From 'one of the master naturalists of our time' (American Scientist), a fascinating exploration of what seashells reveal about biology, evolution, and the history of life.

Geerat Vermeij wrote this celebration of shells to share his enthusiasm for these supremely elegant creations and what they can teach us about nature. Most popular books on shells emphasise the identification of species, but Vermeij uses shells as a way to explore major ideas in biology. How are shells built? How do they work? And how did they evolve? With lucidity and charm, the MacArthur-winning evolutionary biologist reveals how shells give us insights into the lives of animals today and in the distant geological past.

'A fascinating biological view of shells as the products of living organisms...We come to appreciate and understand the diverse wonders of economy, function and construction that can be seen in shells.' — Douglas Palmer, New Scientist

'This is a pleasingly different book. Most other popular books on shells help one to identify them. In this book Vermeij uses shells to help understand the ecology, evolution, and history of snails, clams, and other Mollusca, the phylum of animals that construct 'shells.'...This book uses both contemporary and fossil shells to explore many ideas and processes in general biology...I have been seeking this book for years.' — Quarterly Review of Biology