Spirals in Time

The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells

By: Helen Scales

Narrated by: Helen Scales

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, 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.

Members of the phylum Mollusca are among the most ancient animals on the planet. Their shells provide homes for other animals, and across the ages, people have used shells not only as trinkets but also as a form of money, and as powerful symbols of sex and death, prestige and war.

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. 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.

©2015 Helen Scales (P)2023 Tantor

Fantastic book!

Absolutely fantastic book! it walks the line between easy to listen to and full of fascinating info!

Amazing

I absolutely love this book. I just started looking into marine biology as a career path, and when you start hearing about it the first thing you think of is marine mammals and fish. But this book is showing me the absolute treasure trove in our aquatic mollusk friends.

Very interesting

Apart from the cephalopods, which are big and well known, there are so many molluscs that I didn’t know anything about. This book is fantastic and very educational, and Helen written is impeccable (and I loved her voice too).