Mushroom

The overnight appearance of mushrooms in a meadow or on a suburban lawn is a marvelous sight. It is one of many awe-inspiring, magical processes that have evolved among the fungi, yet this group remains the least studied and most poorly understood kingdom of organisms. In Mushroom, Nicholas Money offers a vibrant introduction to the world of mushrooms, investigating the science behind these organisms as well as their enduring cultural and imaginative appeal. Beginning with the basics of mushroom biology, Money leads us through a history of mushroom research, painting portraits of the colorful characters involved in their study--among them, Beatrix Potter, the celebrated author and creator of Peter Rabbit, and Captain Charles McIlvaine, a Civil War veteran who engaged in a dangerous quest to determine the edibility of every mushroom in North America. Money also discusses the uses of mushrooms today, exploring their importance as food and medicine, their use as recreational drugs, and as the cause of horrific poisonings. A cultural, natural, and scientific history in one, Mushroom is a must-read for mycophiles, mushroom gatherers, and nature lovers alike.
"Botanist Nicholas Money is unashamedly in thrall to the 'fungal sex organ'. In this brilliant scientific and cultural exploration, these organisms of rot and soil positively sparkle." - Nature

"This book was fascinating! The main cause of this is, without a doubt, the author, Nicholas P. Money. You can tell that this is the kind of professor that loves his craft." - Scientific American, Blog

"Mushroom is a compelling read for anyone with even a tinge of interest in the natural flavor of fungi." - Audubon Magazine

"At its core, Mushroom is an excellent natural history, but it's much more ... In a very short space, Money offers a fungus primer which would probably earn you an "A" in mycology (if you can retain all of the details of biology, chemistry and engineering) as well as a fascinating history of our relationship to this remarkable life form." - Corvallis Advocate

"Money offers preemptive reassurance that the magic of mushrooms will not be spoiled by revelation of their tricks, which he explains in some detail...he reveals his passion for mushrooms with a sheepishness that is unusual in nature writing. But mushrooms are unusual." -- SCIENCE

"As was the case with his earlier books (e.g., The Triumph of the Fungi, Feb'07; Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard, Feb'03), Money's recent book on mushrooms, designed to bring knowledge of fungi to nonmycologists, is excellent. ... The information is detailed and current. Highly recommended." -- Choice

PREFACE ; CHAPTER 1: ANGELS ON THE LAWN: HOW MUSHROOMS DEVELOP ; CHAPTER 2: GILL GYMNASTICS: THE BEAUTIFUL MECHANISM OF MUSHROOM SPORE RELEASE ; CHAPTER 3: TRIUMPH OF THE FUNGI: DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONS OF MUSHROOM ; CHAPTER 4: SATAN'S GOURMAND: HARVESTING WILD MUSHROOMS ; CHAPTER 5: SNOW WHITE AND BABY BELLA: GLOBAL INDUSTRY OF MUSHROOM CULTIVATION ; CHAPTER 6: DEATH CAPS: POISONOUS MUSHROOMS AND MUSHROOM POISONING ; CHAPTER 7: MAGIC MUSHROOMS: THE CULTURE AND SCIENCE OF HALLUCINOGENIC MUSHROOMS ; CHAPTER 8: CURES FOR MORTALITY?: THE MEDICINAL MUSHROOM FRAUD ; NOTES ; INDEX