. Thanks, Petit!

[Don Gubler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am greatly fascinated by knots and their uses. This is the best of the many books I’ve read. There is also the exciting high-wire back story. Good illustrations and clear instructions. Covers the most useful knots without overwhelming you with esoterica or vast quantities. It does not cover decorative knots but does cover a little magic and slight of hand. If I were to recommend one book on the subject this would be it. I started with the Kindle version on a promotion. After a little frustration I bought the real book and it is far superior. Even includes a cord for practice.

[Andrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book, nice illustrations and clean explanations.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regularly reread

[Andrew Skretvedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a rigging educator, and quite well accomplished, so one can have some assurance that the knots presented are reliable performers.

I am no expert on knots, just an aficionado. Compared with other knot books I've read recently or own, the knots in this book seem a little dated or the advice seems at first glance dubious. For example, he recommends a multiple rolling hitch for gripping an object like a pipe or slippery pole for a lengthwise pull. Perhaps I ought to make some comparisons, but I like the newer icicle hitch for this purpose instead. I've tried the icicle on smooth lacquered poles which taper to a point, and dang if I wasn't astonished that it held fast and well. Nonetheless, I'm sure the not-so-fancy multiple rolling hitch presented here is likely to be equivalently reliable for that sort of work.

Interestingly, I note the much maligned clove hitch is all over the place in this book and the author appears not to fear it. I don't think I ever saw it by itself without some additional securing evolution, but nevertheless that seems to run counter to my understanding of modern knot tying trends. Everywhere else where I've seen the clove, it came with a stern admonishment to always be wary of it and never trust it with your life. Cases are documented where simple clove hitches undid themselves under strain and got people hurt or killed.

Nevertheless, this guy walked a tight-rope across the top of the World Trade Center towers, and does all his own rigging. He clearly knows exactly what he's doing! I would trust the advice he gives in these pages.

The book is also peppered everywhere with knotting and rigging anecdotes and borderline whimsical autobiographical vignettes. The book's cover is novel and rugged, the binding very sturdy, and the page design is also very clever, my compliments to the publishing team. This book's construction means it will survive to become an heirloom family reference treasure! It's a fun little book, and you'll learn something useful!

[Wink · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW TO TIE MORE THAN 60 USEFUL AND BEAUTIFUL KNOTS

Why Knot?
by Philippe Petit
Abrams Image
2013, 256 pages, 5.5 x 7.1 x 1.5
$16 Buy a copy on Amazon

When Man on Wire tightrope performer Philippe Petit dances from the top of one high-rise building to another (as he did between the Twin Towers in 1974), it’s not only his incredible balance that keeps him from falling a hundred or so floors down to the pavement below. Each performance also requires different types of knots, depending on the stunts and props of the day, to keep him alive. Lucky for Petit, he has extensive knowledge in knotting that started at the age of six.

I’ve never been a knot person myself, but was drawn to Petit’s new book, Why Knot?, by its neat and simple illustrations, easy-to-follow instructions of over sixty knots, and the irresistible red shiny rope that the book includes to get you started. But more than that, Petit weaves historical knotting tales and his own personal anecdotes throughout the pages with a passion that is both compelling and infectious. Whether you want to learn knots secure enough to save a life or to simply keep a shoelace from untying, Why Knot? teaches you a useful craft while it amuses and entertains. – Carla Sinclair

[High Plains Library District · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be the best book on knots ever, of all time. Which is to be expected. After all, Petit depends on them to preserve his life, which you might have noticed during his 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center.

What's perhaps unexpected is how thoughtful this book is and how carefully it was put together.

Petit specifically designed the book so it would lay flat while you worked on the knots inside. He personally created the diagrams and went over them time and again to make sure they were right and that the directions made sense. Apparently in the world of knot books, accuracy is a less-than-coveted quality. Which is weird when one considers how important a knot could be (which this book also does, brilliantly, in the introduction).

Seek this book out, even if you're not looking to get all...TIED up in the subject.

See what I did there? I'm pretty proud of that.

-Peter

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! While I see other children playing mindless games on iPhones, I can't get this book (and the cord that came with it) out of my son's hands. He has informed me that Petit's method for tying a square knot is superior to the Cub Scout method, and faster as well. This is an amusing yet practical read. After all, Petit's life often depends upon the right knot in the right place at the right time! Highly recommend this for kids with too much time on their hands, and those with a sense of adventure, as well as adults who never mastered knot-tying.

[Keith Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most lively, interesting, and useful book on knots that I've seen. Petit's illustrations and instructions are very clear and easy to follow, and his discussion of the proper uses of each knot is useful. I learned several new techniques and generalizations, along with a handful of useful new (to me) knots, and I will never again use the ubiquitous but useless square knot. My biggest surprise is that the tautline hitch (my most-used and most useful knot) is mentioned only in passing.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. It even includes a little red piece of rope to practice the knots. I learned a couple that I will try to use sometime. I liked it very much.

[Hom Sack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book to learn how to tie knots but there is enough interesting information here on the subject. The 40 inch red string that comes with the book is not very useful.

[Sarah S · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll want a piece of rope to follow the pictures as you go through the book. Easy to follow illustrations.

I borrowed this from the library twice - I need to buy this book for camping!