"Cutler's book is marvelous for making one think about what qualifies as an explanation, and for exploring the endless debates that mix strands of partial knowledge with the need to reconcile religious testaments." The New York Times Book Review "A book as complex and intriguing as the rocks that Steno studied." The Seattle Times "Fascinating...Cutler's animated and energetic prose provides a page-turning thriller of scientific discover, and this splendid biography captures in intimate detail not only its subject but also the tenor of Steno's times." Publishers Weekly "A compelling story about an unusually modest genius." Christian Science Monitor "Delightful...one of the best books of scientific history in recent years...The tale of Steno has been a long time coming, but on the evidence of this splendid volume, it has been well worth the wait." Simon Winchester, in The Boston Globe The Seashell on the Mountaintop is a critically acclaimed biography of Nicolaus Steno, known as the "Founder of Geology." The work is a thrilling tale of scientific investigation which turns our ideas about the conflict between religion and science upside-down.