If you walked into our office, the first thing you’d probably notice is our extensive collection of books on mushrooms.
From scientific texts to hands-on cultivation guides, we’ve spent years researching everything we could find on the subject. And let’s just say the rabbit hole goes deep.
Most people hear about Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake—it’s a classic, no doubt. But that’s just scratching the surface.
Whether you’re planning to forage this summer, grow your own fungi, or simply geek out over the weird and wonderful world of mushrooms, the right book can open up a whole new level of understanding.
So, after thoroughly reviewing countless mushroom books, we’re finally breaking down our top 8 picks—the best of the best for beginners, cultivators, and curious minds alike.
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Nutshell Verdict on the Best Books on Mushrooms
- How to Change Your Mind—Best Overall Pick
- Foraging—Best Book for Identifying Mushrooms in the Wild
- Entangled Life: Honorable Mention (of course)
- The Guide to Microdosing Psilocybin Mushroom—Top Pick if You’re Into Shroom-infused Treats
- Mushrooms Demystified—Best Book for Total Beginners New To Mushrooms
- The Rebel’s Apothecary—Best Book For Learning About Medicinal Mushrooms
- Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation — Best Book on How To Cultivate Mushrooms From Scratch
- What Moves the Dead—Best Novella Book on Shrooms
This isn’t a complete list. We’re likely to encounter many more great books about mushrooms. We’ll keep updating this article as we discover them.
WHICH BOOK SHOULD YOU START WITH?
That depends on what you’re looking for. Some of these books focus on magic mushrooms, the type containing psilocybin, which produces psychedelic effects and can be used for microdosing.
Others cover different edible or medicinal mushrooms.
If you’re interested in foraging, accuracy is 100% key. You must be absolutely certain before consuming any wild mushrooms.
To rank these books, we also gathered opinions from popular mushroom ID groups on Facebook. So, if you’re wondering which book to start with, here’s a detailed review of each one to help you decide.
Detailed Review of the Best Books About Mushrooms
For books on mushrooms, especially those that are immersive, it helps to keep a journal nearby to jot down important details.
If you’re looking for a good journal, we recommend these shroom-inspired writing journals available on Schedule35.
1. How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
- Author: Michael Pollan
- Year: 2018
- Page count: 464 pages
- Focus: The history of psychedelics (including shrooms), their brief modern ascendancy and suppression, their renaissance, and possible future
How to Change Your Mind masterfully blends science, memoir, travel writing, history, and medicine, making it a standout.
Both enlightening and captivating, it takes you on a journey into the depths of the mind, the self, and our evolving understanding of consciousness.
When Michael Pollan began researching how LSD and psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) are used to help treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, he didn’t expect to write what would become his most personal book.
2. Foraging by Mark Vorderbruggen
- Author: Mark Vorderbruggen
- Year: 2022
- Page count: 242
- Focus: Foraging shows when, where, and how to find wild edible mushrooms.
Stumbling upon wild berries or fresh mushrooms while hiking can feel like a lucky find, but with the right knowledge, you don’t have to rely on chance. Foraging is the ultimate guide to discovering, identifying, and safely harvesting nature’s edible treasures.
This book covers various wild foods, from fruits and nuts to roots, leaves, and flowers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced forager, it offers practical tips on where to look, how to recognize edible plants, and ways to prepare them.
With foraging, you’ll gain the confidence to explore the outdoors and turn nature’s bounty into delicious, nutritious meals.
3. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
- Author: Merlin Sheldrake
- Year: 2020
- Page count: 368
- Focus: The profound impact of mushrooms on our environment, health, and even our cognitive processes.
No list of the best books on mushrooms will be complete without including Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake.
In Entangled Life, Sheldrake takes us on a wild journey into the world of fungi, showing just how deeply these mysterious organisms shape life as we know it.
Fungi can influence our minds, heal our bodies, and even help clean up environmental disasters.
Through fascinating stories and eye-opening science, he reveals how these hidden networks connect ecosystems, challenge our understanding of intelligence, and change the way we think about life itself.
4. The Guide to Microdosing Psilocybin Mushroom by Dr. Henry Donald
- Author: Dr. Henry Donald
- Year: 2020
- Page count: 97
- Focus: Everything you need to know about the magical psilocybin mushroom, how to microdose, and the most effective way to do it.
If you want to know more about how psilocybin mushrooms work in our bodies and how you can take advantage of microdosing shroom-infused edibles to improve mental focus, read this book.
Microdosing involves taking very small, barely noticeable amounts of a psychedelic substance.
Many people who incorporate microdosing psilocybin mushrooms into their routine report feeling more creative, energized, and focused, as well as improved social interactions.
5. Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora
- Author: David Arora
- Year: 1986
- Page count: 1056
- Focus: Descriptions and keys to more than 2,000 species of mushrooms, with more than 950 photographs.
David Arora is an American mycologist, naturalist, and author known for his expertise in mushroom identification. He has written two widely acclaimed books on the subject: Mushrooms Demystified and All That the Rain Promises.
This Mushroom Demystified book is often considered the ultimate field guide for mushroom enthusiasts.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned forager, this book is an invaluable resource for exploring the fascinating world of fungi.
6. The Rebel’s Apothecary by Jenny Sansouci
- Author: Jenny Sansouci
- Year: 2020
- Page count: 384
- Focus: Learn how to improve your health and wellness with the healing magic of cannabis, CBD, and medicinal mushrooms.
The Rebel’s Apothecary is a practical guide for using cannabis and mushrooms to support overall well-being. It’s designed for people looking for natural ways to manage pain, stress, anxiety, and sleep issues, as well as boost their immune system.
The book breaks down the science behind these powerful plants in an easy-to-understand way, offering clear dosing guidelines and everyday recipes.
7. Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation by Trado Cotter
- Author: Trado Cotter
- Year: 2014
- Page count: 400
- Focus: Detailed guide for indoor and outdoor cultivation of mushrooms
In Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, Cotter goes beyond the basics of growing mushrooms.
He talks about the organic cultivation methods and shares the results of his innovative research.
This book not only teaches you how to grow mushrooms effectively but also explores creative ways to integrate them into your daily life, from food to environmental restoration.
8. What Moves the Dead by
- Author: Ursula Vernon, writing under the pen name T. Kingfisher.
- Year: 2022
- Page Count: 176
- Focus: Novella about shrooms
In the book, when retired soldier Alex Easton learns that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is gravely ill, they rush to the Usher family’s remote estate in Ruritania.
But what awaits them is far from a peaceful visit—strange fungal growths, eerie wildlife, and a sinister, throbbing lake turn the estate into a waking nightmare.
Finally…
Some books could have easily taken the top spot, but since they only dedicate a few chapters to mushrooms rather than focusing on them entirely, we couldn’t include them on the list.
For example, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan isn’t entirely about mushrooms, but in Chapter 19, he goes morel mushroom hunting in a recently burned forest.
While it leans more toward philosophy than biology or mycology, it offers a unique perspective that might be worth exploring.
Before You Go…
At Schedule35, you can find various goodies prepared with Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms, particularly the Golden Teacher cultivar, to help you improve your mental health and reap the benefits of psilocybin.
Some of the high-quality Golden Teacher shroom products you can order online include:
You can also find games to play while on a shrooms high, along with a dosage guide to help you nail your microdosing journey.