Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mushrooms by Gary Lincoff

Simon & Schuster's Nature Guide Series

by Giovanni Pacioni

Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mushrooms is indispensable to anyone fascinated by mushrooms and other fungi. Lavishly illustrated, it contains detailed information about 420 types of mushrooms and other fungi found in the United States and Europe. The comprehensive introduction provides general information on the structure, reproduction, life cycles, classification, and distribution of the various species and describes the individual parts of the fungus as well. The entries describe the appearance, habitat, and geographic distribution of each species of fungi. The easy-to-use visual key provides each entry with immediately recognizable symbols that indicate spore color, ecological environment, and whether the species is edible or poisonous. A glossary and analytical index, plus an Index to Genera for locating particular subjects, help make this the most beautiful, valuable, and authoritative book in the field.

Genres: Reference, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Field Guides, Biology

Hardcover

First published March 12, 1982

Reviews

[Sebadiaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a little out of date (lack of DNA evidence) and a quicker/easier distinction between North America/Europe would be appreciated but it is extensive, good color pictures, detailed descriptions, and some of the charts are really useful. Overall a nice little addition.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the mushroom guides I have read and used in my year and change since initiating into the hobby. The text is not well spaced, so that the descriptions of various mushroom features run together. The color plates, while large, are not particularly representative of all the key features. There is absolutely nothing added for readability or flavor. I find myself referring to it only rarely, when I am having trouble with a specific specimen and am looking for another source to corroborate one thought or the other. I don't recommend for anyone to start with this guide...if folks begin to, mycology really will be a dying hobby.

For the sake of offering a bit of both sides, the technical information in this guide does seem pretty good, and the introduction is well put together. That is also true of the Audubon guide, however, and that one is superior in all the other features mentioned above.

[Logan Spader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first mushroom book (of five) that I purchased. I didn't know anything about mushrooms or using identifying keys. I found that the book just doesn't work well for the fungi in South Dakota and I rarely ever use it. I HIGHLY prefer "Mushrooms of the Midwest" if you live in my area and every amateur mycologist should have David's "Mushrooms Demystified" due to his wit and incredibly huge list of wild mushrooms.

[Maya Dellor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems to skip some edible mushrooms that I've seen in other books and includes too many uninteresting mushrooms. It's confusing that it includes Europe since the mushrooms are often different here in the US.

[1 Andrew E]

This book is about different types of mushrooms and what they are like. It tells you if they are edible, what season they come out in, and what they look like. I thought that it was fastinating that there are this many mushrooms in the world. I might even try to find some!

[Josh Tisker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great guide but hard to find what you're looking to ID. It's comprehensive but overwhelming.

[Kelly M]

This is a good field guide.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book with plenty of colored pictures and notes stating whether or note the mushrooms are safe to eat.