Stephen Fleming

I found this guide to be very well done. I had not gotten to reviewing this earlier because I found the process for me to get my early reviewer copy from this publisher to be confusing and unnecessary (it wasn't a regular ebook download) so that played a huge role in not getting to this on time. I do not live in the Pacific Northwest so I cannot speak to applying this knowledge in the wild, however I am a big fan of mushrooms. There are colored photos included, but they are not fullsize, which isn't a problem if you get the ebook. A downside of the ebook however is that there are log pages that I won't be using on my phone. Recipes are included too, which is a nice addition. Overall, decent for ebook if you don't mind missing out on the last chunk of the book, and decent for physical if you don't mind pictures that can be smaller than half the page.… (mere)

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.… (mere)

Pacific Northwest Edible Plant Foraging and Mushroom Field Guide by Stephen Fleming has a lot of introductory information for individuals interested in the art of foraging. The first few sections of the book explain the philosophy and steps behind foraging for edible plants and mushrooms and outlines some of the equipment and knowledge you will need to be successful and safe.
The book also contains basic identification information and images of several plants and fungi you might find while out exploring. These descriptions are general and should be backed-up with the identification of an experienced forager or an identification guide that is much more detailed if you are planning on trying some of the plants you find. However, if you are looking for a general introduction or a quick ID guide of various plants while hiking, this is an ideal book. The extra information of nutrients contained by the various plants and how the plant was traditionally used with respects to healing or food is interesting. Fleming’s chapter on how to forage responsibly and what notes to take are a good reminder to novice and experienced forager’s alike. As with other guide books by this author there is a lovely recipe section near the end, which has several delicious recipes to try out and savour.… (mere)