What do you think?
Rate this book
Mushrooming: An Illustrated Guide to the Fantastic, Delicious, Deadly, and Strange World of Fungi
“A merry, idiosyncratic guide, charmingly illustrated.”—Eugenia Bone, The Wall Street Journal
An illustrated guide to over 100 types of mushrooms, offering insights and stories about these mysterious organisms
An incredible diversity of fungi is flourishing all around us, not just in the forest but in parks, markets, and even museums. Once you know how to look, you can find mushrooms named after fairies and demons, mushrooms that look so much like woodland birds they are shot at by hunters, mushrooms that glow in the dark . . . and so much more.
Beyond serving as a guide for identification, Mushrooming explores how “the quiet hunt” can radically expand our perspectives, connect us to nature, and enrich our lives. Whether you’re a beginner forager or an expert mycophile, this is the perfect handbook to spark your curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the fantastic, delicious, deadly, and strange world of fungi.
An illustrated guide to over 100 types of mushrooms, offering insights and stories about these mysterious organisms
An incredible diversity of fungi is flourishing all around us, not just in the forest but in parks, markets, and even museums. Once you know how to look, you can find mushrooms named after fairies and demons, mushrooms that look so much like woodland birds they are shot at by hunters, mushrooms that glow in the dark . . . and so much more.
Beyond serving as a guide for identification, Mushrooming explores how “the quiet hunt” can radically expand our perspectives, connect us to nature, and enrich our lives. Whether you’re a beginner forager or an expert mycophile, this is the perfect handbook to spark your curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the fantastic, delicious, deadly, and strange world of fungi.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2023
23 people are currently reading
4703 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 7, 2022
Oh my goodness, this is the most gorgeous mushroom guide. The artwork is vivid and visually pleasing! The author created this version of a mushroom guide because they were frustrated with the sometimes hard to understand language and small photos in most guides. I love that the author's own experiences with each mushroom is listed within the notes. It is well organized as well. I would highly reccomend this if you love art or mushrooms, or nature in general. Lots of interesting information within!
February 13, 2023
I have a friend who loves mushrooms, and I originally wanted to preview this book to see if it would be a good gift for her. Not only is this book a wonderful gift for any mycophile, it made me appreciate fungi more. They play such an integral role in the ecosystem, and their fruit (the mushrooms) are just the beautiful (and sometimes strange!) tip of the iceberg. I loved all of the alluring illustrations and the quirky mushroom names. To break up the mushroom illustrations and information, there are projects and stories sprinkled throughout the book. Infinity Burial Suit was my favorite! This book has inspired me to look closer when I see a mushroom in my yard instead of considering it a nuisance.
Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 20, 2024
Not a guide to species. More of a personal appreciation of the art of hunting for mushrooms, with digressions. Mushrooms are shown through paintings, not pictures, and they are very pretty pictures.
August 29, 2023
Not just for foragers. This is for anyone, and gently urges you to observe the world around you and find joy in your own way and in any shape or form out in nature. I loved it.
December 12, 2022
This was so fun to go through! Very beginner-friendly and easy to follow, with gorgeous illustrations throughout. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!
March 27, 2023
Excelled expectations. Combining art, science, history, food and cultural traditions, and mythology, this book was a privilege to read.
August 19, 2024
This book is clearly titled Mushrooming: An Illustrated Guide to ... World of ...
Illustrated means illustrated by an artist - not photographs.
Mushrooming means an active pursuit of mushrooms - not a scientific textbook.
So, regarding reviews that rate it low-to-medium by reviewers who expected it to be something else, it is what the title states. Understand that you will get to see in illustrations and experience vicariously through well-written text describing a mushroomer's joy of mushrooming.
For those of us who are naturalists and artists (or foragers who appreciate art), this is an awesome find! An author-artist who views the world like we do and wants to share the wonder and beauty.
Illustrated means illustrated by an artist - not photographs.
Mushrooming means an active pursuit of mushrooms - not a scientific textbook.
