In Search of Mycotopia

Citizen Science, Fungi Fanatics, and the Untapped Potential of Mushrooms

By: Doug Bierend

Narrated by: René Ruiz

Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

From ecology to fermentation, in pop culture and in medicine - mushrooms are everywhere and In Search of Mycotopia is a listener's expert guide through the weird, wonderful world of fungi and the amazing modern mycological movement.

The book 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 journey will captivate listeners who are curious about the hidden worlds and networks that make up our planet.

Author Doug 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.

©2021 Doug Bierend (P)2021 Chelsea Green Publishing

Critic Reviews

"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 this book is a great way to begin your journey." (Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation) 

Very informative but with some additional caveats

First off, I'm incredibly impressed with the author's dedication to detail on all things fungi. This book goes over many broad topics related to mycology with a surprisingly technical, fined tooth comb: the science, the politics, the economies, the social aspects, and more. My only critique is that when it comes to the social aspects of more mycology movements, it does seem that the author seems to go on tangents on some (not all) social justice causes that have emerged in the modern mycology world. In today's polarizing climate (at least in The States) I can understand the urge to discuss these, and I respect the attempt. It's just that when the author does, I can't help but perceive this book diverging from an informational or non-biased dialogue to a somewhat biased one. Of course, this observation is ultimately an individual one and thus the responsibility of each reader (or listener) to determine. still, for myself there were two chapters that I had to fast forward through because I simply didn't believe them to be of any informational worth. however, I don't want to end my review on a critical note. overall, I'm very glad I bought this and listened. I've been stooped in the world of fungi for a bit over 6 years now and yet I learned a lot from this book and I'm deeply appreciative. I hope the author continues to publish more work. 4.5 out of 5.

The Mushroom Book I’ve Been Waiting For

As a devout Mycology enthusiast, I’ve read the majority of mushroom books on this app, and many beyond that. Many of them are beautiful, describe interesting scientific data, and catalogue mycological subcultures. Of all of them, I’ve found this one the most inspiring. If you’re curious about the cultural moment that mushrooms are having, or just wonder what that weird green-haired person kneeling on the ground at the park is doing (hi that’s me), read this book!

Myopically woke in many ways.

Myopically woke in many ways. This story presents one aspect of the mycological community.

Eye Opening

Really enjoyed this book. Before I started, there was a lot I didn't know. Now I definitely know more.

I love it.

As an educated mycophile I found this book engaged g and informative. it touches on both the academic/scientific as well as the social elements of the mycological community in an engaging and even entertaining way. I have not read a book so fast in a while.

What a pleasure to read!

wonderful narration together with a very important message to the world as a whole. Chocked full of follow-up resources, this is a book I will be referring to frequently in the future.

Not what I was expecting

New to mycology and eager to learn more though this was very easy to get bored of. Gave at chapter 6.

Well worth a listen - but occasionally dreary..

The subject-matter is fascinating, & need-to-know for everyone, but the (perhaps partly would-be) sensibilities of the author drag this book down. A theme that is returned to again, and again (& again, & again..), is the correlation of wonderful bio-diversity and wonderful societal diversity. This flabby metaphor does not work at either end - who wants either more pathogenic varieties or greater diversity in racist tropes? Granted, the accent in his metaphor is on cooperation, but criminal gangs also cooperate. More deeply, no biological metaphor is a good one for understanding human behavior, since no mechanistic metaphor can capture the choices of a free will. It is exactly our ability to rise above our conceptions of our biological natures that allows us to do better than Trumpian 'grabbing women by..'
If we think of ourselves as machines, biological or otherwise, we deny responsibility for our actions - or 'bad bulldozer, naughty nuke'?
Still, he conveys important and useful information in an affable enough way.
Well worth a listen.

Great Book

Well written and well researched, with a great approach to mycology, ecology, humanity and politics. I wasn't super keen on the narrator, but that's just personal preference - they were clear and understandable, and didn't affect my enjoyment of the book much.