From ecology to fermentation, in pop culture and in medicine - fungi are everywhere. With an explorer's eye, author Doug Bierend guides readers through the weird, wonderful world of fungi and the amazing modern mycological movement.

In Search of Mycotopia: Citizen Science, Fungi Fanatics, and the Untapped Potential of Mushrooms 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 book will captivate readers who are curious about the hidden worlds and networks that make up our planet.

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 mushrooms to better live with nature - and with one another.

SKU 7649. Copyright 2021, hardcover, 328 pages.

About the Author

Doug Bierend is a freelance journalist writing about science and technology, food and education, and the various ways they point to a more equitable and sustainable world. His work has appeared in Wired, The Atlantic, Civil Eats, and numerous other publications. 

Praise for In Search of Mycotopia

"Bierend awakens the myco-nerd in each of us, uplifts the stories of queer, Black, and young citizen scientists, and challenges us to ameliorate our fungal illiteracy, convincing us that the healing of our planet requires that we remember the fringe and oft-forgotten fungal kingdom." -Leah Penniman, Cofounder of Soul Fire Farm, author of Farming While Black

"A much-needed compass for the every-evolving landscape of mycology, and a vivid portrait of fungi and the humans who work with them, In Search of Mycotopia is a must-read for anyone wanting to join in the fungi fun." -Peter McCoy, author of Radical Mycology, founder of Mycologos

"Nothing is impossible if you bring mushrooms into your life, and reading this book is a great way to begin your journey." -Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycroremediation