Further Reading

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As I mention throughout this site, I am not an expert. My knowledge of mushrooms is based on my personal experience, videos, lectures, classes, and some excellent books. I’d like to share with you some of the books that I use most often and some that I know others really enjoy.

** This post is a work in progress but I wanted to get it started for you all and I will continue to add and improve it over time **

Using expert descriptions is essential for positively identifying any mushroom you intend to eat. For beginners and experienced mushroom foragers alike, it can be easy to misidentify a mushroom unless you are both familiar with the characteristics of your target mushroom, and that of similar-looking mushrooms. You can find expert descriptions online but here I will cover some of the most popular guidebooks you can use for Pacific Northwest Mushrooms.

 

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Best All Around

Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast
Noah Siegel & Christian Schwarz

600 pages
MSRP $35

I recognize starting this list off with a book targeting fungi of northern coastal California might seem strange but you only have to open the book to notice the quality of the design, photographs, and descriptions. While the ecosystem in coastal northern California is different from many parts of the Pacific Northwest, there is still a significant overlap in species found from this area north through coastal British Columbia.

Pros

• Excellent full-color photography
• Pictorial table of contents
• Edibility details
• Easy to digest descriptions

Cons

• Not PNW specific leaving some holes
• Larger and more expensive than many beginners would need

Summary

I picked this book up based on a recommendation from one of the expert mushroom identifiers in Seattle and I’m glad I did. Noah is active in the mushroom community and you will find him commenting on iNaturalist and mushroom groups on Facebook. This book is a joy to thumb through, and it’s also my go-to for looking up details on a particular species.

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A Beginner’s Classic

All That the Rain Promises, and More…
David Arora

250 pages
MSRP $17.99

Described as “A hip pocket guide to western mushrooms”, this book is among the most popular for mushroom lovers in our region and beyond. David Arora has been one of the most recognizable names in western mushrooms for decades and this book is one of the reasons why.

Pros

• Full-color photography
• Flow chart for finding the right sections
• Small pocket guide
• A less-expensive alternative to the larger books
• Some interesting mushroom culture photos and anecdotes

Cons

• Not PNW specific leaving some holes
• Somewhat dated. Some names have changed since the book was printed in 1991
• Smaller book = smaller photos

Summary

The size, color photography, and quirky style help set this book apart from many of the other guidebooks available. It’s a classic and in some ways a time capsule. The identification flowcharts on the inside covers really help one to understand some of the first steps one should take when identifying a new mushroom.

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Coming Soon…

Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest
Steve Trudell and Joe Ammirati

Mushrooms Demystified
David Arora

Field Guide to North American Mushrooms
National Audubon Society

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