The Golden Thread

How Fabric Changed History

By: Kassia St. Clair

Narrated by: Helen Johns

The best-selling author of The Secret Lives of Color returns with this rollicking narrative of the 30,000-year history of fabric, briskly told through 13 charismatic episodes.

From colorful 30,000-year-old threads found on the floor of a Georgian cave to the Indian calicoes that sparked the Industrial Revolution, The Golden Thread weaves an illuminating story of human ingenuity. Design journalist Kassia St. Clair guides us through the technological advancements and cultural customs that would redefine human civilization - from the fabric that allowed mankind to achieve extraordinary things (traverse the oceans and shatter athletic records) and survive in unlikely places (outer space and the South Pole). She peoples her story with a motley cast of characters, including Xiling, the ancient Chinese empress credited with inventing silk, to Richard the Lionhearted and Bing Crosby.

Offering insights into the economic and social dimensions of clothmaking - and countering the enduring, often demeaning, association of textiles as "merely women's work" - The Golden Thread offers an alternative guide to our past, present, and future.

©2018 Kassia St. Clair (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Great book!

The history was fascinating and it’s well written. I wish he or she had gone into more specific fabrics.
The narration was great!!

Learned a lot

I appreciate all the stories that show the importance of textiles in everyday life and their impacts on society. I learned a lot about impacts that I never knew about, like how swimsuits affected competition rules for swimming.

A truly fascinating detailed account!!!

Wonderful premise that calls into question the common understanding and influence of cloth throughout human history.

So good, I'm listening to it again

Loved, it. The in depth research of textile across time and place in our history is mesmerizing.
Thank you Kassia St. Clair. I wish everyone could read this book and end this fast fashion nonsense for good.

Fascinating mixture of history and fiber/textile facts

I am a textile and apparel professor and while I knew some of the examples, I learned so much! Viking sails out of felted wool! Fascinating.

So interesting

The historical tidbits in this book are fascinating! Well told - I highly recommend for those who thrive on history!

A Fascinating nonfiction book!

The narrator told the story with elegance and the fine diction of a good storyteller.

Something we all should know!

Learn something new everyday! And this book is it ! As a sewist, knitter, and now weaver I really wanted to know some history of thread, yarn and where we came from this has been a fascinating listen, although I had to do it in small sessions it os so well researched and each section illuminating. Thank you, I know from time to time I will go back and refresh on many topics. The hardest to listen to was the cotton production and slavery, although enlightening, I have encouraged others to listen and appreciate what it is and what they are sewing on!!

Fascinating book!

Factual without being boring and the stories bring the narrative to life. Loved this book!

Even more fascinating with every sentence!

An absolute must read (or listen) for anyone interested in fiber arts, textiles, or fashion. Full of hard hitting facts and truly compelling narratives pulled from historical record, this book is an eye opening journey through human history and a timely reminder that we are all connected and have a responsibility not only to ourselves and our planet, but even more importantly each other. I cannot recommend this book enough!