I have read this book because I am writing a science fiction novel based around fungi. It was absolutely fascinating, and a testament to a life dedicated to change in innovative, intelligent, and sensitive ways.

He talks about how mushrooms can be used to clean up toxic waste, to grow vegetables in the desert, to filter water, to help plants grow, and for untapped medicinal purposes. It is all very inexpensive, can be done on a small scale by you and I, and more effective than pretty much all the other attempts at these things.

My only question is, why don’t more people know about this?

Paul Stamets, as well as being a great scientist, integrating his love for his work into his life and family, he is also an excellent science communicator. Science needs more people like him to bring the fruits of their research into the community to make real change happen.

i got to meet paul stammets at a workshop in los angeles farmlab. he is a great character. but the book is beyond characters, it has great information, amazing information and very clever techniques for growing, and understanding fungi. i’m specially fond of the low tech stuff he put together and the research on mycoremediation (using mushrooms to clean toxic matter). this is one of the manuals for the future of our race and the planet we live in.