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 emphasize 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.