Come join our monthly Book Club! This month we're reading "Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells" by Helen Scales.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. Marine biologist Helen Scales weaves the science and natural history of shells 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.
Event Venue
Blue Planet DC, 1755 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009-6107, United States,Washington D.C.
