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

by David Arora (Author) "In this group the cap is usually vase-shaped, trumpet-shaped, or wavy at maturity, and the spore-bearing surface that lines the underside is completely smooth, shallowly..." (more)
Key Phrases: first covering the gills, volva absent, tinged cap color, Other Features, Key Features, Other Names (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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 (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898153883
• ISBN-13: 978-0898153880
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #105,913 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Fungi
  #16 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Plants > Mushrooms

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 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)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	"terryinphx" (Peoria, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

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!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable Field Guide, November 30, 1999

By	"terryinphx" (Peoria, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

Absolutely the best pocket-sized reference around. I lost my copy (or it was stolen!) and am reordering another. Contains identification keys that are usable in the field (less dependence on spore prints and microscopic exams than some of the others). Great photos make field ID easy. It seems I nearly always find what I'm looking for in this little book. Don't leave home without it!