If taxonomic richness or ecological diversity defines evolutionary success, then the gastropods must be placed among the most successful clades of all time. Today, the gastropods are the most speciose class of fossilizable marine invertebrates. They have a rich fossil record extending nearly to the base of the Phanerozoic, documenting an almost uninterrupted taxonomic and ecological diversification (Figure 1). Yet the snails have been often overlooked as a focus of evolutionary or paleoecological study. Classic evolutionary studies of gastropods, for example Fisher et al.'s (1964) study of Athleta or Gould's (1969) work on Poecilozonites, indicate no inherent deficiencies in the taxon and suggest a simple lack of attention. The purpose of this paper is to summarize some of the major features of the history of gastropod evolution, to review problems in the analysis of fossil gastropods, and to reiterate some long-standing questions about the evolution and relationships of ancient snails. The goal is not only to provide a useful guide for non-specialists facing the prospect of lecturing on the beasts, but also to direct prospective students to problems perhaps worthy of their future research effort.