So, regarding reviews that rate it low-to-medium by reviewers who expected it to be something else, it is what the title states. Understand that you will get to see in illustrations and experience vicariously through well-written text describing a mushroomer's joy of mushrooming.
For those of us who are naturalists and artists (or foragers who appreciate art), this is an awesome find! An author-artist who views the world like we do and wants to share the wonder and beauty.
Read
June 17, 2023For a most interesting book and look at a most fascinating subject, MUSHROOMING THE JOY OF THE QUIET HUNT, is a change of pace publication. People consume mushrooms on pizzas, salads, and in other ways on your plate, but it is certainly something you do not ponder. NOw you can.
Diane Borsato delves deeply into mushrooming, giving readers a most entertaining visual spectacle. Thanks to the illustrations of Kelsey Oseid, it brings the topic to life like few could imagine. The author says, “I started mushrooming because I was offered a wild chanterelle to eat and was afraid of being poisoned. Like many beginning mushroomers, I was first interested in edible fungi—hunting with my stomach, as they say—and proceeded to inform myself about the deadly ones.” One of the most impressive things is the fact there are so many types of mushrooms, the book covering more than 120 of them, many with names that are as unique as the mushroom itself. While you may see a few varieties at your local supermarket, it cannot compare with what is actually out there. But every mushroom featured in the book is not something you could pick up and consume. There are many varieties that are deadly, as the author points out in her explanations of each. To see the various types in the book, is to view a most unusual part of nature.
Before her passing, my mother took upon the hobby of photographing certain types of mushrooms, only capturing a handful of types. If she could see this book, she would definitely be most impressed.
It is the names of some of the mushrooms to deepen their mystique. Some of the names include: ghost pipe, eyelash fungus, destroying angel, the sickener, death cap, bleeding tooth, Satan’s bolete, witch’s butter, dog’s vomit slime mould, dead man’s fingers, and honey mushroom, to name but a few.
Each mushroom named in the book has identifying features, notes, and their edibility. This should not be taken as the ultimate guide to whether you should consume them, as there are variables in some of them. Even touching certain ones may cause health concerns.
Diane Borsato has been mushrooming for more than a decade, and she shares her passion for this, along with her knowledge, to give readers a mushrooming sense of the joys of finding fungi. And it can be more than fascinating and fun for guys and girls.
Diane Borsato delves deeply into mushrooming, giving readers a most entertaining visual spectacle. Thanks to the illustrations of Kelsey Oseid, it brings the topic to life like few could imagine. The author says, “I started mushrooming because I was offered a wild chanterelle to eat and was afraid of being poisoned. Like many beginning mushroomers, I was first interested in edible fungi—hunting with my stomach, as they say—and proceeded to inform myself about the deadly ones.” One of the most impressive things is the fact there are so many types of mushrooms, the book covering more than 120 of them, many with names that are as unique as the mushroom itself. While you may see a few varieties at your local supermarket, it cannot compare with what is actually out there. But every mushroom featured in the book is not something you could pick up and consume. There are many varieties that are deadly, as the author points out in her explanations of each. To see the various types in the book, is to view a most unusual part of nature.
Before her passing, my mother took upon the hobby of photographing certain types of mushrooms, only capturing a handful of types. If she could see this book, she would definitely be most impressed.
It is the names of some of the mushrooms to deepen their mystique. Some of the names include: ghost pipe, eyelash fungus, destroying angel, the sickener, death cap, bleeding tooth, Satan’s bolete, witch’s butter, dog’s vomit slime mould, dead man’s fingers, and honey mushroom, to name but a few.
Each mushroom named in the book has identifying features, notes, and their edibility. This should not be taken as the ultimate guide to whether you should consume them, as there are variables in some of them. Even touching certain ones may cause health concerns.
Diane Borsato has been mushrooming for more than a decade, and she shares her passion for this, along with her knowledge, to give readers a mushrooming sense of the joys of finding fungi. And it can be more than fascinating and fun for guys and girls.
January 20, 2023
Mushrooming...my favourite activity. As a mycophile I dream about fungi, ID and analyze them, forage for them, attend mushroom festivals and learn everything I possibly can get my hands on. Diane Borsato's Mushrooming is a beautifully-illustrated book about 100+ fungi and connections we make with them in life, nature and art.
