A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions

by Thom van Dooren

Following the trails of Hawai‘i’s snails to explore the simultaneously biological and cultural significance of extinction.

In this time of extinctions, the humble snail rarely gets a mention. And yet snails are disappearing faster than any other species. In A World in a Shell , Thom van Dooren offers a collection of snail stories from Hawai‘i—once home to more than 750 species of land snails, almost two-thirds of which are now gone. Following snail trails through forests, laboratories, museums, and even a military training facility, and meeting with scientists and Native Hawaiians, van Dooren explores ongoing processes of ecological and cultural loss as they are woven through with possibilities for hope, care, mourning, and resilience.

Van Dooren recounts the fascinating history of snail decline in the Hawaiian from deforestation for agriculture, timber, and more, through the nineteenth century shell collecting mania of missionary settlers, and on to the contemporary impacts of introduced predators. Along the way he asks how both snail loss and conservation efforts have been tangled up with larger processes of colonization, militarization, and globalization. These snail stories provide a potent window into ongoing global process of environmental and cultural change, including the largely unnoticed disappearance of countless snails, insects, and other less charismatic species. Ultimately, van Dooren seeks to cultivate a sense of wonder and appreciation for our damaged planet, revealing the world of possibilities and relationships that lies coiled within a snail’s shell.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

In telling snail stories, this book aims to cultivate an appreciation for these animals and the significance of their loss: to draw us into their remarkable miniature worlds, and then out beyond them into an expansive engagement with the many ways in which snails craft and share these worlds with others. This book is about snails’ modes of perceiving and interpreting the world, from their slime-centered navigation to their social and reproductive proclivities; the immense journeys that brought them across oceans to these islands; the histories and ongoing practices of learning and knowledgemaking about our world that they have been part of; their intimate relationships with Kānaka Maoli as expressed in chants, songs, and stories, but also in ongoing struggles for land and culture. In short, it is a book about the world of possibilities and relationships that lies coiled within each of their tiny shells.

Snails are said to be “sentinel species” — those sensitive canary-in-a-coal-mine critters that can give warnings about how the earth is changing if we would only pay attention — and despite the fact that snails worldwide are experiencing a mass extinction event, being “non-charismatic” animals makes it hard to get people to care about their fates. As a self-described “field philosopher”, author Thom van Dooren brings us along as he explores the Hawaiian Islands (once home to upwards of 1000 endemic snail species, today only 300 of those species exist, with just 11 listed as “stable”), and as he shares the science, history, and modern day conservation efforts related to Hawaiian snails, van Dooren makes the case for why we should care about their extinction. A World in a Shell ticks a lot of boxes for me — I loved the accessible science and vivid travel writing; the historical perspective; the focus on animals and indigenous peoples — and while I have little to complain about what van Dooren has included here, I do wish there had been more philosophy from this field philosopher: I ended this book with an even greater appreciation for snails and their ways of being but would still be hard-pressed to explain why they have a right to exist beyond acknowledging that every living thing on earth has a right to exist. Still, I enjoyed what is here very much and join the author in his mournful hope for the snails’ future. (Note: I read an ARC through NetGalley and passages quoted may not be in their final forms.)

The more I explored the history of shell collecting in Hawai‘i, the more difficult it became to separate it from the larger story of European and American presence in these islands, one in which Hawai‘i today remains a nation under US occupation, subject to the accompanying and ongoing social and cultural processes of settler colonialism.

I suppose it’s not surprising that, as with everywhere else they colonised, the Hawaiian Islands were decimated by contact with European (and later, American) settlers: not only was the indigenous Hawaiian population reduced by 90% by 1850 (mostly due to disease), but settlers cleared the land for grazing livestock and sugar/pineapple plantations, putting pressure on the snails’ forest homes from the very beginning. The mid-Nineteenth Century also brought about “conchological fever” which saw folks (primarily Christian Missionary families) engaging in competitive snail shell collecting as a wholesome exercise, with some collectors amassing tens and hundreds of thousands of specimens. Van Dooren also shares that the giant African snail was introduced to Hawai’i in 1936 (wikipedia tells me it was brought to the islands “as a garden ornamental and to be eaten”), but when its escaped population grew out of control and threatened agricultural interests, its natural enemy the predatory rosy wolfsnail was loosed upon the wild — where it proceeded to eliminate the smaller and easier to catch native snail species. Today, several wild snail populations are protected within “exclosures” that are designed to keep out these carnivorous wolfsnails (along with non-native rats and chameleons). Many of the threatened species have small populations kept safe in local laboratories (what van Dooren refers to as “arks”), and interesting moral questions arise about when it’s permissible to take the last of a species out of the wild. Perhaps the most unnatural threat to the snails has been the massive military presence that ramped up on the Hawaiian Islands since WWII.

The sad and entirely illogical result of this situation is that your best chance of survival as an endangered snail in Hawai‘i is to be a member of a species that is being, or has been, routinely blown up by the US military.

