A Natural History of Shells (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

I was swept away by the world of molluscs and found myself fascinated and informed. . . . By the end of the book I was convinced that anyone with a passion for their subject would enjoy and be educated by Vermeij's obvious passion for his. -- Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

Vermeij provides an elegantly written and beautifully illustrated account of shell construction, function, and evolution, while showing how these molluscan houses give us insights into ecology and the history of life. [It is a] book that will be treasured by scientists and lay readers alike.
(Nature )

Vermeij provides an elegantly written and beautifully illustrated account of shell construction, function, and evolution, while showing how these molluscan houses give us insights into ecology and the history of life. [It is a] book that will be treasured by scientists and lay readers alike.
(Nature )

A Natural History of Shells is 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.
(The Quarterly Review of Biology )

I was swept away by the world of molluscs and found myself fascinated and informed. . . . By the end of the book I was convinced that anyone with a passion for their subject would enjoy and be educated by Vermeij's obvious passion for his.
(Biologist ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (October 18, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 069108596X
• ISBN-13: 978-0691085968
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,424,951 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transformed my view of nature, January 5, 2005

By	Charles Wohlforth - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Natural History of Shells (Princeton Science Library) (Paperback)

Vermeij is a man who, although blind, sees the pattern and meaning behind objects in the natural world with insight that is truly transformative. Although this book is about shells, and only shells, it relates them to evolution and geography in a way that takes the read way beyond its nomitive subject matter to something that should widen the mind of any curious reader.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Review of Natural History of Shells, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

I never knew there was so much to the history of shells until I read this book. I love how the author ties in evolutionist theories throughout the book and how much shells and fossils can teach us.