Best Book?

[GangstaShroom]

Hello again.


I'm thinking of getting a new book. I have one - but I think two is probably better.

I currently own the Philips Guide to Mushrooms but really am asking for advice for the best book out there. It serves it's purpose, but the ket is something to be desired and sometimes the illustrations arne't quite right. Clouded Agaric being one. You know the kind fo thing... Great descriptions, great photos etc etc.


Two categories are:

Best Illustrated book
Best photo based book


What do you experts reccommend?

[flaxton]

Hi
It is all about "Horses for Courses".
If you want a book to take out on your foray then a smaller size is important.
If you want to identify the more common fungi at home size is less important.
Do you want to identify by photo or Key?
Do you want to identify all your finds?

IMO for the small book Mushrooms and Toadstools by Courtecuisse is excellent.
For a larger book with lots of good photos is either Phillips or Michael Jordan.
Be warned if (when) you get hooked you will start drooling over the talk of the Fungi of Switzerland at £70-80 a time and there are 6 of them or Nordica Macromycetes or Flora Neerlandica or........ so it goes on.

We all have our favorites but remember when all else fails we are all here to help with identification if possible.

Mal

[leifus]

michael jordans fungi of britain and europe is highly recommended

[flaxton]

Just a note for the mods. It is a recuring question so would it be worth creating a sticky for this thread when it is finished?

Mal

[CapAndBracket]

Jordan and Phillips together are affordable and for home use are excellent,
plus one of the pocket guides to take in the field seems to be the best
starting point, any further gets into serious money.

Now not available yet to fit the pocket (bet it soon will be) is Mycokey a
dvd guide, this was demonstrated on a course at the weekend and it's the
future. More photo's of more species than our general guides and keys that
don't require all fields to be filled to continue to the next step.
Unfortunately from my perspective, it dosen't include all the tiny
ascomycetes as yet.
(i believe an online version is being updated, and is available as a free
(trial) download).

Cheers J.P.