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Fungipedia

A Brief Compendium of Mushroom Lore
Series: Pedia Books
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Fungipedia is an illustrated mini-encyclopedia offering more than 180 engaging entries on the fascinating world of fungi. Author and mycologist Lawrence Millman explores an eclectic mix of topics, from the biology and ecology of mushrooms to cultural and historical anecdotes involving figures like Beatrix Potter and Gordon Wasson. This treasury covers subjects such as mushroom sex, fairy rings, medicinal uses, poisonings, and the impact of climate change on fungi. Charming illustrations by Amy Jean Porter complement the rich scientific and cultural insights, revealing the remarkable universe of fungi close to home.
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Format: Hardback
$4999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This accessible yet richly informative volume is well suited for general readers curious about fungi, students, amateur mycologists, and anyone interested in natural history or cultural lore. Its approachable style and comprehensive scope also make it a thoughtful gift for science lovers and nature enthusiasts.

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An illustrated mini-encyclopedia of fungal lore, from John Cage and Terrence McKenna to mushroom sex and fairy rings. With more than 180 entries, this collection will transport both general readers and specialists into the remarkable universe of fungi.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This little book is big fun.—Michael Pollan

An illustrated mini-encyclopaedia of fungal lore, from John Cage and Terence McKenna to mushroom sex and fairy rings, Fungipedia presents a delightful A-Z treasury of mushroom lore. With more than 180 entries—on topics as varied as Alice in Wonderland, chestnut blight, medicinal mushrooms, poisonings, Santa Claus, and waxy caps—this collection will transport both general readers and specialists into the remarkable universe of fungi.

Combining ecological, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary knowledge, author and mycologist Lawrence Millman discusses how mushrooms are much more closely related to humans than to plants, how they engage in sex, how insects farm them, and how certain species happily dine on leftover radiation, cockroach antennae, and dung.

He explores the lives of individuals like African American scientist George Washington Carver, who specialised in crop diseases caused by fungi; Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, who was prevented from becoming a professional mycologist because she was a woman; and Gordon Wasson, a J. P. Morgan vice-president who almost single-handedly introduced the world to magic mushrooms.

Millman considers why fungi are among the most significant organisms on our planet and how they are currently being affected by destructive human behaviour, including climate change.

With charming drawings by artist and illustrator Amy Jean Porter, Fungipedia offers a treasure trove of scientific and cultural information. The world of mushrooms lies right at your door—be amazed!

Series: Pedia Books

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Dubbed "big fun" by Michael Pollan, Fungipedia has been praised as a delightful and joyful collection that can captivate readers briefly or for hours. Literary Hub recognises it as the cultural encyclopedia on mushrooms the world needs. Reviewers commend its profound knowledge paired with wry humour and call it a treasure for mushroom enthusiasts and novices alike. It earned distinction as one of the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ Top 50 Books / 50 Covers of 2021, highlighting both its content and design appeal.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691194721

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 29 October 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 51 b/w illus.

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Amy Jean Porter

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 114.0mm

Height: 171.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 200

About the Author

Lawrence Millman is a mycologist and author of numerous books, including Our Like Will Not Be There Again, Last Places, Fascinating Fungi of New England, and At the End of the World. He has done mycological work in places as diverse as Greenland, Honduras, Iceland, Panama, the Canadian Arctic, Bermuda, and Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has documented 321 different species. Amy Jean Porter is an artist, illustrator, and naturalist. Her illustrated books include Of Lamb and The Artists' and Writers' Cookbook, and her artwork has appeared in such publications as McSweeney'sand The Awl.

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