OYSTERS ARE SEXY. LET'S AGREE ON THAT RIGHT AWAY.

But there's much more to the oyster than simply its legendary power as an aphrodisiac. And that's what you'll find inside this charming field guide to oysters by oyster purveyor and champion shucker Patrick McMurray.

Rich in history and lore, CONSIDER THE OYSTER weaves together anecdotes from the author's experiences as a restaurateur and competitive shucker with practical information on everything from opening oysters with finesse (and a minimum of personal injury!) to planning an oyster party, finding the best oyster bars and ordering hard-to-get bivalves on the Internet.

You'll also meet the people who grow and export oysters -- from the coast of Ireland to the shores of Cape Cod and everywhere in between -- and you'll find yourself longing to taste some of the more than fifty varieties that McMurray details with loving enthusiasm. Wellfleets, Malpeques, Irish Flats, Fines de Claires, Royal Courtesans... They're all here, just waiting to be discovered and savored as never before.