<p><b>A definitive and highly readable history of surfing and the cultural, political, economic, and environmental consequences of its evolution from a sport of Hawaiian kings and queens to a billion-dollar worldwide industry</b><br> <br>Despite its rebellious, outlaw reputation, or perhaps because of it, surfing occupies a central place in the American &ndash; and global &ndash; imagination, embodying the tension between romantic counterculture ideals and middle-class values, between an individualistic communion with nature and a growing commitment to commerce and technology.  In examining the enduring widespread appeal of surfing in both myth and reality, <i>The World in the Curl </i>offers a fresh angle on the remarkable rise of the sport and its influence on modern life. <br> <br>Drawing on Peter Westwick and Peter Neushul's expertise as historians of science and technology, the environment, and the Cold War, as well as decades of experience as surfers themselves, <i>The World in the Curl</i> brings alive the colorful history of surfing by drawing readers into the forces that fueled the sport's expansion: colonialism, the military-industrial complex, globalization, capitalism, environmental engineering, and race and gender roles.  In an engaging and provocative narrative history &ndash; from the spread of surfing to the United States, to the development of surf culture, to the reintroduction of women into the sport, to big wave frontiers &ndash; the authors draw an indelible portrait of surfing and surfers as actors on the global stage.</p>