In Search of Mycotopia: Citizen Science, Fungi Fanatics, and the Untapped Potential of Mushrooms

Written by Doug Bierend

Narrated by René Ruiz

"The author’s sharp ear for dialogue imbues his word portraits with vivid detail. . . . Mushrooms are having a moment. [A] natural sequel for the many readers who enjoyed Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life."—Library Journal

"Comprehensive and enthusiastic . . . This fascinating, informative look into a unique subculture and the fungi at its center is a real treat." —Publishers Weekly

"Nothing is impossible if you bring mushrooms into your life, and reading this book is a great way to begin your journey." —Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation 

From ecology to fermentation, in pop culture and in medicine—mushrooms are everywhere. With an explorer’s eye, author Doug Bierend guides readers through the weird, wonderful world of fungi and the amazing modern mycological movement.

In Search of Mycotopia introduces us to an incredible, essential, and oft-overlooked kingdom of life—fungi—and all the potential it holds for our future, through the work and research being done by an unforgettable community of mushroom-mad citizen scientists and microbe devotees. This entertaining and mind-expanding book will captivate readers who are curious about the hidden worlds and networks that make up our planet.

Bierend uncovers a vanguard of mycologists; growers, independent researchers, ecologists, entrepreneurs, and amateur enthusiasts exploring and advocating for fungi’s capacity to improve and heal. From decontaminating landscapes and waterways to achieving food security, In Search of Mycotopia demonstrates how humans can work with fungi to better live with nature—and with one another.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
• Release date: Mar 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781603589819

Doug Bierend

Doug Bierend is a freelance journalist writing about science and technology, food, and education, and the various ways they point to a more equitable and sustainable world. His byline appears in Wired, The Atlantic, Vice, Motherboard, The Counter, Outside Magazine, Civil Eats, and numerous other publications.

Reviews for In Search of Mycotopia

[Jenny McLean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the narrator - engaging and added some dimension.

As far as the book itself, fantastic. Light, humorous, educational, informative, engaging. Worth the feed/listen.

[Tricia Lavenbein · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful insight into the care it takes to bring ideas into the public eye. I admit, I was expecting to learn more about mushrooms but this is more about the people who want to highlight mushrooms as part of the solution to many of today's environmental issues.

[Megan Malarcher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even for a leftist, this was a bit too political for a book on mycology, but was nonetheless a valuable and meaningful read full of names to follow up on and ideas to explore. This book filled in the scientific details left wanting in books like Mycophilia and Entangled Life.

[Dick Jordan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an incredible and truly mind blowing book. As an ecologist and earthling, I highly recommend it. It gives me tremendous hope for the power of collective intelligence and inclusion as we learn to understand from fungi and incorporate their countless gifts.

[kim pine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a pretty interesting book lots of facts lots of neat things to learn about mushrooms in the society iin that they existing. I didn’t really like the political stand on groups which I really didn’t understand why that had anything to do with mushrooms and cohabitating with all kinds of people to learn and be in that structure. But I did introduce me to a few organizations that I will follow up with and I want to learn more thank you for the start