Fungipedia: A Brief Compendium of Mushroom Lore

Description

"This little book is big fun."-Michael Pollan An illustrated mini-encyclopedia 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 specialized 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 behavior, 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!

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's and The Awl.

"One of American Institute of Graphic Arts' Top 50 Books / 50 Covers of 2021" "This little book is big fun."---Michael Pollan on Twitter "The cultural encyclopedia of mushrooms that we need right now." * Literary Hub * "A delightful collection of notes on a wide variety of mycologically related topics . . . . This is a book you can pick up for a few minutes, or get hooked into for an hour."---Susan Kayser, Fungus Friends "If your fungal forays have been limited to identifying toadstools, this A-Z of the fungal kingdom, written with profound knowledge and wry good humour, will be a revelation."---Phil Gates, BBC Wildlife "[Millman] illuminates some obscure corners of mycology for sure, but better, he brings a kind of feisty joyousness to the endeavor that makes the facts feel fresh. . . . As far as I am concerned, there can never be enough mushroom books out there. And I call this one a treasure."---Eugenia Bone, New York Mycological Society Newsletter "Fungipedia can be read in less than two hours and will prove useful to all. It would make a great stocking stuffer or gift for anyone with whom you may want to share your passion for fungi."---Dianna Smith, The Mycophile "Millman is an excellent guide through a wide variety of topics in this relatively small but loaded package. "---Ron Tracy, Mushroom: The Journal of Wild Mushrooming "Small, fun filled . . . quirky, fact filled book."---Steve Rutherford, Country-Side "Fungipedia is a fun, fast-paced, fascinating, fungi foray formatted on facsimile foolscap (OK, that last one about it being printed on facsimile foolscap I just made up, but the paper is indeed quite nice)."---Johannes E. Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist "A delightful little introduction to the world of fungi. . . . a whimsical 184-page A-Z miscellany that could be slipped into your back pocket . . . even seasoned mycologists will here find things to entertain and enlighten them." * Inquisitive Biologist * "Millman has come out with a delightful stocking stuffer. . . . Wit and good humor are never lacking, the whimsy doesn't belie the deep knowledge, and its diminutive size makes it useful, as well as readable."---Art Goodtimes, Montrose Mirror "It could best be described as a light, whimsical, yet extremely knowledgeable dip into the world of mycology. . . . Whether you are interested in fungi or not, I think this book will appeal." * Essex Birding * "I found this a delightful little book, a mini-encyclopaedia, hardback, and at just 4.5 x 6.75 ins, easy to slip into a pocket and dip in and out of on a bus or metro journey. An ideal Christmas stocking-filler for both mycologists, whether "amateur" or "professional", and inquisitive naturalists. " * IMA Fungus * "The author is a true snapper-up of unconsidered trifles, which he blends into erudite and cheery notes which will inform and entertain, amaze and (occasionally) repel you. . . . I have never laughed so much over a serious book. And I learned a lot too."---Gillian Mawrey, Historic Gardens Review "An extraordinary treasure box for readers."---Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Osterreiche Zeitschrift fuer Mykologie "Charming, fact-filled, enjoyable read."---Neville Davies, Wild About Gwent "This little handbook produced by Princeton University Press and authored by renowned mycologist Lawrence Millman, is a sort of 'all you ever wanted to know about mushrooms' work; and fascinating and helpful it is too."---David Gascoigne, Travels With Birds "A wonderful blend of discoveries and stories for the reader to enjoy . . . . The book provides a wonderful journey of exploration into this fascinating [fungi] kingdom."---Maxine Herman-Oakley, Current Biology "[Millman] is a true snapper-up of unconsidered trifles, which he blends into erudite and cheery notes which will inform and entertain, amaze and (occasionally) repel you. . . . I have never laughed so much over a serious book. And I learned a lot too."---Gillian Mawrey, Historic Gardens Review "There are writers who have the ability to astonish readers with each new page, such is their erudition, their wit, and their ability to turn a phrase. Millman is one such writer, providing in Fungipedia, a book that draws novices like me into mycology, but which also has tidbits, tiny morsels of trivia if you will, that will satisfy the more discerning palate of the experts among us."---David O. Born, Toadstool, newsletter of the Minnesota Mycological Society "We enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it wholeheartedly to those eager to have a delightful entree into the world of fungi." * Life: The Excitement of Biology * "A whimsical peek into the obscure world of fungi. . . . With its easy-to-read snippets, Fungipedia inspires the general public to find out more about fungi, beyond the knowledge that mushrooms taste good with butter and garlic. On the other hand, experts will appreciate the life-like depictions and illustrations of their favourite fungal subjects. It is a must-read for all."---Daphne Ng, AC Review of Books "Fungipedia is a whimsical peek into the obscure world of fungi. The book is as much for general readers as it is for experts in fungi. With its easy-to-read snippets, Fungipedia inspires the general public to find out more about fungi, beyond the knowledge that mushrooms taste good with butter and garlic. On the other hand, experts will appreciate the life-like depictions and illustrations of their favourite fungal subjects. It is a must-read for all."---Daphne Ng, AC Review of Books