Whistling has been used for work, entertainment, self-expression and communication, including secret communication. A Brief History of Whistling is the first popular book to examine whistling in all its forms, exploring folk traditions, music hall, the whistling villages and tribes in other countries, and the different varieties of whistling. The book attempts to answer the question of how exactly you do whistle, which is more complicated than 'just put your lips together and blow,' as Lauren Bacall said to Humphrey Bogart. Yes, whistling can also be to do with sex. It also appears throughout literature, from Homer to DH Lawrence. The book is richly illustrated with folk customs, sayings, and the astounding number of practical uses for whistling.