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!
Awards and Recognition
- 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 × 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 entrée 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
"Who knew? What a charming introduction into a kingdom most of us ignore."—Bill McKibben, author of Falter
"With whimsy, wisdom, and deep knowledge, abetted by Amy Porter's thoroughly charming drawings, Lawrence Millman has conjured the most interesting, readable, and useful fungus book ever. His introduction, full of art and mirth, is the best essay I have read on this mysterious kingdom."—Robert Michael Pyle, author of Mariposa Road and Magdalena Mountain
"Having relished Lawrence Millman’s previous books on mushrooms, places, and people, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Fungipedia. However, I did not expect this masterpiece. It contains wisdom and knowledge (taxonomic and ethnomycological), and combines a rare didactic ability with a cheerful chutzpah that travels effortlessly between the simple and profound. It totally fulfills its purpose as a mini-encyclopedia. This useful and entertaining book will delight all who read it."—Elio Schaechter, author of In the Company of Mushrooms
"Fungi may be rarely noticed, but they play major roles in ecosystems. This informative and entertaining book makes them unforgettable."—Bernd Heinrich, author of A Naturalist at Large
“Tar spots! Stinkhorns! Beech aphid poop fungus! What fun to read Lawrence Millman's witty, wry, and wonky compendium of all things fungal.”—Eugenia Bone, author of Mycophilia
“Lawrence Millman is a consummate storyteller and the fungi that fill this book run the gamut from the overlooked to the incredible. A marvelous distillation of Millman’s obsessions, Fungipedia is peopled with his mycological mentors and heroes, and brims with science, lore, literature, art, music, cinema, and religion—all inexorably bound to fungi. Fungipedia is the next best thing to being on a walk with its author.”—Tom Bigelow, president of the New York Mycological Society
“Fungipedia is a most unusual, humorous, and enjoyable book. A true pleasure to read, it covers practically all aspects of fungi and elegantly explains mycology’s mysteries. Even seasoned mycologists will find it enlightening.”—Leif Ryvarden, University of Oslo
