A veteran piano tuner presents a literary, minimally technical view of the quixotic tuning system used on keyboard instruments for hundreds of years. The work explains temperament strategies accessibly and reflects on the technical process of piano tuning in both practical and philosophical terms.

The first edition received the Western States Book Award for creative nonfiction in 1986 and garnered praise from National Public Radio, The New York Times, and other media. The updated 2005, Unlimited Publishing edition includes new material, illustrations, index and bibliography.