Book excerpt: "Nature's Teachings: Human Invention Anticipated by Nature" by J. G. Wood John George Wood, or Reverend J. G. Wood, was an English writer who popularised natural history. In this book, he looks at many different inventions men have come up with throughout history, from those used to sail to hunting, and even art. In studying these inventions, he's able to show how, in fact, many of them were inspired by nature.