The widespread adoption of nylon kernmantle ropes in the early 1960s revolutionized rock climbing—their ability to stretch nearly forty percent absorbed the energy of a fall, protecting climbers from rope injuries and opening the door to bold risk-taking. But as Tim Queeney, a sailor and practitioner of arcane skills (he teaches celestial navigation), reports in Rope, humans’ invention of cordage had a more profound impact on our path through time. Start with spears: Wrapping the sharp end with fibers made them stronger, leading to more kills, more protein, and the development of bigger brains. The chapter on rope and adventure is too brief, but that’s okay: Whether it was the Egyptian Pyramids, fishing, or cowboying, Queeney makes a convincing and fascinating argument we are who we are because of a few twists here and there.