Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
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By: Paul Stamets
Format: Paperback
From: Ten Speed Press
Pub. Date: September 2005
From: Ten Speed Press
Pub. Date: September 2005
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2005-10-15
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 339
Ean: 9781580085793
Isbn: 1580085792
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2005-10-15
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 339
Ean: 9781580085793
Isbn: 1580085792
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
More mushrooms, less pollution! Yes, you heard right: growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment. Microscopic cells called "mycelium"—the fruit of which are mushrooms —recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What fungi expert Paul Stamets has discovered is that mycelium also breaks down hydrocarbons —the base structure in many pollutants. So, for instance, when soil contaminated with diesel oil is inoculated with strains of oyster mushroom mycelia, the soil loses its toxicity in just eight weeks. In MYCELIUM RUNNING, Stamets discusses this revolutionary trend in mushroom cultivation and provides tips for choosing the appropriate species of fungi for various environmental purposes.
USER REVIEWS
"Stamets is to be commended for some of his discoveries (even if done in conjunction with the US War Department & other unsavory institutions), but the fact is that even investing hundreds of millions of dollars, top scientists failed, in recent years (1990s), to recreate a self-sustaining life support eco-system for only 8 people (so-called "Biosphere 2" near Tucson, Arizona).
We simply do not fully understand the enormous complexity of our ecosystem and interactions of countless different chemicals and life forms; so while some of Stamet's discoveries could be used to improve the environment to some degree, his silver bullet approach appears rather dubious even if we had the luxury to ignore --as he does-- the deeper societal issues underlying environmental destruction. Stamets concentrates on superficial issues like mushrooms and green consumerism and ignores the pursuit of an ecological society based on non-hierarchical relationships, decentralised communities, eco-technologies like solar power, organic agriculture, and humanly scaled industries -- in short, by face-to-face democratic forms of settlement economically and structurally tailored to the ecosystems in which they were located."
~ Written on 2008-05-22
We simply do not fully understand the enormous complexity of our ecosystem and interactions of countless different chemicals and life forms; so while some of Stamet's discoveries could be used to improve the environment to some degree, his silver bullet approach appears rather dubious even if we had the luxury to ignore --as he does-- the deeper societal issues underlying environmental destruction. Stamets concentrates on superficial issues like mushrooms and green consumerism and ignores the pursuit of an ecological society based on non-hierarchical relationships, decentralised communities, eco-technologies like solar power, organic agriculture, and humanly scaled industries -- in short, by face-to-face democratic forms of settlement economically and structurally tailored to the ecosystems in which they were located."
~ Written on 2008-05-22
"I didn't get to read all of this book because it was a gift for someone but what I did read was very good. It's very informative in all aspects of mushrooms. The book includes the science behind mushrooms, how they can be used for ecological benefits, and best of all how to grow and harvest them yourself. The index of mushrooms, their uses and other information was short but very good. I highly recommend this book and will probably get it for myself soon."
~ Written on 2008-04-18
~ Written on 2008-04-18
"I purchased this book as a gift for a fellow graduate student who is studying the relationship between vascular plant roots and fungi. He and our professor/advisor oohhed and aahhed over it. I should have gotten one for our advisor too!
A quality book with great photos through-out and it is very readable! I have come to the conclusion that mycologists aren't pretentious wordy folks! They enjoy their work, enjoy spreading their knowledge and it is obvious in this book! I agree with the previous reviews - this book should be recommended, if not required reading for any botany or mycology course."
~ Written on 2008-04-06
A quality book with great photos through-out and it is very readable! I have come to the conclusion that mycologists aren't pretentious wordy folks! They enjoy their work, enjoy spreading their knowledge and it is obvious in this book! I agree with the previous reviews - this book should be recommended, if not required reading for any botany or mycology course."
~ Written on 2008-04-06
"Stamets' Mycelium Running has way more mushroom lore than I'll ever remember - or even want to know - yet it's a fascinating read and inspiring too!"
~ Written on 2008-04-06
~ Written on 2008-04-06
"This book is the premier source for a critical knowledge of the mechanics of the only environment we have in which we live "
~ Written on 2008-04-05
~ Written on 2008-04-05