Nearly one-third of America’s listed endangered species are found in Hawai’i, but less than 10% of the allocated federal funding goes towards their conservation. And as van Dooren writes, “Parts of these islands are among the most heavily militarized locations on the planet: O‘ahu alone is home to seven major military bases and around 50,000 active-duty personnel.” After decades of live fire and bombing practise, with untold numbers of snail species wiped out with their exploded and burnt out forest homes, pressure from conservationists and indigenous Hawaiians has forced these military bases to not only end the destructive training exercises but to take responsibility for finding and preserving the last remaining wild snail populations on their properties, from their own operating budgets. I found everything about this fascinating.

The following pretty much sums up van Dooren’s philosophy on why snails, and their continuing existence, matter:

In diverse and unequal ways, we are all at stake in extinction. It threatens the ecosystems that sustain us, the cultures and systems of both meaning and mystery that animate our lives, and, in the indifference of so many of our responses to it, extinction also wounds and threatens our humanity. As extinction remakes lives, landscapes, and possibilities, it forces us to ask: Who are we and whom might we become when species disappear?

I became enchanted with gastropods when I read The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating — author Elisabeth Tova Bailey was able to make me care about snails in general by introducing me to the quirks of one individual — but although van Dooren scales everything up (at least 450 Hawaiian snails species have gone irretrievably extinct in the past 100 years; the vast majority of invertebrates worldwide have not even been named and disappear without our notice), I found myself not much more devastated by their fate than I was by that of the Devils Hole pupfish as described by Elizabeth Kolbert in Under a White Sky (a species reduced to fifty or so minnow-sized fish living in a cavern in the Nevada desert). And I can acknowledge that my lack of devastation reflects poorly on my own humanity, and I can honestly say that I believe every species does have a right to existence, and where possible, our protection to continue that existence, but I guess it’s the fact that I haven’t been persuaded into devastation that The World in a Shell felt light on philosophy. But again, what is here makes for a very good read.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to find a book that answers questions that I have never even thought to ask. I knew nothing about snail extinction in Hawaii, for a matter of fact I knew very little about snails in general. So I was intrigued when I found a whole book about this topic. And my curiosity was amply satisfied. Snails turned out to be fascinating creatures, moreover, they serve as a pretext for wider reflection on evolution, colonialism, and our place in the natural world.

The author, an environmental philosopher, or a field philosopher, as he prefers to think of himself, is a wonderful guide to this disappearing world. His style is poetic, his openness and empathy boundless.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes modern nature writing and/or is interested in evolutionary biology.

Thanks to the publisher, MIT Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Queer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two tentacles up!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
I really tried, but there's no way I'm getting through this. At first I was excited, and everything was interesting, but after a while it felt repetitive and dry. If you're not ready to memorize all the Latin names for various snail-species, it's going to be a hard read, as these will be mentioned constantly, and only rarely by their common names. The writing in itself is also slightly dry and not very smooth.
Although the topic is both interesting and important, and we generally could use more awareness on such things, this was sadly not for me.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always great when scientific data like this is presented in an easy-to-access way. The story of the Hawaiian snails and their struggles for survival in an ever changing ecosystem due to invasive species is eye opening - as I never could have imagined the severity of it without this kind of background "story telling". The prose is simple but flows well and the author's voice comes off as genuine and compelling.

[Megan Sager · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ If I see a wolfsnail, it’s on sight 🤺

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions is a layman accessible examination of the impact of invasive species, loss of habitat, and climate change told through the lens of the snails of Hawaii, written and presented by Dr. Thom van Dooren. Released 13th Sept 2022 by MIT Press, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Although written in language that an average reader can easily access and understand, this is a meticulously researched and annotated book. The chapter notes and bibliography alone are quite honestly worth the price of admission. Additionally, the book itself is very well written and interesting (and quite sobering). The ecosystem is changing and is poised on a knife edge. Habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species have all contributed to a bleak present-day. Much of the book describes academic discussions not about *what* is happening, so much as *why* species are failing to thrive or disappearing altogether. Scientists universally acknowledge what is going on but research is still out as to what can potentially be done to counteract or mitigate some of the effects.

It's a sobering, but ultimately very interesting book. Highly recommended for fans of nature writing. There are so few new books on terrestrial gastropods that any new addition to the malacological literature is an event.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[R.Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thom van Dooren is a philosopher who goes way beyond his calling in tackling the writing of this book. "A World in a Shell" is the fascinating tale of life, death, and the extinction of snails in Hawaii. The author goes into depth outlining the history and settlement of the islands, the fight to maintain native culture during colonization, and the extensive role that the military has played in it all. The desperate attempts to save the last of the snails from invasive species such as the large Wolf Snail and the rats, both of which gobble up ground snails and tree snails, entail trial-and-error protected outdoor enclosures as well as time-intensive indoor tubs in museums for those that are the last of their species. Tens of thousands of snail shells are held in museums around the world including in Hawaii, and these often lose their lustrous colors in storage. They must be held in temperature-and-humidity-controlled environments, but even so, the information about these species may never be recovered. With the advent of new technology, scientists are now recording the DNA of living snails through non-invasive means and learning much about relationships among seemingly unrelated species. They are studying the slime trails for information about habitat and behavior. Snails go home at the end of their "day" and cluster together. Why? Having no discernible brain, we don't know if they experience fear or safety, but just like all the other creatures on this planet, they have created a role to play in our connected ecology. Snails are precious. Their loss may affect us all in ways that we have yet to determine.

