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Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature

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Nature, Gardens & Animals

Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature

John George Wood

620 pages~12 hr 22 min read158 chapters$4.99
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The oar, the boat, the net, the tunnel: J. G. Wood argues that humans invented almost nothing nature had not built first. This richly illustrated Victorian classic pairs each human contrivance with its living original, from the ship's screw to the spider's snare. A delightful case that invention is imitation. See your world reflected in the wild one.

Every copy includes a printable PDF edition, a beautifully typeset book you can print, mark up in the margins, and keep on your shelf. Yours the moment you own it.

Inside this book

158 chapters

  1. 1NATURE’S TEACHINGS HUMAN INVENTION ANTICIPATED BY NATURE
  2. 2PREFACE.
  3. 3CONTENTS.
  4. 4NAUTICAL. CHAPTER I.
  5. 5The Raft.
  6. 6The Boat.
  7. 7NAUTICAL. CHAPTER II. THE OAR, THE PADDLE, AND THE SCREW.
  8. 8NAUTICAL. CHAPTER III. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—Part I.
  9. 9NAUTICAL. CHAPTER IV. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES.—Part II.
  10. 10NAUTICAL. CHAPTER V. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES. Part III.—The Boat-hook and Punt-pole.—The Life-buoy and Pontoon-raft.
  11. 11WAR AND HUNTING. CHAPTER I. THE PITFALL, THE CLUB, THE SWORD, THE SPEAR AND DAGGER.
  12. 12The Pitfall.
  13. 13The Club.
  14. 14The Sword.
  15. 15The Spear and the Dagger.
  16. 16WAR AND HUNTING. CHAPTER II. POISON, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE.—PRINCIPLE OF THE BARB.
  17. 17Animal Poisons.
  18. 18Vegetable Poisons.

+ 140 more. The full contents open with the book.

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