Mushrooms demystified
by David Arora · first published 1979
8mentions
5recommended by
5HN commenters
2016–2023first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Comprehensive desk reference for serious amateur mushroom enthusiasts in North America, covering identifying characteristics in depth and including keys. Suited to foragers wanting more than a field guide.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Identifies over two thousand species, answers common questions about mushrooms, and gives advice on collecting, preserving, and cooking with mushrooms.
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…allowed me to replace my commute time with lifting and I'm very thankful for it. - Mushroom identification. For anyone interested I recommend the books "All that the Rain Brings and More" as well as "Mushrooms Demystified" by David Arora. - Journaling. I like to organize my thoughts in a notebook on a regular basis. This hobby is probably the genesis of my other hobbies as I usually develop what I want to do with pen…
on “Ask HN: What hobbies do you pursue in your free time” ↗Start with the definitive reference: http://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Demystified-David-Arora/dp/0... Take a class or find a friend who is already knowledgeable. Or you could try getting in touch with culinary foraging folks. You'll quickly find out that there are only a few species…
on “Last supper: Like the pufferfish, wild mushrooms are for culinary daredevils” ↗Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora Edit: this is the definitive resource for serious amateur mushroom enthusiasts in North America. It has a wealth of information on understanding the identifying characteristics of mushrooms,…
on “A rash of nearly lethal mushroom poisonings in Ohio” ↗Hot takes aside, if you're looking for great foraging books, I'd suggest anything by David Arora, such as "All That the Rain Promises and More" and "Mushrooms Demystified". The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms is, of course, pretty good too. Outside of identification, "Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares" and "Radical Mycology" are good…
on “Mushroom pickers urged: Avoid Amazon foraging books, appear to be written by AI” ↗…mushrooms, you should know the identifying characteristics of your target species and any non-edible lookalikes. There are definitely no general rules for determining mushroom edibility. A great resource is Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora.
on “In California, Poisonous Death Cap Mushrooms Are the Forager's Bane” ↗…mycologist or foraging group and try to sync up with them. Barring that, see if there are any good guides specifically for your area. As a desk guide, rather than an in-the-field guide I'd recommend "Mushrooms Demystified": https://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Demystified-David-Arora/dp/...
on “Ask HN: Best way to learn about edible mushrooms” ↗…mushrooms and attempt to identify them. I combine this with photography and have lots of photos of mushrooms. If anyone is interested in doing this, buy the books "All That The Rain Brings and More" and "Mushrooms Demystified" by David Arora. - Electronics: I recently picked up a nice soldering station and a bunch of parts to make various circuits that I have been playing with the idea of making in my head. - Making Games:…
on “Ask HN: Do you have a creative outlet?” ↗…idea, but how would this work? Most identification starts with a spore print. What if instead of an AI to identify mushrooms it was software that used a classification system like what is described in "Mushrooms Demystified". Edit: Should clarify most reading I have done on mushroom ID involves taking spore prints as an essential step but it's not always the rule.
on “I wasted $40k on a fantastic startup idea” ↗