All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms [Paperback]

David Arora (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

Full-color illustrated guide to identifying 200 Western mushrooms by their key features.

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; illustrated edition edition (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898153883
• ISBN-13: 978-0898153880
• Product Dimensions: 4 x 0.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Mushrooms

More About the Author

David Arora has taught micology for the last 15 years in California and has hunted and photographed mushrooms across the continent.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love of Mushrooms, August 16, 2004

By 

Samuel Ley (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms (Paperback)

I always appreciate reading something by a person who loves what they are writing about. It seems like all too often a book is written by someone who seems to know what they are talking about, but don't LOVE what they are talking about.

David Arora LOVES mushrooms! Not only that, he knows a LOT about them. This book is more than any other field guide I've owned. It allows for quick and easy identification of common mushrooms, which is important. However, it shows us the human side of the fungal world. Delicious recipes, stories of friends and funny anecdotes are sprinkled among hard facts. Colorful photos abound of both the mushrooms themselves, but also their happy finders. Old japanese men, young girls, cheerful bearded men and even a few happy dogs are all shown with glee at their find. Mushrooming is not something people do as a chore, its what they do as a passion.

The pleasure of finding something secret, something mysterious on the forest floor, something to fill you with earthen smells and primitive tastes. This pleasure practically drips from "All the Rain Promises and More..."

If you like mushrooms, or if you think maybe you WOULD like mushrooms, if you just got the right introduction, then this book is for you. If you already love mushrooms, then this book is a great pocket guide (nice pocket size, I carry mine all over), with clear photos, decisive identification criteria, and plenty of facts and interesting tidbits to make you nod knowingly, pleased at what you'll find after the fall rains.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely essential!, August 27, 2000

By 

"terryinphx" - See all my reviews

This review is from: All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms (Paperback)

This is the book you must have if you are even casually interested in wild mushrooms. I am replacing a copy that some cretin stole from me. It is a reader's digest version of the big book by David Arora that is also indispensable. Great photographs and very good descriptions of the most commonly encountered species. A nice touch of humor to make it more than just a reference. Don't miss this one!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An EXCELLENT Guide! (Even if you don't live in the West.), May 1, 2004

By 

Delaine Franklin (Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms (Paperback)

I eagerly waited for this book to arrive to me because of all the rave reviews I read about it. Then when I found out it was a guide for WESTERN mushrooms (extending to Colorado; I live in the Midwest) I thought, Crap, I'm gonna half to return it. But the more I kept browsing through it, the more I wasn't going to return it. I LOVE this book! This is a good read even if you don't live in the area it covers. Some of a species described in the book I have actually found in my area.
The photography is excellent, and many times show different angles of the 'shroom. The descriptions are very clear and easy to understand and extra comments, stories and some cooking suggestions are included. However, this guide doesn't include all of the species; it's only made to be an easy-to-carry field guide. I would suggest a more in-depth guide as a compliment to this one. I've heard good things about Mushrooms Demystified (same author), and I am so impressed with this book that I am going to buy it as well.