Mushrooms of Northeast North America: Midwest to New England

Rating:
Summary: Detailed and Easy-to-Use Reference
Review: A must-have for persons interested in identifying mushrooms (including which might be edible) and fungi (including puff balls, brackens, slime molds and plant pathogenic fungi) of the Northeast (from the eastcoast on over to Michigan). We used this guide as required text in a grad-level course I took on fungi - and I kept it after the class because it was so enjoyable. The author clearly loves his subject..and the photographs and illustrations are excellent. It also includes other vital identifying characteristics such as spore print info that are musts for a proper ID. Great though, for even those only interested in possibly finding out what the weird shelf fungus is growing on a rotting log or casual nature lovers.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing field guide
Review: Amazing pictures, ease of use with color codes on the pages, small format, solidly bind together, extensive coverage... it is truly a great field guide. It is not, on the other side, a perfect book for definitive mushroom identification. In order to keep it pocket size, and keep pictures at a reasonable size, the text identifying mushrooms is quite concise and some details are often missing (e.g. a 'similar mushroom' section indicating the specific difference to look for). As far as I know, it is the best pocket size field guide available on the market right now but the dedicated mycologist or the amateur mycophage still need a more detailed book at home... and these encyclopaedia can hardly be brought on the trail.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for all ages
Review: I bought this book for my 3 year old niece, who lives in Maine where there is an amazing variety of mushrooms. My sister reported:

She absolutely loves her mushroom book. She took it to bed with her last night, and took it on our carriage trip today. She recognized the big mushroom immediately.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Guide
Review: This book by George Barron is a wonderful feild guide. Every picture is large and in vivid color not like many books that that have small or unclear pictures. This detail makes distinguishing alike mushrooms simple, and if you are still confused Mr. Barron's simple laid back notes on each will correct any confusion. The book has user friendly color coded sections. There is even extra information on edible and toxic mushrooms overall there is no better book on the market today to identify mushrooms period. Although Mr. Barron is an expert on this subject and has a Ph.D in Mycology he is a master at keeping it simple. If you are intrested in this topic, buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: i was insulted by this book
Review: while this book is a conveinient, easy to use, easy to carry field guide, the author seems to assume the reader is an idiot. it is almost as if he is purposefully withholding information. he reccomends the "old man of the woods", frankly a bad tasting mushroom, as an edible simply because it is easy to recognize. similarly he discourages eating/does not mention good edibles whenever he feels that the reader may be too stupid to avoid confusing them with other mushrooms. the book does not describe many species either. mushrooms of west virginia and the central appalachians is a much better regional guide, and mushrooms demystified is the best overall in my opinion.