Exploring the Impact of Seashells on the Ocean's Ecosystem: A Look at The Sound of the Sea

Julia: Should be required reading! Covers the spectrum of worldwide information concerning many aspects related to seashells: biology, history, human cultural and medical use. Scientific research of the past and present. A real eye opener!

United States on Jun 07, 2023

Michael Molloy: Well written and highly readable - combines academic insights with relatable stories and anecdotes. Enjoyable through and through with chapters laid out upon topics ranging from explorers to shell composition to “shell mania” and others.

Loved it !

Singapore on May 21, 2023

Virginia R.: The reader was glad to read it. It pleased him, and I knew he considered it a thoughtful gift.

United States on May 07, 2023

Erica H Gies: Collecting seashells is a seemingly universal joy. Barnett taps into this elemental experience to show us how we are connected to people through time and around the world. She uses this engagement to teach us about the animals who live in the shells and their challenges, and those issues are a gateway to learning about how human activities -- such as over-harvesting and climate change -- are altering and challenging the oceans. Barnett is a beautiful writer and this tale is full of intriguing characters and amazing locales. One detail I found particularly compelling was the early 20th century hobby of building art from seashells; I did this myself as a child without even knowing it was a thing. The Sound of the Sea is from a leading science writer at the top of her game: a joy to read, while simultaneously raising troubling questions about our relationship with marine mollusks, oceans, and the planet.

United States on Dec 06, 2022

TimTim: I have always liked looking at the shells that I would find along the beach, probably more so as a child than today as an adult. And I am part of the 10% of the population that already knew that shells come from a living organism.

Cynthia Barnett's book gave me a well-informed insight to the history of Earth's seashells, more than I ever knew before. I am already aware of how the acidification of the oceans affect the shell's thinning structure. But learning about their journey through Earth's history, (over)harvesting, obvious food source, use as currency (for good and bad), souvenir hoarding, religious icon and burial use, and the shell animal's realistic concept as a source for disease cures and alternative energy resources is quite astonishing.

There is much information that Cynthia researched over the past several years, and she did a great job organizing it into the chapters of the book. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about seashells, the oceans, human culture's attachment to both, and where we need to move forward in fighting climate change as well as providing for people's well-being. She is a great advocate for all facets of...

United States on Jun 10, 2022

Robert R. Osborne: I love historical markers. I guess it’s because they make us stop for one moment. Markers help us see an event, object, or place in a new light. Beyond pointing out facts, they connect us to the past. They even show us how far we have come and sometimes even show us our future trajectory.

Cynthia’s book is a big, beautiful historical marker, dedicated to seashells, hidden in a novel. I have never really thought about these beautiful artifacts beyond my annual one-week getaways to the beach. I was embarrassed to discover how little I knew about seashells. Cynthia has a talent for weaving history, science, and people together, where you can almost feel the sand on your fingertips as your turn the pages. Most importantly, Cynthia connects us on a human level with the sea. I especially loved the story of the Shell Oil Company, which began with a seashell-souvenir selling entrepreneur.

Sound of the Sea is a book to savor. My annual trip to the beach will never be the same.

United States on Aug 08, 2021