Though the illustrations are so accurate (I recognized every single representation here easily), this is NOT a field guide but more of an inspiration to learn more, get out in nature and appreciate the multi-sensory details. Borsato uses both the common and scientific names which makes things easier. Included are deadly to choice edibles and everything between such as the gorgeous parrot waxy cap (I saw the most gorgeous group of them recently), tiny bird's nest fungi (which I have had the fortune of seeing several times), black truffle (I live in white truffle territory in Istria), grisettes, death cap (amazing to behold its power!), black trumpet (one of my favourite choice edibles), enormous and delicious parasols, the fascinating bleeding fairy helmet and doll eyes, tasty green-cracking russula and the blewits with their lookalikes. Finding king boletes is a feeling like nothing else! Though very poisonous, happening upon Satan's bolete is always fascinating. The author includes attributes, look alikes, what to look for and avoid. Read this to rev up your foraging excitement before delving into field guides.
Borsato also encourages with a chapter on how to host a mushroom foray, a lovely idea, especially with someone extremely knowledgeable.
My sincere thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this wonderful book. Anyone who wishes to learn more about fungi (and dream of it when not in the field) ought to read this.
Though the illustrations are so accurate (I recognized every single representation here easily), this is NOT a field guide but more of an inspiration to learn more, get out in nature and appreciate the multi-sensory details. Borsato uses both the common and scientific names which makes things easier. Included are deadly to choice edibles and everything between such as the gorgeous parrot waxy cap (I saw the most gorgeous group of them recently), tiny bird's nest fungi (which I have had the fortune of seeing several times), black truffle (I live in white truffle territory in Istria), grisettes, death cap (amazing to behold its power!), black trumpet (one of my favourite choice edibles), enormous and delicious parasols, the fascinating bleeding fairy helmet and doll eyes, tasty green-cracking russula and the blewits with their lookalikes. Finding king boletes is a feeling like nothing else! Though very poisonous, happening upon Satan's bolete is always fascinating. The author includes attributes, look alikes, what to look for and avoid. Read this to rev up your foraging excitement before delving into field guides.
Borsato also encourages with a chapter on how to host a mushroom foray, a lovely idea, especially with someone extremely knowledgeable.
My sincere thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this wonderful book. Anyone who wishes to learn more about fungi (and dream of it when not in the field) ought to read this.
Read
November 22, 2022Thanks to NetGalley and The Experiment for an advance copy.
tl;dr
Great illustrations and a lot of personal touches make this a compelling read. Should not be considered a field guide.
Thoughts
This is not a field guide. The opening paragraphs make this clear, but I feel like I should also open with this, because on the surface it looks like a field guide. There are detailed illustrations, scientific names, and descriptions of several fungi (along with other non-fungus things of interest). But this book reads more like a foraging journal than a field guide. The author includes stories of personal experiences and anecdotes shared by other mycology enthusiasts. Several scattered sections step out of the guidebook format to discuss things like organizing a mushroom hunt in the international district, mushroom events, and cultural relevance. It's a much more personal read than I expected, akin to listening to an enthusiast share their thoughts over coffee. This is not the kind of book you'd take out with you while foraging, but it's definitely the kind you'd read on a comfortable afternoon just for fun. The illustrations are absolutely stunning in their color and detail, and might be worth the price of admission alone. Would make a great read for any mushroom fan.
tl;dr
Great illustrations and a lot of personal touches make this a compelling read. Should not be considered a field guide.
Thoughts
This is not a field guide. The opening paragraphs make this clear, but I feel like I should also open with this, because on the surface it looks like a field guide. There are detailed illustrations, scientific names, and descriptions of several fungi (along with other non-fungus things of interest). But this book reads more like a foraging journal than a field guide. The author includes stories of personal experiences and anecdotes shared by other mycology enthusiasts. Several scattered sections step out of the guidebook format to discuss things like organizing a mushroom hunt in the international district, mushroom events, and cultural relevance. It's a much more personal read than I expected, akin to listening to an enthusiast share their thoughts over coffee. This is not the kind of book you'd take out with you while foraging, but it's definitely the kind you'd read on a comfortable afternoon just for fun. The illustrations are absolutely stunning in their color and detail, and might be worth the price of admission alone. Would make a great read for any mushroom fan.
