Mushrooms Demystified 2nd (second) edition Text Only

by David Arora

This is the be-all and end-all of mushroom books! Truly an encyclopedia of mushroom facts and lore, lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs, literally everything you need to know about mushrooms, edible or not. Arora has taught mycology for close to twenty years and has hunted and photographed mushrooms across the North American continent. Threaded through the book are his wry and humorous observations and comments, making what could have been a rather dull, "just-the-facts, ma'am" reference book into a really enjoyable read. The stunning photographs of the incredible variety of fungi are fascinating and eye-opening, and while the author gives clear and factual information, the mysterious allure of mushrooms in their countless shapes, sizes and colors is only increased by this huge and delightful book. --Mark Hetts

Genres: Reference, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Food, Biology, Outdoors

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

David Arora (born October 23, 1952) is an American mycologist, naturalist, and writer. He is the author of two popular books on mushroom identification, Mushrooms Demystified and All That the Rain Promises and More....

Arora first developed an interest in wild mushrooms while growing up in Pasadena, California and organized his first mushroom collecting group while in high school. He began teaching about wild mushrooms in the early 1970s while living in Santa Cruz, California. Arora has traveled extensively throughout North America and the world, photographing and hunting mushrooms and learning about the mushroom gathering traditions and economies of different cultures.

Mushrooms Demystified was first published in 1979 and was republished in a revised and substantially expanded edition in 1986. Though Mushrooms Demystified encountered some initial resentment and negative reviews among academic mycologists when it first appeared, the mushroom key and descriptions in this work are highly regarded and the book is recommended by a number of mycological authors. The smaller All That the Rain Promises and More... followed in 1991.

In addition to his field guides, he has written several articles on amateur and commercial mushroom hunting, its role in the economic development of rural communities, and about conflicts related to conservation issues related to mushroom hunting.

Reviews

[Ken-ichi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most amazing biological guides ever. In addition to being an almost comprehensive guide to most macroscopic fungi of the western US, it is also weird, hilarious, and just plain wacky. Pretty much every time I grab it to look something up, I come across some new gem from Arora. Here's one I just found:

Since so few bracket fungi are edible, they are ignored by most people and barely mentioned in many popular mushroom books. As I am also ignored by most people (and have yet to be mentioned in any kind of book), I feel I have something vital in common with these unheralded but indispensable organisms. Therefore, a fairly extensive (but by no means comprehensive) treatment is offered here, in hopes that readers will at least learn to notice polypores, if not identify them.

[Owlseyes]

Maybe Arora doesn't know about these Portuguese ones, I've been photographing.
(You may click on any of the photographs)





























Ain't they pretty?

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will actually be "currently reading" this book for the rest of my life - at least during those months that the mushrooms are out.

The most extraordinary thing about it is that it's actually fun to read -- no small feat for what's fundamentally a guidebook. Arora leads you to approach the overwhelming task of figuring out the wild mushroom in your hand like a mystery, and like many mysteries you end up chasing down dead ends, eliminating suspects, and enjoying every minute of it.

It seems that every time I pull this out to identify some new thing that's pushed up under the pine needles (can I eat it?), another hour goes by as I follow some tangent about Avenging Death Angels or the like.

The book is worth it just for his section demystifying the Latin names of fungi -- which he makes into something of a sleuthing project. This has been the essential guidebook since it was first published in 1978, and I odn't think anything else has come close for combining science with a literary flair.

[Mykle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great reference books of our times! I have so often leafed through this book for the simple sheer pleasure of it, that I have found myself in the forest identifying wild mushrooms that I didn't realize I knew anything about. I can think of no higher praise.

[James Mize · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authoritative and comprehensive, often witty, but altogether somewhat dense. While this mushroom hunters' bible is indispensable, it could benefit from more pictures.

[sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most magickal and foule tome

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gloriously gargantuan complete compendium is a must-read for mycophiles.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable. I have learned so much from this book.
Okay, I didn't technically read the whole thing straight through, but I did read all of the sections aside from the identifications straight through. This is as good as it gets in a single source for mushroom identification. And, it's an easy read — the author's a bit whacky in a good way — which really helps, because latin naming conventions make my mind fog over if there's not something lighter to break it up. If you've never used a Dichotomous Identification Key before, you're in for a treat, because it's kind of like a grown-up Choose Your Own Adventure.

[Masha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not actually read through this hefty tome, but I have perused used it and deem it a favorable fact that I and fellow consumers of found fungi are still intact, and much the happier for our mushroom meal, many thanks to Arora. Great photos, fun to read. I do disagree with him about his rankings of the tastiness/desirability of some fungi. He underestimates, in my opinion. But his is an American perspective.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good information but just because he says one or another mushroom tastes good doesn't mean he's right. Giant puffballs taste like funky, chemical marshmallows - they are not "eminently edible."

But if you like campy fungophile in-jokes: "better kicked than picked," etc., this is your book.

If you're not interested in wild mushrooms, probably not for you. But who knows?

[Scott Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably not a book you would sit down and read cover-to-cover. However it is the mycology "Bible" for those interested in gleaning mushrooms from forests & field. Arora's occasional humor, and cute pictures are worth the price of the book alone (see plate 217, "too many mushrooms - overindulgence")

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible resource. After almost 1000 pages I'm still more than a bit mystified, but I've started bringing fungi home and trying to work through identifications. I'm sure years of mycological fun await!

[Ahme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is super great for learning but it's also fun to read. He thanked his wife saying "...she did not provide countless house or selfless assistance without which this book would have not been possible."

[Chris Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. The best of the best. Detailed, comprehensive, easy to use, and hilarious.

I would never have expected as much from a field guide.

[Steph Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is nothing short of essential if you are interested in mushrooms. Definitely do not go mushroom hunting without it. It has lengthy, detailed information on nearly every mushroom and certainly every species. I have an old copy from the library that has seen better days, so there may be a newer version. Regardless, I am buying a copy. Arora is very open with his knowledge of where to look and what to look for. For morels, I would not have thought to look near alder, but he mentioned that he has had luck in areas with alder. It's little things like that you will find throughout the book, which is probably why is so big.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, I didn't read all 1000 pages of this. But enough of it to call it read - I still feel mystified by mushrooms, but this helped identify many of the local ones in Saskatchewan that we run across when we drive North.

The book is fun, informative, and full of great tidbits from Arora, who embodies a love of foraging and the outdoors.

[Phil Blum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A towering accomplishment! I would not consider eating a wild mushroom without first positively identifying it with Arora's remarkable identification guide. Non-fiction at it's finest. Highly recommended! If Arora ever decides to publish a 3rd edition, I will buy it in a heartbeat!!!

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arora makes this enormous reference book an enjoyable read.

[Tomek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful descriptions and a lot of fun, only marred by the lack of color photos. Essential, but pair it with a color field guide.

[Lola Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book EVER
Every aspiring mycologist needs one

[02kalim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive, a necessity if you’re looking to safely identify mushrooms and are interested in mycology.

[Nicole Amaranta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non ho mai letto un libro di sistematica fungale più divertente; Arora ha quella autoironia che distingue il micologo dal pazzo. Inoltre è un libro molto completo: sono trattate circa duemila specie (il manuale standard ne descrivere al massimo trecento).

[Petey V · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU DAVID ARORA

thank you so much for this clear, concise, and funny book that inspired me to pursue mycology

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

good info but needs better pictures and drawings to help identify

[Andrew Benesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not finish as much is mostly a field guide. Could use an update with better images.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is laugh out loud funny AND informative.

[Emmy Harbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very hard to ID mushrooms using this book. A lot of great information about mushrooms but not as useful as a foraging companion

[Juanjo]

I check this out a lot when I'm bored would recommend

[Kate Picher · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very readable and helpful.

[Eckerbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mycology my heart. From this mushy reading, I experienced smarty and delightful information. A companion of indispensable know-how and such a right size for the take-along.