A must have for beginner shroom hunters
346434
This book is perfect for the beginner shroom hunter.  I carry this in my backpack when hiking and am to easily identify any mushroom I encounter.
1764912
Being my first book on mushroom cultivation (not to mention the mushroom industry), this book was really awesome. The book is quite technical yet easy to understand. The amount of information is just right for a beginner like me, to have an indepth understanding of mushrooms. It is a MUST read for all mushrooms enthusiast!
2847048
Excellent resource for beginner and experienced grower alike.
3420327
This is a large book,  so the pics  are large, which is great.  It covers most of the mushrooms a beginner would encounter.  Informative,  thorough, and fun to just flip through.  I live in the great Pacific Northwest,  and it stays on the coffee table year round!  Jeff, avid mycologist.
4676113
I am just starting out in the world of being a hobbiest woodworker and I wanted books on the tablesaw to give information on proper setup, use, maintenance, and safety techniques (better to learn to keep your fingers right from the start).  After reading the other (above) reviews of this book, I purchased it.  It turns out to be a wonderful source of information for the beginner.  I team this book with "Woodworking - The Right Technique" by Bob Moran as two volumes a beginner should have (and read thoroughly) before embarking on using your tablesaw.  Everytime I re-read either of these volumes, I pick up something new that I didn't pay attention to the first time.
This book (along with the the Moran book) are highly recommended.
3235464
Excellent book for identifying mushrooms, especially in the eastern United States. Very good pictures to help with identification. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to get outdoors and look for mushrooms. I take this book every time I go out in the fall looking for edible mushrooms.
4842800
If you like mushrooms this is the book for you! No, this is not mushroom guide book and will not caution you about what mushrooms are poisonous. It is not a manual for mycological identification replete with color identification photos.

What this book is though is even better! The author takes you on a magical jaunt through the world of mycology - mushrooms - their growth, lore and legends. It's a wonderfully written jaunt through a life filled with mushroom hunting, gathering and learning about the relationship that we have with mushrooms and, conversely the relationship that these marvelous fungi have with us! The chapters are each readable by themselves - so no need to read it all in order. This is a delightful well written, fun filled book that makes learning about mushrooms as easy as breathing - erhh - or reading ! A great library addition for the connoisseur, gourmet, or inquiring mind. Well done and definitely recommended!
4541486
Oh man! This is the easiest way to get shrooms into your diet.
Warning: you will start coming up with new excuses to have hot chocolate.
4916910
Simply the best mushroom guide for anybody who is seriously interested in mushrooms in the NE. You WILL have to familiarize yourself with mycological terminology and the general taxonomy of mushrooms to be able to use this book effectively, and it is not akin to a Sibley bird guide where you can just flip through the pages and find your specimen. Often the keys lead you to microscopic or chemical staining analysis of the mushrooms, which can definitely be frustrating if you don't have the capacity to do these analyses. A more basic, field friendly guide (the book is large) might be better for someone who just wants to poke around in the woods, find a mushroom, and take a stab at what it might be. But if you are serious about mycology and you want an exhaustive treatment of mushrooms, this is your book. I own three Bessette books, this one, Mushrooms of the SE, and Boletes, and all are excellent within the caveats expressed in this reivew.
4081893
I have read this book a few times, easy to read, with great color pictures. My copy is now signed by the co-author (yeah!). Recommended for the beginner mushroom hunter for the midwest region, as the most popular types are included, with the top edibles and most toxic types to avoid. It also compares the look-alikes and how to tell them apart. I also have the bigger, more inclusive mushroom books to cross reference, which is always recommended.
1823850
Such a great resource! If you're new to medicinal mushrooms, this book is the perfect place to start. It's packed with good info, organized in an easily digestible format, and can't wait to try the recipes!
553779
I bought this as a gift for a novice mushroomer. She was delighted to have this as her field guide.
4478592
I found this book to be an excellent resource for those starting out on the Druidic path, or just interested in learning about it. The break down of the various practices, sample material, and exercises included are wonderful and will definately help those interested into starting on thier path into the woods. For those who are all ready on the path it can put some things into perspective and open your eyes about other aspects.

Though presented in the A.O.D.A. format this does lend itself well to other organizations and works well with the O.B.O.D. teachings.
4468049
This book is a must have for every grower.  It should not be the sole resource for information, but a reference guide for the beginner to the advanced grower.  I find myself referring back the pages frequently to pick up some hidden or forgotton hints. The book is definately an integral part in the success in my garden.
1739817
I've been using and studying herbs for over 15 years.  This is without a doubt one of the most thorough and well explained beginner books I have ever found.  With recipes for use, background info and great pictures of the actual herbs, you'll get a really good, basic education in herbal healing here.  There is even information about foraging for herbs.  A word of caution there, because anything that is close to roadways or in a treated area (non natural pesticides, used) should be avoided.  I prefer to grow my own, that's truly the best and safest way to ensure that your findings have not been unnaturally contaminated.  I also make sure that all my seeds and starts come from places that deal only in organic, nontreated seeds.

Wish this book had been around when I started out.  Would  have saved me lots of time and money over the years when it came to experimenting with herbs and growing.
466834
I live in the Northeast and was looking for a quick easy clear concise guide for edible plants that I could forage for in an SHTF.

I am familiar with several of the species that were presented already, however I wanted to have a little more reassurance. This laminated guide has clear illustrations of edible seeds, fruits, nuts, roots, leaves, as well as medicinal uses, herbal uses and also lists all the poison by contact and poison by ingestion species you have to watch out for.

Excellent resource if you are a prepper or survivalist and want to see what plants are most likely abundant in your local wilderness areas, back yard, down the street in the vacant lot or simply growing along the roadside.

I was surprised to learn that several common tough woody species can be eaten as well, if prepared correctly.

Check it out. Even simply to have as a conversation starter...it's worth the price.

Enjoy dining.
2453694
This is a great book for beginners just starting to dabble in herbal medicine.  The description of each herb, the instructions for infusions, decoctions, tinctures, syrups and poultices is written in easy to understand (for beginners) language.  The recipes presented inside are easy to follow and made with readily available ingredients.

A person with some knowledge of herbs and herbal medicine will find this book a priceless reference for the actions of some of the herbs presented inside.

This title is a keeper (5 Stars) because of the great information presented inside that can be accessed when needed.  Beginner, amateur, and master herbalists will find this book a valuable and pleasurable read.