ROPE How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization

It's not altogether certain, as this audiobook claims, that rope is the backbone of civilization. But it has as good a claim as the wheel, whose history has been forever linked with it. From the pyramids to the hangman's noose, rope has been an essential component of mankind's advance. Its many applications--or "strands," as they're called here--lead into a future in which metal, rather than plant fibers, bear the heaviest loads and travel the farthest distances. Narrator Timothy Andrés Pabon invites comparison to his subject for the suppleness of his articulation, the firmness of his narrative line, and, in particular, the versatility and range of his delivery overall. This highly informative and equally entertaining history offers a fresh angle on human progress. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2025]