Customer Reviews

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This excellent guide has unique detailed information on seashells found on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America as well as well as the West Indies. A picture paints a thousand words, not to mention a fully coloured photograph of each of the 705 different species of seashells or living mollusk. In addition to these detailed photographs, the author of the book managed to include original and useful information on every seashell, revealing how each seashell is unique. Some of these information cannot be found in any other book, making this book essential to every seashell collector. 671 seashells are covered in full detail with notes provided on 200 others. This amazing book consists of 896 pages of detailed photographs and extensive text showing the great diversity of American seashells. To be a qualified seashell collector, you have got to get this book! Don't wait any longer, purchase the book from Amazon!

The Audubon Guide to Seashells is one of the best known and most reliable field references. Whether beachcombing, snorkeling over a reef, or searching a tidepool, this guide will come in handy for all those locations. Many seashells are listed in this guide, coming out at more than 600 in all. The shells are a feast for the eyes, coming in all shapes, colors, and patterns. The best and most admirable family covered are the Limpets. From dull green to stunning black and white striped, this is the most detailed and beautiful family listed in the book. Cone snails are also covered very well. The main question here is: Why does the book have negative ratings? Flipping to the back for details may be tiresome for lazy readers. There is nothing unprofessional about the book in any way. It VERY professional and a good recommendation.

This book does an unusually fine job of including lots of info without becoming too bulky and cumbersome to carry in the field. Photos of the 700+ specimens measure a compact 3.5 X 2 inches. Most show front and back of the shell, a big help since they differ so much. Sometimes if a species varies a lot there are multiple specimens. Write-ups of species are on much thinner paper than the photos, helping to keep the book's size down. They include 1) detailed descriptions pointing out both variations and consistencies from one shell to another of that species, 2) a short note on habitat, 3) another on range 4) and sometimes added info that doesn't fit into those categories. I bought this book to identify three shells I saw in California. Two of them were in it. This is a great little book that I wouldn't want to be without.

I like to photograph beach objects and was looking for a book to identify them. This is an excellent source. It is well organized and the photographs are excellent.

As with all the Audubon Field Guides, so too with this one. The color plates are the best in the "field" of field guides; these photos are indispensable for any beachcomber or shell collector.

The durable leatherette cover and heavy duty book binding make this a book that can stand up to alot of wear and tear.

The descriptive information is generally good; where the text starts to show deficiencies is in the range, habitat, and summary sections of each shell. The information is vague and merely glosses over critical facts that should be included. I can only assume it's the usual story of not enough space for the editors to include more relevant information.

The index is cross referenced to the color plates; this is a big plus when in the field trying to do identifications. Pretty straight forward as far as using this as a tool to increase one's knowledge.

All in all, this book is very helpful and deserves a place in any beachcomber's library.

The Cloud Reckoner

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

This is a real field guide, complete with tough plastic binding, but also a great reference book. I love the thumb tabs that use 24 silhouettes to group like-shaped shells. That feature alone gives this field guide top points in my experience. It's so easy to find any one of the approximately 700 North American Shells featured. But there's more, of course. Any shell enthusiast will appreciate the Audubon Society's expository texts on shells throughout history, the Phylum Moluslusca and its Classes, scientific and common names, illustrated descriptions of parts of shells, their orientations, all the basics, plus good, in-depth descriptive material on each shell including habitat and range. The appendices include a guide to shell collecting, cleaning, labeling, storing and conserving, a glossary, and an index that lets you check off the shells you have seen as well as the page numbers for their color plates and descriptive texts. A fine go-to book.

Book is Great! Perfect to take with you anywhere on any coast of North America if you are hunting for seashells. Nice and small size. Compact. Very thick book packed with so many seashells all found throughout North America. Full color, crisp and clear photographs with accompanying information for each and every shell. I would strongly advise to take this guide along with you when you go shelling. It is very helpful. It is a field guide that shows you clearly what you are looking for, where to find it, or what you have found. It explains everything-how deep in the water, where on the beach,and how large it grows. Just a perfect guide. The best guide there is I think.

I buy the Audubon books for my young son and I. We both enjoy using them often when we've spotted an animal, plant, insect or just about anything that we want to identify. Many times I have spotted my son with his nose buried in our old book searching for a picture to match a bug he has found. We both also agree that we like the layout of our older Audubon book where the picture and the information on that picture are on the same page. Much quicker than the new book layout where you must find a connecting page to read about your subject.

Lets say you are into collecting shells but you do not know anything about what you have. Well this book is perfect for you!!!
Buy all the National Audubon Society Field Guides!!! Worth every cent!!!

I am using this book to write a blog with my personal seashell photography and needed help in identifying my shells. It includes shells from the east and west coast of the US and contains lots of scientific and useful information along with the numerous pictures. The book is well made and I recommend it.