Rope - by Tim Queeney (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Queeney takes readers on a ride through the history of rope and the way it weaves itself through the story of civilization. From Magellan's world-circling ships, to the 15th-century fleet of Admiral Zheng He, to Polynesian multihulls with crab claw sails, he shows how without rope, none of their adventurous voyages and discoveries would have been possible. Time traveling, he describes the building of the pyramids, the Roman Coliseum, Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, the Sultan Hasan Mosque, the Brooklyn Bridge, and countless other constructions that would not have been possible without rope. Not content to just look at rope's past, Queeney looks at its present and possible future and how the re-invention of rope with synthetic fibers will likely provide the strength for cables to support elevators into space"--

Book Synopsis

One of Library Journal's Best Books of 2025

A unique and compelling adventure through the history of rope and its impact on civilization, in the vein of single-subject bestsellers like Salt and Cod

Tim Queeney is a sailor who knows more about rope and its importance to humankind than most. In Rope, Queeney takes readers on a ride through the history of rope and the way it weaves itself through the story of civilization. From Magellan's world-circling ships, to the 15th-century fleet of Admiral Zheng He, to Polynesian multihulls with crab claw sails, he shows how without rope, none of their adventurous voyages and discoveries would have been possible. Time traveling, he describes the building of the pyramids, the Roman Coliseum, Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, the Sultan Hasan Mosque, the Brooklyn Bridge, and countless other constructions that would not have been possible without rope.

Not content to just look at rope's past, Queeney looks at its present and possible future and how the re-invention of rope with synthetic fibers will likely provide the strength for cables to support elevators into space. Making the story of rope real for readers, Queeney tells remarkable nautical stories of his own reliance on rope at sea. Rope is history, adventure, and the story of one of the world's most common tools that has made it possible for humans to advance throughout the centuries.

Review Quotes

"Like all good books about technology, then, 'Rope' is ultimately about human beings at their best and worst."
--New York Times Book Review

"One-word book titles are a thing these days, each one signaling a deep dive into the essential everyday objects that separate us from absolute chaos ... in 'Rope, ' Tim Queeney makes the case for cordage, and as you read his book you may find yourself thinking that it's about damn time ... Writing an entertaining book that combines science and history is a whopping undertaking, and on the whole Mr. Queeney succeeds, leavening the authority of an academic with the sly banter of the office wiseguy."
--Wall Street Journal

"[Queeney's] survey of rope in human history thrums with taut, concise, sometimes cheeky storytelling ...Queeney's chronicle of rope is something more: a history of the coils of whole peoples."
--The Post & Courier

"Engaging new history of an overlooked candidate for one of man's greatest technologies."
--Washington Examiner

"A carefully researched deep dive ... Queeney covers everything, and I mean everything, about rope."
--SAIL Magazine

"Queeney makes a convincing and fascinating argument we are who we are because of a few twists here and there."
--Adventure Journal

"[Queeney] has unspooled the full scope of fiber-assisted triumphs in human progress ... Like all good books, there is something here for everyone."
--WoodenBoat Magazine

"Cleverly written ... Rope is well researched and easy to follow."
--Sea History

"Fascinating object history that spans from prehistoric times to the near future ... highly recommended."
--Library Journal, starred review

"Queeney demonstrates that a seemingly prosaic subject is anything but. Tying our planet together with cordage, he surveys the history of rope ... The next time readers hold a length of rope in their hands, it will be with heightened respect and admiration ... Not simply a history of rope, but of the coils of whole peoples."
--Kirkus Reviews

"[Queeney's] enthusiasm for the subject and wry wit are evident throughout. A good addition to the growing body of work which describes the history of ordinary objects."
--Booklist

"We all live in a worldwide web of rope, string, line, thread--call it what you will. The ties that bind us are everywhere. In this fascinating and accessible account, Tim Queeney unravels the sinuous, fifty-thousand-year old history of a material that even today is vastly more ubiquitous and important than we have ever thought to consider."
--LINCOLN PAINE, author of The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World

"I must admit, when I saw Tim's book with three hundred pages on rope, I was skeptical anyone could make this subject even marginally interesting for this many pages! I should have known better. Tim has woven together a fascinating blend of history and technology, leading us from the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the wonders of modern synthetic fibers stronger than steel. Every chapter is loaded with arcane information delivered in an engaging style. It's a great read, all three hundred pages of it!"
--NIGEL CALDER, author of Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines

About the Author

TIM QUEENEY is the editor of Ocean Navigator, a magazine for offshore voyager. Tim's work has appeared in Professional Mariner, American History, and Aviation History. He has had short stories published in the crime anthology Landfall, Best New England Crime Stories 2018 and in the speculative anthology A Land Without Mirrors. Tim live in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife and a rescue dog, Frankie. A life long sailor, he teaches celestial navigation, radar navigation and coastal piloting ashore -- where he tied plenty of knots and handled many a rope.