December 14, 2023
A wonderful guide to the field of mushrooming…for both casual fungiphiles and those with a larger amount of knowledge…
Mushrooming: An Illustrated Guide to the Fantastic, Delicious, Deadly, and Strange World of Fungi by Diane Borsato is an exhaustive guide to the world of mushrooms and its related hobbies…
The bulk of this book is dedicated to dozens of mushroom varieties. Each section contains lovely illustrated photos of the mushrooms in question. Their profiles include regions you are likely to find them, how edible (or poisoning) they are, and usually notes (and pics) of similar but different mushrooms they might be confused with. Naturally it includes some notes on why certain ones have their names, but that’s easy enough to tell by looking at the art in some cases
In addition to the profiles, there are some quick pieces on mushrooms culture including farmers markets, mushroom eco friendly projects, and the use of agaric in Nordic countries.
All in all, it’s a pretty fun guide to give a try…
Mushrooming: An Illustrated Guide to the Fantastic, Delicious, Deadly, and Strange World of Fungi by Diane Borsato is an exhaustive guide to the world of mushrooms and its related hobbies…
The bulk of this book is dedicated to dozens of mushroom varieties. Each section contains lovely illustrated photos of the mushrooms in question. Their profiles include regions you are likely to find them, how edible (or poisoning) they are, and usually notes (and pics) of similar but different mushrooms they might be confused with. Naturally it includes some notes on why certain ones have their names, but that’s easy enough to tell by looking at the art in some cases
In addition to the profiles, there are some quick pieces on mushrooms culture including farmers markets, mushroom eco friendly projects, and the use of agaric in Nordic countries.
All in all, it’s a pretty fun guide to give a try…
December 15, 2022
~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
A lighthearted illustrated guide to the wonderful world of mushrooming! While I initially picked this title up out of pure boredom and curiosity, I found myself thoroughly fascinated and engaged by the topics discussed. This book, alongside it's adorable illustrations, views mushrooming from an artistic, intersectional-feminist perspective, sporadically providing small essays about how contemporary artists today are using the art of mushrooming to shed light on real-life issues such as generational trauma, societal fear of death and the unknown as well as systemic racism, sexism and capitalism. I was captivated by these connections as well as enthralled by the lighthearted anecdotes sprinkled throughout the many mushroom bios. I'll definitely try to pick up a copy of this guide when it comes out in March of 2023 as it is something I see myself picking up again and again!
A lighthearted illustrated guide to the wonderful world of mushrooming! While I initially picked this title up out of pure boredom and curiosity, I found myself thoroughly fascinated and engaged by the topics discussed. This book, alongside it's adorable illustrations, views mushrooming from an artistic, intersectional-feminist perspective, sporadically providing small essays about how contemporary artists today are using the art of mushrooming to shed light on real-life issues such as generational trauma, societal fear of death and the unknown as well as systemic racism, sexism and capitalism. I was captivated by these connections as well as enthralled by the lighthearted anecdotes sprinkled throughout the many mushroom bios. I'll definitely try to pick up a copy of this guide when it comes out in March of 2023 as it is something I see myself picking up again and again!
February 28, 2023
I absolutely love this little guide. I lived in Seattle for three years and my uncle would take me mushroom hunting. Mostly for chanterelles around mount hood but he would talk of matsutake on the coast. It was always so much fun. I wish I would have had this book then. It seems to be a rather complete collection of commonly encountered fungi, at least to my understanding. Each mushroom detailed in it's own section with an illustration as well as details on identification, edibility, and other interesting facts. The illustrations are as vibrant and colorful as they are beautiful. Dispersed within these sections are anecdotes and jokes that make it all the more fun to read. I believe this would make an excellent coffee table book or gift for anyone interested in the outdoors.
