First off, this e-book needed copy editing and proofing before being sent out for review. Some mushrooms are wrongly attributed in images early on in the book, and there are multiple proofing errors and instances of clumsy, ungrammatical phrasing.

I also did not appreciate being forced to agree to review the book on Amazon, a predatory company to which I do not wish to contribute free content. Nor did I appreciate being given a tight deadline by the publisher, since this is a voluntary situation and I'm not being compensated in any way.

That said, the book is comprehensive and detailed, with much useful information for anyone who loves mushrooms and is considering growing and preparing them at home. If the publisher had done a better job of preparing the e-copies, it would have gotten a better review from me. I won't solicit further e-books from Library Thing after this experience. ( )

How to Grow and Use Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms by Stephen Fleming is really two books in one, and they are PACKED with information. I would have liked to see some more pictures of what is discussed throughout the book. I wouldn't say this is the only mushroom book you'll ever need, there are some other really great books on the matter out there. On a subject such as mushrooms, more information is always better. The first part of the book goes over some basic science of mushrooms and cultivation techniques. The second part of the book has an outline of what mushrooms can do for you, how you might be able to use them, and a quick outline of some mushrooms you can use.
I recommend this book for the beginner to test the waters of mushroom cultivation.

This eBook was provided to me by LibraryThing and BookSprout in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Fleming’s book on the cultivation and use of mushrooms is really 2 books in one. The first part is devoted to mushroom science and cultivation techniques, the second to medicinal and culinary uses of mushrooms.

The first part on cultivation starts with some rather dense information about mushroom growth cycles and assorted techniques for growing. This was the most complicated and hardest to follow part of the book. Growing mushrooms is a multi-step endeavor requiring stabilizing the growing environment in terms of humidity, temperature and light. Clearly a lot of things can go wrong. After reading Fleming’s presentation I’m tempted to just get a ready-to-use grow kit. I would need to re-read the growing techniques sections multiple times before trying to grow any other way. The technique sections suffer a bit from a lack of visual information. It’s easy to imagine how more photographs or illustrations would bring this section to life better. I’d suggest treating this part of the text like a reference tool you may want to refer to if you get into cultivation.

Fleming also discuss several of the best varieties to cultivate. Many were recognizable but one was new to me - Luminescent panellus - glow in the dark mushrooms. They’re inedible but are cultivated for decorative or landscape uses apparently.

He has a section on running a business growing and selling mushrooms, which discusses the importance of a plan and market intelligence, and offers sound advice there.

Finally, there’s an FAQ section that is mostly motivational and also the easiest to read part of the book.

The second part of his book, presented almost like a second independent book, is on healing mushrooms and their medicinal uses.

He lists the beneficial effects for several different species and includes some recipes for tea and a few other dishes. They look worth trying. I would have liked to have seen more recipes. It makes me think a dedicated mushroom cookbook would be a good idea.

The references list includes URLs for several interesting mushroom sites that look interesting and worth checking out.

I have to say the formatting of the book works against it. It was somewhat confusing see 2 divisions in the book that look like 2 separate books. I’m not sure if they’re to be marketed separately or together as one publication. There’s some overlap between the sections too.

Also, the background of every page has mushroom images behind the text which make the text somewhat annoying to read.

I haven’t read other mushroom grow guides so can’t really compare Fleming’s to anything else on the market. My guess is this one is on the beginner side of the spectrum and that there are probably more detailed sources out there. ( )

This book has CLEARLY been written by an expert mushroom-grower! The detail in every aspect of the book is outstanding.

Summary: The book begins by explaining what mushrooms are, how they grow, and the many benefits that come from eating them. The next section focuses on the names of the various parts of a mushroom, the different categories of mushrooms, and a clear explanation of a mushroom's life cycle. Next is a very detailed explanation of everything you need to do in order to grow your own mushrooms (e.g. materials, step-by-step directions, common contaminants, etc.). The author even provides several different growing methods so readers can choose easier methods, cheaper methods, or higher yield methods! The first half of the bookends with information on selling mushrooms, frequently asked questions, a detailed glossary of terms, and an appendix of resources.

A complete second book is included that describes 18 medicinal mushroom varieties and how they can be prepared to be consumed. It explains how various types of mushrooms can help cure or improve various health conditions (alphabetically from allergies to urinary tract infections!) & helps you find them in nature and prepare them for consumption.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is considering growing mushrooms at home as a hobby or to supplement their food supply. You won't need any other resource! If you are curious about their medicinal qualities, the same holds true for that as well. Enjoy!.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. :) ( )