The Complete Book of Knots [Paperback]

Geoffrey Budworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

A beautifully illustrated guide to knots for home and the outdoors.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Complete Book of Knots provides easy-to-follow instructions for selecting and tying more than 100 of the most useful knots. With knots for climbing, sailing, and fishing, every knot entry contains a brief introduction to the history and development of the knot, its alternative names, and information on its uses and special features. Color illustrations guide you step-by-step through the stages of tying each knot correctly and safely. Distinctive symbols provide a condensed at-a-glance key to all the suitable uses of a particular knot from the Bowline - the king of knots - to the elegant twists of the Cat's Paw and the practical simplicity of the Cow Hitch. In addition to knot-tying techniques, the book contains a comprehensive glossary of terms to guide you through the complexities of different rope types and helps you choose the right rope for every task. (7 1/2 X 10 1/4, 160 pages, photos, color illustrations, charts, icons)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558216324
• ISBN-13: 978-1558216327
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Excursion Guides
  • #82 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Instructional

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A knot-tyers reference for most popular and some rarer knots, May 28, 1998

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Knots (Paperback)

Geoffrey Budworth's book is mistitled "complete" but does not miss the mark for this knot-tyer. "Knots" has a very clear layout, excellent graphics, and is supported by clear and concise descriptions, including some invaluable history. It doesn't miss a beat of the essential information for beginners and masters of the art alike. It certainly does not contain every knot known, but it is complete in the sense that every useful, most of the decorative, and certainly all of the essential knots have been included for all knot-tyers, be they climber, sailor, caver, angler, outdoorsman, indoorsman or scout. Geoffrey distinguishes between them all very nicely with a graphic tab that can easily be located. A great buy and well worth the small investment.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice introduction to the world of knots..., February 24, 2001

By 

Laura Haggarty (Northern KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Knots (Paperback)

I bought this book for my husband for Christmas, and we've both come to like it very much. Neither of us are "knot aficionados", as it were, but wanted a book which would allow us to explore some knots we might need in our outdoor activities (horseback riding, camping, sailing, etc.) As the beginners at knotmaking we are, this book has proven to be excellent for us.

At the very beginning the book has a directory of the knots contained, listed by name, page number, application (sailing, caving, climbing, and so on), and description. In the introduction the book covers a number of topics: knotlore; terms, tips, and techniques; ends; and tips on using the book. In the main part of the book, each knot has a small photo of a finished knot, an explanation of the application of the knot, numerous diagrams showing the knot being tied, a description of the tying of the knot, and a brief history of the knot itself.

I really don't understand why some of the other reviewers feel so strongly about this book, as a neophyte to the world of knots, I found it more than adequate, and it served my needs well. And I find my husband returning to it again and again, as he slowly falls under the spell of knots, well on his way to becoming a true knot geek. If you're a beginner looking for a practical guide to knotmaking, this book will suit you well.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not "Complete" but extremely useful and usable, August 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Knots (Paperback)

This book is very well put together. Knots are categorized by use: boating, outdoors, climbing, fishing and home. There is a handy chart at the beginning indicating the best use of each knot in the book. Each knot is illustrated with diagrams. These are generally clear though a couple were difficult to figure out. I have learned a lot from this book and heartily recommend it.