Mushrooming without Fear by Alexander Schwab

Bachflock · Jul 4, 2009, 7:43 pm

"Mushrooming without Fear: The Beginner's Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms" by Alexander Schwab

Many people who are interested in getting into mushroom hunting at least have enough sense to know SOME MUSHROOMS KILL. However, this doesn't change the fact they don't necessarily know where to start. This book is a good place to start.

I read and reviewed this book as a novice mushroom hunter with just enough knowledge about fungi to make myself "dangerous." With that in mind I feel this book is well written, and easy read, and has great photographs. After reading this book I would have no problems adding it to my permanent collection and using it for future reference. More importantly, I do feel that it helped point me toward some very safe and tasty edible mushrooms.

The meat of it: Admittedly I think this book is a bit superficial but Alexander Schwab's approach seems safe enough. His #1 rule, while eliminating a number of good edible species, does steer the novice edible mushroom hunter away from the majority of the deadly poisonous species. And that is the purpose of his book, to point the novice edibles hunter in the right direction with enough knowledge and enough confidence to make good, informed decisions and significantly reducing the risk of ending up poisoned. A word of caution: As always, when it comes to picking mushrooms with the intent to eat them, NOTHING replaces educating yourself as completely as possible and having a good knowledge base when entering the woods. Book smarts will never replace experience, they must work together. This book will start you down that path and give you a number of safe and very tasty mushrooms you can pick. However, if you wish to expand your choices take the time to pick up a more complete and technical book and truly learn about the world of fungi.

ottis · Jul 8, 2009, 7:39 am

This was one of the first books I bought when I first started expanding my mushroom knowledge, (never ending job.LOL.)

Jul 8, 2009, 7:39 am	#2
ottis Full Member Name: Gene Southern, Michigan USA Hamilton Join Date: Apr 15, 2004 Posts: 214	Re: Mushrooming without Fear by Alexander Sch This was one of the first books I bought when I first started expanding my mushroom knowledge, (never ending job.LOL.)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Jul 4, 2009, 7:43 pm	#1
Bachflock Full Member Name: Vance Northern, Michigan USA Traverse City Join Date: Sep 7, 2007 Posts: 3,184	Mushrooming without Fear by Alexander Schwab "Mushrooming without Fear: The Beginner's Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms" by Alexander Schwab Many people who are interested in getting into mushroom hunting at least have enough sense to know SOME MUSHROOMS KILL. However, this doesn't change the fact they don't necessarily know where to start. This book is a good place to start. I read and reviewed this book as a novice mushroom hunter with just enough knowledge about fungi to make myself "dangerous." With that in mind I feel this book is well written, and easy read, and has great photographs. After reading this book I would have no problems adding it to my permanent collection and using it for future reference. More importantly, I do feel that it helped point me toward some very safe and tasty edible mushrooms. The meat of it: Admittedly I think this book is a bit superficial but Alexander Schwab's approach seems safe enough. His #1 rule, while eliminating a number of good edible species, does steer the novice edible mushroom hunter away from the majority of the deadly poisonous species. And that is the purpose of his book, to point the novice edibles hunter in the right direction with enough knowledge and enough confidence to make good, informed decisions and significantly reducing the risk of ending up poisoned. A word of caution: As always, when it comes to picking mushrooms with the intent to eat them, NOTHING replaces educating yourself as completely as possible and having a good knowledge base when entering the woods. Book smarts will never replace experience, they must work together. This book will start you down that path and give you a number of safe and very tasty mushrooms you can pick. However, if you wish to expand your choices take the time to pick up a more complete and technical book and truly learn about the world of fungi. __________________ vjs The best lessons are those learned before you wish you had known better, especially when thinking edible mushrooms.