We oftentimes think that human inventions are an improvement on nature. In fact, many of humankind's most clever inventions have been anticipated by nature. In this book, Professor Laithwaite takes a new look at the natural world from an engineer's point of view. He questions conventional science in such fundamental topics as logic, habit, memory, simplicity, experience, absolute size, wisdom, and civilization. On the way to arriving at his conclusions, Dr. Laithwaite crosses the boundaries of engineering, biology, religion, economics, and cosmology. Filled with truly fascinating anecdotes...