In “Rope,” Tim Queeney makes a case for the humble material as the tie that binds human history. By Sam Kean Sam Kean is the author of seven books, including “Dinner With King Tut,” “The ...

That problem is solved by simply wearing it around your neck. On the other side, they seem to be a fashion statement. Dangling from pockets, lanyards announce various colleges and sports teams.

ROPE: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization. By Tim Queeney. St. Martin’s Press. 336 pages. $27. Counter-intuitive as it seems, a knot makes a length of rope weaker ...