The bowline is an ancient knot. It dates so far back historians can’t even pinpoint who tied it first, but what makes it so impressive is that it’s as important and useful today as it was to mariners, ...

Let’s start with the basics: The running end is the end you manipulate. The standing end is the part you don’t manipulate. The bight is the curve between the running end and the standing end.

“Man on Wire” star Philippe Petit was welcomed by a packed auditorium for his discussion about his new book “Why Knot?” on Sunday at the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Each member of the ...