More than 1,000 species of mushrooms described in detail. Over 700 paintings and drawings reveal subtle field marks that cannot be captured into photographs.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world's greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars. These editions include updated material by Michael O'Brien, Paul Lehman, Bill Thompson III, Michael DiGiorgio, Larry Rosche, and Jeffrey A. Gordon.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
88 of 88 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This field guide is nearly twenty years old, but there are so few field guides to fungi that it still remains a standard reference. Like all Peterson field guides, it is handy and compact and can easily be taken into the field and pored over with the mushrooms in their wild habitat. The text is detailed and accurate and a "similar species" section is very useful. However, this guide uses painted plates whereas amateurs generally find it easier to identify fungi by photographs. I personally find photographs more accurate, but enjoy paintings in their own right. In this case the paintings are pleasing and quite faithful.
Although this guide should be on every mushroom enthusiast's shelves, a better beginners guide might be Roger Phillips' photographic book which has now appeared in a revised edition (on Amazon.com: ISBN 1554071151). Phillips provides 1000 photographs compared to this guide's 700 illustrations. However, Phillips is rather large to take into the field except in a backpack. Bear in mind that no fungus guide is comprehensive - each treats a selection of species - so it is wise to have a good selection in order to be in with a chance of correct identification.
So, until a compact photographic guide to fungi appears, this tried and tested Peterson guide will continue to fill a niche in the mushroom hunter's library.
Although this guide should be on every mushroom enthusiast's shelves, a better beginners guide might be Roger Phillips' photographic book which has now appeared in a revised edition (on Amazon.com: ISBN 1554071151). Phillips provides 1000 photographs compared to this guide's 700 illustrations. However, Phillips is rather large to take into the field except in a backpack. Bear in mind that no fungus guide is comprehensive - each treats a selection of species - so it is wise to have a good selection in order to be in with a chance of correct identification.
So, until a compact photographic guide to fungi appears, this tried and tested Peterson guide will continue to fill a niche in the mushroom hunter's library.
53 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be well illustrated. And although not as comprehensive as i'd hoped, it is still the most complete guide I have found. Overall, I feel it is well above average--and I'm quite hard to please!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By J. Rapp
Format:Paperback
We own several different guides. Each has it's own strength. I recommend this as the first guide for those beginning to identify MR/Fungi. It covers most of the basic MR/Fungi family, but is not encylopedic as Arora's 'Mushrooms Demystified' attempts to be, nor does it have the number of color photographs that either the Falcon Guide 'North American Mushrooms' or Audubon's Field Guide. But it's one of the easiest to use beginning with 48 (mostly color) plates, then branching off into related species.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This Field Guide to Mushrooms is somewhat easy to understand, but requires the user to have basic knowledge of some characteristics of mushrooms. There could be mistakes in ID made. As with any mushroom guide, the user must pay strict attention, and be very careful. The print is very easy to read, and the pictures are extensive. I feel this would be a good book for the hunter who has some basic experience in the field.
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By C. B. Main
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The pictures in this guide are not quite as nice as in the audubon version but is still easy to use and a nice handy size for carrying in a pocket
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A. J. Davis
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
i used this book so far only in the fall. it was really good and helped me identify several different types. most were poisonous. this can be expected in the area and season i searched. i look forward to searching more in the spring. a great fieldguide with color illustrations.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Mark
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best go to reference book for collecting edible mushrooms. The color drawing can impart much more info than photos. Clearly describes what to look for and what to look out for.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By M. Clifford
Format:Paperback
While the descriptions in this book are helpful, the illustrations are inherently imprecise because they are non-photographic. The size of the book is good for taking into the field, but I'm put off by the old-school descriptions of mushrooms that have psychedelic/entheogenic properties. These important fungal allies are dismissed as "hallucinogenic" used by certain people for recreational purposes. Therefore they are labelled poisonous.
Overall, I found that I felt I couldn't trust the book to provide the kind of precision and accuracy that I need to be confident about my identifications. I would say use it as a secondary guide, or for an initial assessment of your fungal findings, but rely on more modern sources that also provide photographs.
Overall, I found that I felt I couldn't trust the book to provide the kind of precision and accuracy that I need to be confident about my identifications. I would say use it as a secondary guide, or for an initial assessment of your fungal findings, but rely on more modern sources that also provide photographs.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mushrooms... More than you could ever want to know about them!
This book is very technical. It should be required reading for college students interested in this field. It did not suit my needs.
Published 9 days ago by Nicrisguy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America (Peterson Field Guides)
Love mushroom hunting? this book is pretty good. My husband just needed a refresher so we purchased it and am happy with it.
Published 13 days ago by Belinda Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very detailed
My husband and I are rookies when it comes to mushroom hunting so we wanted a book with detailed pictures and information that is easy to understand. This book was great.
Published 18 days ago by J&A
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book review
Good book, picture plates were wonderful , already have used more once in the woods. Text easy to understand and read. Excellent book over all
Published 24 days ago by R. Bernholz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still getting used to the format
I rely on Peterson's for all my field guide needs. That said, I do prefer the format used in the bird guides and in the Northeastern/Northcental and Pacific States wildflower... Read more
Published 25 days ago by MossyTrail
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could save your life
Mushrooms are tricky little plants and yo.u really need this book to be sure that you do not die from ingesting the wrong plants. Read more
Published 5 months ago by cecily s quimby
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Detailed
Very detailed book and a great size to take along on mushroom hunts. I was a little disappointed with the pictures - kind of small and scattered throughout the book but - the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by lotsofcrome
5.0 out of 5 stars
Looks good
Ordered this for a gift because the Peterson Field Guides are always good. We have others. To our delight we know the author and had him for a professor years ago! Delighted.
Published 6 months ago by mary ann kuta
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clean and un-used
This book has nice illustrations, no photos, but the drawings are clear and well colored. Should be a companion book in forays, not the only reference source.
Published 8 months ago by Marilyn Keurajian
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mushrooms of North America
This item shipped fast and secure, no problems, brand new, the book itself is really good for identity of mushrooms, i found a couple of mushrooms at the park and used the color... Read more
Published 8 months ago by G. Berry
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
See all 8 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- Field guide by Terry Collins in Front Matter
- Make a Movie That Tells a Story on page 11
- Wild Mushroom Recipes by Puget Sound Mycological Society in Back Matter
- A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe by Guy Mountfort in Front Matter
- The Mushroom Feast by Jane Grigson in Back Matter
See all 8 books this book cites
- This Is Not a Weasel: A Close Look at Nature's Most Confusing Terms by Philip B. Mortenson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Alaska's Mushrooms: A Practical Guide (Alaska Pocket Guide) by Harriette Parker in Back Matter
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