The Lives of Lichens: A Natural History

by Robert Lücking, Toby Spribille

A richly illustrated guide to lichens and their biology

Existing at the margins of life, lichens are the result of symbiotic relationships between fungi and photosynthesizing partners in the form of algae or cyanobacteria. Comprising more than twenty thousand species, lichens are pioneers in diverse ecosystems, colonizing virtually any surface and growing at almost any altitude. Found in rainforests, polar regions, deserts, and your backyard, lichens embody a paradox of toughness and sensitivity, surviving trips to space yet endangered by even the slightest environmental changes from industrial pollution here on Earth. Lichens grow everywhere, but only on their own no one has ever fully assembled a lichen in the lab from its component parts. The Lives of Lichens explores all facets of these peculiar organisms, blending stunning macrophotography and graphics with in-depth coverage of profiled species to provide an unforgettable tour of the marvelous world of lichens.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Biology, Science

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Tamar Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely introduction to Lichens. Well written, informative, entertaining, and accompanied by beautiful photography and illustration. The classification/taxonomy section could have been elaborated more thoroughly, but it was pretty dry as it was and I think the level of detail offered was solid. I would have liked another 500 pages of lichen research laid out this well, but this book left me excited to discover more. I'll definitely keep an eye out for lichens wherever life takes me.

[Dr. Lehman L Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfying over view of lichens. Beautiful images and useful illustrations. A very good overview of the biology of lichens going from early observations to current activities. While there is depth it is made clear that much remains to be assessed and analyzed about this group. As Biologist I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and could see the gaps in understanding which only served to whet my appetite for these organisms. A good rendition about lichen biology not thorough on any one topic but the list of resources at the end of the book would lead one to more specific technical details. The prose is very readable but I did find the font a bit small and sometimes difficult to read if the light quality was not good.

[Saphira Bloom-Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to do lichens justice. This hardcover introductory book to lichens speaks in plain language and features hundreds of full page coloured photos. it's fascinating to flick through and admire the pictures and is accompanied by well-edited text that packs a punch without waffling or dense walls of text. It covers all scientific and cultural aspects of lichens and is teeming with new facts for even the informed lichen amateur. Made me feel like a kid reading those massive illustrated encyclopaedias again. So much to discover!

[Library Of Pangea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy short read when you are already familiar with lichen biology, absolutely beautiful photography & illustrations/diagrams.
This is definitely a good way to introduce someone to the subject. I would call this book a lichenology love letter.

[Paul Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, up to date information with great photos! Toby Spribille is an expert who I learned about on iNaturalist and through papers on Alaska lichens. He is writing with an expert on tropical lichens, which I thought was a great move! The photos are great, and now I want to find more lichens.

[Colin Freebury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, well-illustrated, well-structured, timely.

[Brad Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively interesting book about Lichens. I'm not sure what else to say.

[Tim Claerhout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the best and most beautiful lichen books I've read. The photos were stunning. The content was concise but enough to satisfy my desire to know more about these amazing species. An absolute must-have for everyone with the slightest interest in lichenology, the study of lichens.