December 22, 2022
I love nature books; any chance I can to learn about plant life of the Earth is a win for me. This time, I had the chance to divulge into the realm of funghi. I enjoyed the historical and random facts that were dispersed throughout the book. It kept it super interesting and fun and allowed a distraction. The book was well organized - my biggest struggle and also one of the best features of the book- were the illustrations. They were beautifully drawn. However, I struggled with being able to use them as an ID. That being said, I don't know if I would have changed them for photographs because I think it would have taken away from the character of this book.
January 14, 2023
This was a fun, whimsical look at some of the more unusual or notable mushrooms. I learned about some really fascinating types of fungi that I'd never heard of before. I was always eager to see what I'd learn next.
I found some of the stories sprinkled throughout to be dramatic or flowery, but it was certainly interesting to learn how different people interact with mushrooms.
The highlight of this book was definitely the illustrations. The mushrooms were painted in such vivid colors and detail. I had to pause to show my roommates sometimes because they were that beautiful to look at.
Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found some of the stories sprinkled throughout to be dramatic or flowery, but it was certainly interesting to learn how different people interact with mushrooms.
The highlight of this book was definitely the illustrations. The mushrooms were painted in such vivid colors and detail. I had to pause to show my roommates sometimes because they were that beautiful to look at.
Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2022
Wow, this is the most beautiful mushroom book I have ever read. I recently have gotten more into learning about mushroom hunting, identifying, and learning all there is to know about different species of mushrooms. I LOVED the background at the beginning of the book, and how the author pulled her art history/work into the making of this book. It was very evident that her love of art, and her love of mushrooms collided into this stunning collection. The artwork was breathtaking, and the information was interesting and not super dry/textbookish. I would love to add this one to my shelves!
November 25, 2022
I absolutely adored the pictures in this educational book on mushrooms. I'm not an expert in foraging for mushrooms, but have a passing interest so I found this to be very education. However, from the very beginning it doesn't recommend using it as a field guide. If you're not careful, you'll get sick at best and die at worst. It's great to learn about the identifying features, if it is edible (generally speaking), and some interesting tidbits about all of the mushrooms. Also, did I mention the pictures were gorgeous? Highly recommend for anyone with a passing interest in mushrooms.
February 15, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, Diane Borsato, and The Experiment for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
I love this book! The diverse, colorful drawings of the strangest, most unusual, fabulous, and yet existing mushrooms are stunning. In addition, it provides various information on the mushrooms. It motivated me to go into nature and explore it through artists' eyes. I would recommend this a lot for art enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to discover a hidden world full of wonder.
I love this book! The diverse, colorful drawings of the strangest, most unusual, fabulous, and yet existing mushrooms are stunning. In addition, it provides various information on the mushrooms. It motivated me to go into nature and explore it through artists' eyes. I would recommend this a lot for art enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to discover a hidden world full of wonder.
March 3, 2023
I have tons of books on mushrooms and have read quite a few, this is definitely up with the best as far as beauty goes. Absolutely stunning artwork, sometimes you see illustrations in other books that you can’t related to the real world because the details are fuzzy or just slightly off enough, and in this book that isn’t the case at all. The writing is perfectly concise, but not textbooky. It feels like you’re talking to a person instead of just reading random facts; this I believe is better for learning because of it’s engagement. I really love this book and its details.
November 17, 2022
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED reading this and discovering so many things. I've never picked up a book about mushrooms even though they're one of my favorite things. The illustrations were gorgeous and kept your attention on every page where you learned something new. I think everyone should have a book like this in their home and the knowledge held within it.
I LOVED reading this and discovering so many things. I've never picked up a book about mushrooms even though they're one of my favorite things. The illustrations were gorgeous and kept your attention on every page where you learned something new. I think everyone should have a book like this in their home and the knowledge held within it.
May 21, 2023
5 stars for the illustrations, they really are beautiful.
I read this book because here in Michigan we have been getting a lot of rain and with that rain both small and large mushrooms have been popping up all over our yard. We wanted to try and identify what we had outside of Google lens. The book did not give us answers, as the book is very limited on the species it can list (there are so many!) However it was beautifully written and the cover is just perfect.
