Go Forth and Forage Deck: Easy Identification for Over 50 North American Mushrooms

by Whitney Johnson

Confidently identify and forage over 50 North American mushrooms guided by 60 seasonally organized, trail-ready cards and a 48-page handbook.

Adapted from Whitney Johnson’s approachable mushroom foraging guide, Go Forth and Forage, and shaped by her popular @appalachian_forager platform, this beautifully designed, slipcase-housed deck transforms mushroom identification into an adventuresome, hands-on experience. Instead of flipping through book pages, you’ll rely on durable, easy-to-carry cards organized by the mushroom’s season, making it simple to match what you find in the woods with clear photographs and key identification traits.

Each card in the Go Forth and Forage Deck highlights essential details for accurate recognition, along with practical safety notes to help you forage responsibly. The accompanying booklet expands your knowledge with foundational guidance on how to get started, where to look, what tools to bring, and how to harvest sustainably. Together, the deck and booklet offer a streamlined, modern approach that builds confidence while keeping safety front and center.

The deck

60 sturdy, field-friendly cards covering more than 50 common North American mushroom species, from chanterelles and morels to lion’s mane and hedgehogsSeasonal organization for quick, real-time identification in all four seasonsClear photos and concise ID markers designed for fast, accurate comparisonsEssential safety and harvesting tips integrated into each cardA 48-page companion booklet with expert advice on foraging basics, gear, and best practices
Whether you’re new to mushroom hunting or looking to refine your skills, this deck delivers a practical, portable system that makes foraging more accessible, enjoyable, and safe—right from your first step into the woods.

48 pages

Expected publication October 5, 2027

About the author

Whitney Johnson was named one of the world's fifty most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50 in 2017.

She is the author of the forthcoming Build an A Team (Harvard Business Press, 2018) and the critically-acclaimed Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work (2015). Publisher's Weekly described it as "savvy...often counter-intuitive...superb" while the Boston Globe called it the "'What Color is Your Parachute?' career guide for the entrepreneurial age."

Through writing, speaking, consulting and coaching, Whitney works with leaders to retain their top talent, to build an A team, and to help them earn the gold star–be a boss people love.

She formerly was the co-founder of the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Harvard's Clayton Christensen, where they invested in and led the $8 million seed round for Korea’s Coupang, currently valued at $5+ billion. She was involved in fund formation, capital raising, and the development of the fund’s strategy. During her tenure, the CAGR of the Fund was 11.98% v. 1.22% for the S&P 500.

She is also formerly an award-winning Wall Street analyst. She was an Institutional Investor-ranked equity research analyst for eight consecutive years, and was rated by Starmine as a superior stock-picker. As an equity analyst, stocks under coverage included America Movil (NYSE: AMX), Televisa (NYSE: TV) and Telmex (NYSE: TMX), which accounted for roughly 40% of Mexico's market capitalization.

Whitney is a frequent contributor for the Harvard Business Review, she has over 1 million followers on Linkedin, and her LinkedIn course The Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship has 1 million+ views.

She is a member of the original cohort of Marshall Goldsmith's #100 coaches.