annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
In Search of Mycotopia is an informative and journalistic look at mycology and how it intersects different communities - written and presented by Doug Bierend. Due out 10th March 2021 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover format.
This is a surprisingly engaging book about people who love fungi. There are scientists (both academics and laypeople whose love of all things mycology brings them together), producers, counter-cultural-citizen-mycologists, educators, foragers, ecologists, and ethnobotanists in a sort of network of advocates over a broad range of the population.
The book is layman accessible, and I found it a fascinating read. It's rigorously annotated (and the chapter notes and index make for fascinating further reading) but doesn't get bogged down in overly academic language. This is popular science writing - not a "how-to" guide. There are no tutorials here. The author does present a number of eccentric personalities from the counter-cultural vanguard, and always manages to do so with respect and affection. There are a handful of popular science and zoology writers who have the gift of writing layman accessibly and engagingly on their topics of expertise. Doug Bierend is one such.
Four stars. Heartily recommended for readers of science, ecology, ethnobotany and similar subjects.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
In Search of Mycotopia is an informative and journalistic look at mycology and how it intersects different communities - written and presented by Doug Bierend. Due out 10th March 2021 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover format.
This is a surprisingly engaging book about people who love fungi. There are scientists (both academics and laypeople whose love of all things mycology brings them together), producers, counter-cultural-citizen-mycologists, educators, foragers, ecologists, and ethnobotanists in a sort of network of advocates over a broad range of the population.
The book is layman accessible, and I found it a fascinating read. It's rigorously annotated (and the chapter notes and index make for fascinating further reading) but doesn't get bogged down in overly academic language. This is popular science writing - not a "how-to" guide. There are no tutorials here. The author does present a number of eccentric personalities from the counter-cultural vanguard, and always manages to do so with respect and affection. There are a handful of popular science and zoology writers who have the gift of writing layman accessibly and engagingly on their topics of expertise. Doug Bierend is one such.
Four stars. Heartily recommended for readers of science, ecology, ethnobotany and similar subjects.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
radueriel's review against another edition
4.25
ostensibly a book about fungi's biggest advocates, it ends up being a depressing portrait of some of the ways activism cedes to capitalism
lillowo's review
I really enjoyed the first two chapters of this book. I found them informative and interesting and give a really interesting look at the science and the ways in which we are learning about mushrooms and fungi.
The narrator has a very strong personal voice but I do not find that there is much of a through line or very good organization throughout this book and that is ultimately why I stopped reading. The chapters about grassroots organizations and the ways in which they are working in the mushroom and mycology field really together and I couldn't figure out a clear theme or pattern. I actually got really tired of the repetition of stories and information (constantly through the book we're told about how a lot of these places are using the same systems but it's explained in a lot of detail).
This book opened with a really strong hook of social justice, ecology, environmental change, and how my ecology is being reworked but the longer I read, the more I felt like we were just being brought along for the authors experience of learning about mycology with no clear through line or development.
I learned some really great things in those first two chapters but I was struggling to stay engaged for the rest of what I read because of this lack of through line.
The narrator has a very strong personal voice but I do not find that there is much of a through line or very good organization throughout this book and that is ultimately why I stopped reading. The chapters about grassroots organizations and the ways in which they are working in the mushroom and mycology field really together and I couldn't figure out a clear theme or pattern. I actually got really tired of the repetition of stories and information (constantly through the book we're told about how a lot of these places are using the same systems but it's explained in a lot of detail).
This book opened with a really strong hook of social justice, ecology, environmental change, and how my ecology is being reworked but the longer I read, the more I felt like we were just being brought along for the authors experience of learning about mycology with no clear through line or development.
I learned some really great things in those first two chapters but I was struggling to stay engaged for the rest of what I read because of this lack of through line.
passifloraincarnata's review against another edition
I did not think it was possible to write a book about fungi that was woke.
Boy, was I wrong. Why politicize fungi? This book talks about the screechy political scene around fungi enthusiasts more than it talks about fungi.
As if that wasn't enough, the writer also adopts the space-wasting "you-are-there journalism" style that's currently popular for filling out word counts when you've got nothing to say but you promised your publisher a 400 page book. You know the style-- can't just say: XYZ organization is based out of two modest trailers, but they're getting ready to move to nicer digs." One sentence. Relevant facts. No, you've gotta be like: "I arrived on a misty, moisty morning when the dew was slick on the grass. I walked ten timid steps to the door of the second blue-paneled trailer, and ascended the three damp, creaky stairs. The smell triggered reminiscences of crusty french baguettes in Paris and fancy dark beer in Belgium..." It's like listening to your drunk uncle who can't get to the punchline of the joke because he's gone off on so many dumb tangents he's now forgotten what joke he was telling. Whatever happened to editing? Is that a thing anymore?
Once you've skimmed two chapters looking for actual info on the subject of the book, and still found nothing... it's time to ditch the book.
Boy, was I wrong. Why politicize fungi? This book talks about the screechy political scene around fungi enthusiasts more than it talks about fungi.
As if that wasn't enough, the writer also adopts the space-wasting "you-are-there journalism" style that's currently popular for filling out word counts when you've got nothing to say but you promised your publisher a 400 page book. You know the style-- can't just say: XYZ organization is based out of two modest trailers, but they're getting ready to move to nicer digs." One sentence. Relevant facts. No, you've gotta be like: "I arrived on a misty, moisty morning when the dew was slick on the grass. I walked ten timid steps to the door of the second blue-paneled trailer, and ascended the three damp, creaky stairs. The smell triggered reminiscences of crusty french baguettes in Paris and fancy dark beer in Belgium..." It's like listening to your drunk uncle who can't get to the punchline of the joke because he's gone off on so many dumb tangents he's now forgotten what joke he was telling. Whatever happened to editing? Is that a thing anymore?
Once you've skimmed two chapters looking for actual info on the subject of the book, and still found nothing... it's time to ditch the book.
astroneatly's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
readingunderamushroom's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0