Spirals in Time - by Helen Scales (Paperback)

About the Book

A biological and cultural biography of the ubiquitous yet mystical seashell.

Book Synopsis

A biological and cultural biography of the ubiquitous yet mystical seashell.

Seashells, stretching from the deep past into the present day, are touchstones leading into fascinating realms of the natural world and cutting-edge science. In Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells, marine biologist Helen Scales shows how seashells have been sculpted by the fundamental rules of mathematics and evolution; how they gave us color, gems, food, and new medicines.

The science and natural history of shells are woven into a compelling narrative, revealing their cultural importance and the ways they have been used by humans over the millennia, even as a source of mind-bending drugs. After surviving multiple mass extinctions millions of years ago, mollusks and their shells still face an onslaught of anthropocentric challenges, including climate change and corrosive oceans. But rather than dwelling on all that is lost, Scales emphasizes that seashells offer an accessible way to reconnect people with nature, helping to bridge the gap between ourselves and the living world. Spirals in Time shows why nature matters, and reveals the hidden wonders that you can hold in the palm of your hand.

Review Quotes

"Molluscs may not seem life's most exciting phylum. But Helen Scales, a marine biologist-turned-science writer, makes an impassioned and convincing case otherwise." --The Economist

"An enchanting, accessible tour of the seashell and its place and purpose within the natural world." --Kirkus Reviews

"Scales . . . brings a marine biologist's eye and aficionado's heart to these musings on seashells . . . [Her] eclectic approach to this ancient bridge between the human and natural worlds conveys her curiosity and appreciation."" --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Helen Scales is a marine biologist who has tagged sharks in California and studied the diverse fish that live on coral reefs in the South Pacific. She is a freelance researcher and science reporter, and the author of POSEIDON'S STEED: THE STORY OF SEAHORSES, FROM MYTH TO REALITY. Scales lives in Cambridge, England.