Toss out your loafers and get laced up, in whatever styles are shown here, be it crisscross, zigzag, bowtie, devil, angel, serpent or star. Polster is a mathematical juggler and magician, and his appeal is obviously based on his skill with logic as well as a very well-rounded wit. He explains the mathematics of the most popular lacings and then jumps right into one-column lacings, including the longest and shortest, the means of calculating various short lacings and variations, the longest, strongest and weakest lacings, and then sums up in the indices with the related mathematics and loose ends such as history and fashions as well as advice as lacing to suit your foot problems. The result maybe a bit over the head of those of us just learning to tie our shoes, but with careful reading and a good attitude we should have the shortest, densest, straightest shoelaces in town. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)