I read this book because here in Michigan we have been getting a lot of rain and with that rain both small and large mushrooms have been popping up all over our yard. We wanted to try and identify what we had outside of Google lens. The book did not give us answers, as the book is very limited on the species it can list (there are so many!) However it was beautifully written and the cover is just perfect.
November 10, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations were beautiful, the writing humorous, and the experiences described were useful.
The author is most definitely a feminist and that is a pervasive undertone. Sometimes it wandered into uncomfortable territory, and I wasn't enthused with the discussion of witches as a Christian.
While this book was fun to read, I wouldn't put it on my shelf. I might like a drier read, although it was a entertaining introduction.
The author is most definitely a feminist and that is a pervasive undertone. Sometimes it wandered into uncomfortable territory, and I wasn't enthused with the discussion of witches as a Christian.
While this book was fun to read, I wouldn't put it on my shelf. I might like a drier read, although it was a entertaining introduction.
December 31, 2022
Went to listen to the author speak at Toronto Botanical Gardens.
The hardcover book isn't really a field guide, but an illustrated homage to fungi, mostly found in and around Toronto and southern Ontario.
Diane's enthusiasm for the subject is contagious and the illustrations an accurate guide for identification.
Inspires me to join a mycological society just for the foraging possibilities!
The hardcover book isn't really a field guide, but an illustrated homage to fungi, mostly found in and around Toronto and southern Ontario.
Diane's enthusiasm for the subject is contagious and the illustrations an accurate guide for identification.
Inspires me to join a mycological society just for the foraging possibilities!
January 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! Will probably enjoy it even more in physical form I find the digital version of these types of books don't flow as well. The art work was so pretty! I really enjoyed the authors personality it was fun and informative. If you are a lover of mushrooms I highly recommend this. More of a light fun read than something I would say is truly informative material.
Thank You NetGalley for the Review Copy!!
Thank You NetGalley for the Review Copy!!
March 12, 2023
A big thank you to NetGalley and The Experiment for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. My only complaint (request?) is that I wish there were actual photographs with scale instead of drawings. I find this interesting, but in no way would I feel comfortable saying if something was edible. A lot of facts.
April 12, 2023
This book has an illustrated mushroom on every page. It is written in the author's point of view and opinions. The illustrated pics are big, but since edibility was so much stressed, I would have liked to see big pictures of actual mushrooms and not colored pencils mushrooms. I did not read each mushroom, because I'm only interested in a few and I thought this book would have pics.
July 27, 2023
Great book.
At first look..I thought it might be more of a 'picturesque' book..but then..oh then..what a great informative book!!
Hah..I did enjoy 'The Chinatown Foray' a lot.
Also..all the random bits of entertainment..'Raccoon Skull' and 'Infinity Burial Suit'.
You will have to read it to find out more...
At first look..I thought it might be more of a 'picturesque' book..but then..oh then..what a great informative book!!
Hah..I did enjoy 'The Chinatown Foray' a lot.
Also..all the random bits of entertainment..'Raccoon Skull' and 'Infinity Burial Suit'.
You will have to read it to find out more...
November 23, 2022
Fascinating information and wonderful illustrations.
I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about mushrooms and I learned a lot!
While, not aimed at children, I think they would find it interesting. Just look up the dog vomit slime mold entry lol.
I plan on adding this to my personal collection
I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about mushrooms and I learned a lot!
While, not aimed at children, I think they would find it interesting. Just look up the dog vomit slime mold entry lol.
I plan on adding this to my personal collection
November 26, 2022
The illustrations where gorgeous, the love of mushrooms was apparent in the author’s writing. This book was fascinating and absolutely delightful to read. As an amateur mushroomer, this book feels both useful, and also much like encouragement to continue mushrooming along.
April 1, 2024
It is a cute little book with beautiful drawings. I do wish it had real pictures to go along with those drawings especially since mushrooms are classified as edible or non-edible. I also do wish the author talked about her own personal beliefs a little less and more about mushrooms themselves.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews