Seashells (Hardcover)

by Josie Iselin (Author), Sandy Carlson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Artist Josie Iselin celebrates the diversity and beauty of nature with her exquisite portraits of seashells. Like her extremely popular Beach Stones and Leaves & Pods, Seashells is not a field guide but an artful and informative portrayal of a beloved part of our natural world. The book balances the exotic with the familiar, from tropical corals and rare fossils to everyday clamshells and barnacles. In her introduction and captions, marine geologist and paleontologist Sandy Carlson introduces the reader to seashells in all their variety, explaining why they look as they do. Both an art book and a contemplation of nature, Seashells combines aesthetic delight in natural things with scientific fact and philosophical wonder.

About the Author
Josie Iselin is the author of Abrams’ popular Beach Stones and Leaves & Pods. She lives in San Francisco.

Sandy Carlson is a paleontologist at the University of California, Davis. She lives in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810993279
• ISBN-13: 978-0810993273
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,676 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Biology > Marine Biology
  #8 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Fauna > Marine Life
  #13 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Nature & Wildlife

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Photographs of Shells, July 15, 2007

By	Timothy Kearney (Hull, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I was recently on vacation at a seacoast resort and every bookstore and gift shop in the area had a small book, almost a mini coffee table book, entitled SEASHELLS. The book contains both photographs and text regarding shells. Customers picked up the book, leafed through the pages and were amazed. The amazement was a reaction to the stunning photography of Jodie Iselin. The shells are arranged in a variety of settings from natural to artful and we see the grandeur and beauty of these objects that we often take for granted. The text is somewhat perfunctory, explaining the type of shell and where it can be found, but it serves more as an aid to the photographs rather than giving specific scientific information about the shells.

It's a perfect gift for anyone who loves shells, and judging from what appeared to be brisk sales, many people purchased it either as a gift for someone else or themselves, but when I purchased it, it was not as a gift. I am an amateur photographer, and I love photographing shells. It's not as easy as it looks. The shells often have rich textures which makes can make them difficult to photograph, or at least difficult to get sharp photos. For me, the book is more inspiration than anything else and while it may be a long time if ever that my photos will be even close to those in the book, it gives me something to work toward and ideas of how to arrange shells, and I'm sure come Christmas, I'll find it will be a gift idea too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book, February 10, 2008

By	Mr. Peter J. Gillett (Murwillumbah, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I needed to find a well-illustrated book on Seashells for an overseas friend. I know nothing about seashells, so I was a bit apprehensive how my first purchase with Amazon would turn out.

I need not have worried. The book was delivered within 48 hours and I was able to read it myself, before it went to Thailand with me. I was delighted with the book.

The recipient, a government Marine Biologist was thrilled.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anybody and everybody.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seashells, March 2, 2008

By	T. Malone "T. Malone" (Va.) - See all my reviews

Great photography and interesting text that is easy to read. Anyone who loves seashells will love this book. I'm so glad I got it. Well worth the price.