Form and function

Britons won’t have to wait as long as expected for Steven Vogel’s look at
the mechanical worlds of nature and people, Cats’ Paws and Catapults (reviewed
in New Scientist, 4 July, p44). This excellent book that counterpoints natural
and human engineering should be on the shelves by next week. Published by W. W.
Norton, £19.95, ISBN 0393046419.