Seashells of the World: A Guide to the Better-Known Species

My family goes to the beach every year and we always collect a ton of shells. I wanted a book that wouldn't take up much room in the luggage and would be easy to carry on the beach. This book was a great price (especially compared to others!) and had pictures and information of every shell we could find! It was great, I definitely recommend!

I have always loved seashells and this book helped me to identify them. Because of this book I have a HUGE collection of all kinds of seashells!

When I was 12 years old our family went on vacation to Folly Island South Carolina. I had been a shell enthusiast since I was in diapers and we got to stay in a beach house owned by my uncle. I was in heaven! I grew up in the northeast and had never seen any of the shells that seemed to be common place there. Unfortunately, up to then I had never owned a book on shells and knew little about them or even what to call most of them. On my second day there my aunt gave me a little book with shells on the cover. I opened it up and it opened a whole new world for me. I was mesmerized. I now had a source of information about my favorite pastime. I looked up and found each and every shell I had found and even learned how to clean and take care of them like a professional. That book was Seashells of the World. Thirty years later I now have thousands of shells and hundreds of books on shells, many of them quite advanced but to this day that little book is my favorite by far. I have worn out my tenth copy and never go anywhere without a copy. It is perfect for all ages from toddler to adult.

Yes it's way out of date. Yes the super rare shells listed in the book are often no longer even mildly rare. Yes it is drawings only. Sigh. But this is the book that got me and all too many others hooked into this area. 30 years later I still love the hobby. Give it to a child and watch him/her grow.

As a teacher I used this book for the first time with Elementary school children. Who love it and find it easy to use. They actually get excited about Seashells! I am going to buy more copies for each child in my class! I always wondered about the names and classifications of many of the shells that I have found along the Florida Coast, and now I know!!!