Mycelium running
Mycelium Running is a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet. That’s right: growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment, and in this groundbreaking text from mushroom expert Paul Stamets, you’ll find out how. The basic science goes like this: Microscopic cells called “mycelium”--the fruit of which are mushrooms--recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What Stamets has discovered is that we can capitalize on mycelium’s digestive power and target it to decompose toxic wastes and pollutants (mycoremediation), catch and reduce silt from streambeds and pathogens from agricultural watersheds (mycofiltration), control insect populations (mycopesticides), and generally enhance the health of our forests and gardens (mycoforestry and myco-gardening). In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find chapters detailing each of these four exciting branches of what Stamets has coined “mycorestoration,” as well as chapters on the medicinal and nutritional properties of mushrooms, inoculation methods, log and stump culture, and species selection for various environmental purposes. Heavily referenced and beautifully illustrated, this book is destined to be a classic reference for bemushroomed generations to come.
Stats for nerds
7recommend
11mentions
11people
2013–2025years
64% recommend36% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- FYI there is also an illustrated edition, with cool pictures illustrating cool tree things: https://greystonebooks.com/products/the-hidden-life-of-trees...!
If you like scientific nonfiction in this vein, I'd also recommend:
- The Wild Trees
- Mycelium Running
- Mind of the Raven
- The Klamath Knot
Or if you want tree fiction:
- The Overstory
(edit: dunno how to do bullet lists here)
- Book recommendation: Mycelium Running
> Mycoremediation: the use of mycelium for decomposing toxic wastes and pollutants
- Most people would probably recommend Paul Stamets' book Mycelium Running in response to this question. I haven't read it personally (despite owning 20+ mushroom books), but that's probably the closest to what you're looking for. Langdon Cook's book The Mushroom Hunters is also a lot of fun, but it's definitely not comprehensive -- it's just stories about the commercial mushroom harvesting world.
If you want to get into mushroom foraging then the best way to learn (in addition to joining your local mycology club) is by getting some of the picture books, e.g. Mushrooming Without Fear and Mushrooming With Confidence. (Field guides aren't good for beginners, even the simplified ones.) If you're in the northeast, Lawrence Millman's book Fantastic Fungi of New England is also great.
- Cool. 1/2 way Stamet's book Mycelium Running which I highly recommend. This dude seems to have the same, highly infectious enthusiasm on the same topic.
- Stamets' book, Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World [0] is very good, and his enthusiasm is definitely contagious. I will check out the podcast, thought tbh Joe Rogan is pretty hit or miss for me.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World...
- If this interests you, Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets is an interesting dissertation on how mushrooms can "save the planet." His TED talks are a decent intro as well.
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