[Molsa Roja(s) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abou this book... it's quite a long term project of Thom van Dooren, that can also be found in the Multispecies salon more as a draft. If you're a snail lover, or a Hawaii visitor, or probably just a biologist or interested, somehow, in extinction, you'll love it. It is part of what was baptised as multispecies ethnography, that is, the study of a certain species WITH its connections, with its Umwelt, the world it carries. So here we get to know about Hawaiian indigenous culture, about the work at several museums to keep snails going, and of course about the militarization and colonization of the island. It does give a lot of perspectives on the matter that is the snail extinction, and emphasizes that each extinction is different. I sure loved much more Flight ways as it contained quite more theory, so if you're interested in that go ahead; if you'd like to be told a story about life and death of singing snails, go for this one. Lovely van Dooren as always.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

"... we are so fixated on the small portion of the animal kingdom that is well described."
Through the story of Hawaii's snails, van Dooren explores the concept of extinction, militarism, the anthropocene and colonialism. Trying to articulate what it is to lose a world we cannot even see or comprehend, the book challenges traditional narratives around these things. Hawaii has been home to a fascinating array of snails, but are now badly endangered due to introduced predators, rabid collecting and environmental destruction. It is a familiar tale, but van Dooren brings a refreshing focus on the role of Kanaka Maoli individuals and groups to the book, centering the question of who owns, manages and has obligations to the land. Ultimately, the focus remains on these curious, complex small creatures.

[Leikela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. At times I thought it may have been too much, but the fact that the author manages to tell the stories of endangered Hawaiian land snails and tie it into the larger picture of conservation, colonialism, military occupation, and more is an absolute feat. (Also, the photos are a treat. These snails are SO CUTE.)

I was shocked to find out at the end that the author isn't from Hawaii, nor even resides here. What a labor of love and time.

If you don't have prior interest in Hawaiian history and culture, conservation, and kahuli snails, this may in fact be too much for you. Like a snail, it has a slow and winding journey. (It is probably better enjoyed slowly with much thought, if that is your thing, but alas, I tore through it with a library due date at my heels, and still enjoyed it very much.)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars -- This was a short non-fiction read, but I really enjoyed learning about snails in HI! The author certainly knows what they are talking about and their enthusiasm shines through the book. Like another reviewer said, this science writing was pretty accessible, and made it a more enjoyable read for me. As a scientist (geologist) I think the book could have benefitted from more images, but I am not sure if the final version will have these included? I really loved the cover of this book and I appreciated the Hawaiian and scientific terms glossary in the back, and once I knew it was there, I referred to it a bunch. The book ends on a hopeful note, and I think we can benefit from writing like this!

[Eryne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Hawai'i snails. It describes hope, science, Indigenous ways, and extinction using kindness, with a sense of optimism. By the end of the story, I felt hopeful that snails in Hawai'i will survive our rapidly changing world.

[DC · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Ike i ke one kani a'o nohili....

van Dooren is quick to explain to us that his work isn't mere journalism, but perhaps we need more journalism like this.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is entirely focused on the snails of Hawaii and the historical and socio-political context of their existence - or, in this case, extinction as well.
The author weaves the conquering of the land, the different colonization and whitewashing of the heritage, and how they tie up with something as simple as snails.
There are two main reasons my rating is the way it is. One is that the primary focus is very narrow, and I wanted to try it to see if it was something I was interested in, but I found my mind wandering. This is not a reflection on the author's skill, but the content matters. I was more interested in the history of Hawaii than the snails themselves! Secondly (and more importantly), the review copy that I had, all the pictures of the snails, were in black and white. The author's glowing descriptions of the shells were not reflected in the pictures, although there were pictures that meant I definitely felt like I was missing out.
This book is filled with information for people who are interested in the subject(s) discussed, and it is written in an engaging manner, which makes it a quick read. It is not a large volume, but it covers some ground on the topic. I would recommend it to anyone who found the blurb or this review interesting.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Lola]

4.5 stars

A very interesting and eye-opening read. This book shows the connections between the Hawaiian 'āina (land), the Kanaka Maoli (native Hawaiian people), and of course, the kāhuli (snails). It shows just how interconnected everything is, and in doing so, it shows that extinction is not an exotic, distant issue. Rather, it is something that affects everything in its surroundings.

The stories in this book do not only show the causes for these extinctions, but also their effects beyond those that are initially expected. There is loss of biodiversity, that which will never be regained once the point of extinction is reached. But there is also loss of religion, as the snail plays a role in the beliefs of the native religion of O'ahu. And it is imperative to recognize the loss of humanity and morals, for surely it is immoral to allow ourselves to wield our hands in such a fashion that should condemn the lives of the snails on Hawaii.