We’re recently become aware of a couple of very different books that we’d like to share with you. They’ve both generated excitement in the fungal world, and there may just be widespread agreement that they might be worthy additions to your collection of mycological materials:
California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide
Authored by mycologist experts Dennis Desjardin, Michael Wood, and Fred Stevens, this has been received as an excellent reference book detailing over 1,100 species profiles, including comprehensive descriptions along with remarkable photographs of 650 species. Its publisher, Timber Press, points out that the profiles focus on such information as “macro- and micromorphology, habitat, edibility, and comparisons with closely related species and potential look-alikes.”
Timber Press (whose mission "is to share the wonders of the natural world by publishing books from experts in the fields of gardening, horticulture, and natural history") notes that “although the focus of the book is on mushrooms of California, over 90% of the species treated occur elsewhere, making the book useful throughout western North America. California Mushrooms also provides information on when and where to find mushrooms; guidelines on how to collect and identify mushrooms; keys to species; and overviews of nomenclature and taxonomy, morphology and phylogeny, fungal ecology, biology of mushrooms, and mushroom toxins. This complete reference covers everything necessary for the mushroom hunter to accurately identify over 650 species.”
Even though California Mushrooms won the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries’ Award of Excellence, the book may not be for everyone. For example, it carries a hefty price tag of $60 and weighs in at well over 4 pounds. However, we’d certainly support Mycophile’s assertion that it is “an excellent addition to the mushroom literature for the west coast.” Why not consider adding it to your personal library shelf?
Radical Mycology
We’ve been a little overwhelmed by the intensity of publicity over Peter McCoy and Radical Mycology: A Treatise on Seeing & Working with Fungi. There’s the book, the website, the nationwide book tour involving more than 40 cities, the 11 Mushroom Cultivation and Application Courses, webinars and more. One might say that Mr. McCoy and the philosophy of Radical Mycology are being spread like mushroom spores throughout the country!
And, it’s no wonder; the concept of Radical Mycology is challenging and thought-provoking. Consider what the website has to say:
"Radical Mycology is a grassroots movement and social philosophy based on accessibly teaching the importance of working with mushrooms and other fungi for personal, societal, and ecological resilience. Radical Mycology differs from classical mycology in that classical mycology generally focuses on taxonomy, identification, mycophagy (eating mushrooms), and the more personal benefits of working with fungi while Radical Mycology works to build relationships amongst humans and fungi for the benefit of larger communities and the world.
As a concept, Radical Mycology is based on the belief that the highly resilient life cycles of fungi and their interactions in nature serve as powerful learning tools for how humans can best relate to each other and steward the world they live in."
The introductory text by the SLF (Spore Liberation Front) is easily downloaded online with a donation of $1-$5 appreciated. Although a printed copy is listed as available on several sites, we found their copies to be “currently out-of-stock.”
Yes, we downloaded the text and benefited greatly from the 40 page, 2009 document which was packed with useful, basic information along with such unexpected features as paper making, mushroom dyes and fabric dying, cultivation, and recipes. Next, we'll be pursuing the 672 pages of the book Radical Mycology, available thru the Chthaus Press for $50.
We're definitely looking forward to exploring the world of Radical Mycology more fully!
Two books, two very different avenues to more fully discover and appreciate our fungal world. What can be wrong with this!
