The Kingdom of Fungi

Not a book for identification or anything but if you want beautiful well laid out photos of fungi this book is definitely the one you want. Even though it’s not an identification book i did find out the ID of a beautiful lichen ive been curious about that grows by a pond i go to frequently thanks to the high quality photo.

When you were a child and hadn’t yet learned to read, did you ever become enraptured by a book like Audubon's Birds, Grey’s Anatomy, or an Illustrated History of the World? Part of the magic of those experiences is to be introduced to a world of awesome beauty without language to describe what you’re looking at. The Kingdom of Fungi, by Jens H. Petersen, is that sort of book, and as I turn its pages I am delighted in ways I cannot even describe.And yet, I will try. Because, as C. S. Lewis said, “delight is incomplete until it is expressed.” And clearly Petersen means to express his passion, scholarship, and wonder.When you hold this book in your hands, begin anywhere and take your time. This may be the best collection of fungi photographs you have ever seen.If you are new to mycology like me, return to the book’s beginning, and be introduced with clear text and precise examples of “spore,” “hyphae,” “mycelium,” “fruiting body.” And because, as we know, the kingdom of fungi is not a clear hierarchy, follow the illustrations of the kinships and form groups of fungi. I hadn’t encountered a clearer description until now. After several pages introducing concepts and illustrations of fruiting bodies and their morphology, and an exploration of parallel evolution, the rest of the book opens up the world of Ascomycota to Zygomycota: microphotographs of asci, sun-lit field photographs, tooth fungi among the sorrel, creepy cordycepts, a polyphore with a giant black slug, and lots of photographs of happy children in the forest with mushrooms.

Do not pick this book up if you are expecting a field guide or really in depth guide to Mycology, pick this book up if you are a lover of Fungi and want to be amazed by beautiful photos and snippets of information.The Kingdom of Fungi takes a look at fungi from both a scientific standpoint as well as a 'coffee table-esque' visual guide to the various types and families. From microscopic to humongous fruiting bodies, the book starts with spores, hyphae, and mycellium, and gradually moves through the kingdom of Fungi. I absolutely love how it blends biology and beauty, this is no dry textbook.I would say this is a great introduction to Mycology, if you know someone who has an interest in mushrooms and wants to make the leap from field guides to the 'hard stuff' I would say this is a great stepping stone.For anyone who is curious about this kind of thing, most of the fungi used as photographic examples and studies in this book are from Denmark, Ecuador, Bhutan, Sweden, and a smattering of other locations. I was amused at how many fungi that are native to Denmark are native to parts of the world that I have gone mushrooming. This is a great addition to my mushroom book collection.

My entry into the mystical field of mycology was through medical mycology. In recent years I have become fascinated with mushrooms and am an avid hunter with camera. I like this book because it removes the source of some of my confusion. (Maybe PhD prepared people are not supposed to admit confusion but I do so freely.) Terms are defined and have a line drawing or a photograph. The confusing taxonomical groups are explained. The photographs are exquisite.If you want a strictly scientific text this may not be what you think you want. I have the scientific texts and this book clears up some of the confusing parts of the science. This book has helped me see the forest through trees. Sometimes it is best to step back and get an overview. In addition, the book is so beautiful it would make an excellent coffee table book as a gift.

Most of the species are outside the USA. This book is more about learning about fungi than keying them out. Good introductory text about all things fungi. (lower division or junior college level). Excellent source to come up with imaginary species based on existing ones too. Amazing!

I ate through the book as most of it are pictures yet very informative. It covers many mushrooms from the Nordic Areas, African, and some South American fungi (some species found worldwide). The passion comes through in the pages, pictures are intense and colorful. Awesome coffee table book or a teaching aid. I'd say that this book would be the best option to introduce fungi towards benighted people.

My daughter loved it! Beautiful pictures, with some information about the mushrooms. This is more a feast for the eyes rather than an in depth book on mushrooms.

This was a gift for an 8 year old grandson who loves bugs and wanted books on other areas of biology. This book was a hit. It has great pictures and not too much text. It is a beautiful introduction into a fascinating world of nature. We all (his family) had no idea of the diversity and amazing beauty of fungi. Many interesting but mysterious things I have seen again and again in nature, and never understood, turn out to be fungi.

I was looking for something with more detailed biology info, but it's still an amusing book full of amazing photos of fungi. This is a great book for someone that is not very familiar with biology and wants to gain a general scientific understanding of fungi while looking at awesome macros.

This book is for the most part a stunning photographic album documenting by examples the sheer variety of the approximately 100,000 described and recorded species of fungi (and estimates of the total number including yet undiscovered range from 1.5 to 5 million). The majority of species are recorded in the author's native Denmark and surrounding Scandinavian countries, but there are other countries represented here too to present forms from other climate types, in particular the tropical rain forest of Ecuador and the mountainous Bhutan.The accompanying text takes second place to the photography in centre stage, but gives an excellent introduction to the layperson of the basics of fungal biology and form, classification (most of the book being divided into subsections of ascomycota and basidiomycota with photographic examples), and fungal ecology. It's a marvellous record of the "endless forms most beautiful" of the rather neglected "fifth kingdom".

Fantastic book .quality all through and worth every penny of price.very informative and beautiful photographs.

This book is perfect for bringing the wonderful world of fungi to those with little knowledge of their kingdom. The text is kept uncomplicated and to straight to the point as the book relies more on the outstanding photographs to tell their story. If you were not total amazed by fungi before you read this book you will be afterwards. The photographs are as good as you will get and it is a pleasure just to flip through in pure wonder at the amazing structures on display.

This book is an excellent survey of all types of fungi with beautiful photographs and with clear, accurate text. It is not an identification guide but the information should appeal to anyone with more than a passing interest in these organisms. It contains a wealth of information to satisfy anyone who wishes to study the subject seriously. I have read many books on fungi and am pleased to recommend this one as one of the best illustrated volumes available.