5 Best Mushroom Books

Are you ready to inoculate yourself with mushroom wisdom but don’t know which mushroom books to start with? Or maybe you’re already well versed in mycology but want to expand your knowledge even further. Either way, you’ve come to the right place! As a loud-and-proud bookworm and nerd, the library at Fungi Academy might be my favourite part of the property. We are blessed to have books on permaculture, community living, philosophy and almost any mushroom books you could ever want. Still, the foray into the world of mycological literature can be confusing if you don’t know where to look. Fortunately, the Fungi Academy community has curated a list of the five must-read mushroom books for anyone looking to level up their understanding of all things mycology. Without further ado, here is (in no particular order) the Fungi Academy’s Top 5 Best Mushroom Books!

Radical Mycology — Peter McCoy

Perhaps the most dense, well-rounded, and current book on mycology you’ll find — I would even go so far to call it the modern day mushroom bible. Peter McCoy & Co’s 600-page treatise on seeing and working with fungi was so groundbreaking that it spawned a whole movement of ‘radical mycologists’ around the world. Since 2009, citizen scientists have used McCoy’s fungal encyclopedia as a guide to experiment with fungi and develop low-tech solutions to some of humanity’s greatest problems. This movement gathered so much momentum that a Radical Mycology Convergence festival has been held since 2011. McCoy’s epic tome covers almost every aspect of mycology in detail and is the go-to resource for those looking to join the citizen scientist mycophile movement!

The Fungal Pharmacy — Robert Rogers

This one is for all the medicine makers out there! With over 40 books published on medicinal mushrooms and plants, Robert Rogers covers over 300 species of medicinal lichens and mushrooms native to North America. Each description covers chemical constituents, clinical studies, historical uses, folklore, mycoremediation applications, preparation methods and more! The joy of this book lies in its versatility — use it as a coffee table book, keep it in your personal apothecary, or reference it after a day of wild foraging to determine what kind of medicine you’ve found.

Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation — Tradd Cotter

Cotter walks us through a variety of simple, advanced and experimental techniques for both indoor and outdoor mushroom cultivation. Its thorough, easy-to-understand approach makes it beneficial to both beginner and experienced cultivators. Imagine a world where mushrooms are eating plastic, filtering toxins from water and bringing life back to arid and polluted soils — this is the potential mycoremediation holds, and Tradd walks you through how to help make it possible.

Entangled Life — Merlin Sheldrake

Our go-to recommendation for those who are new to the world of fungi. Merlin Sheldrake’s text will blow your mind more times than you can count, all while keeping you captivated by his incredible storytelling. He takes us on a journey into the mystifying world of mycorrhizal fungi, lichens, psychedelics and more — you’ll learn how kingdom fungi have influenced our ecosystems, consciousness and culture. PRO TIP: Listen to this as an audiobook if you’re able. There’s nothing better than hearing these stories straight from the horse’s mouth, especially one with a soothing English accent.

Mycelium Running — Paul Stamets

Last but not least, the mushroom book that started it all. Mycelium Running remains one of the go-to introductory mushroom books and you would be hard pressed to find a mycophile that wouldn’t reference it as one of the most influential texts in their life. In part one, you’ll learn about the basics of the mushroom life cycle and how mycelium mirrors our brain’s neural network, dark matter, and the internet. Part three provides cultivation techniques and gets you familiar with the better-known staple species. Overall, it will leave you with a bevvy of knowledge and the thirst for more!

Honorable Mentions

There are so many amazing mushroom books that didn’t make the top five — here are some others that made our team’s short-list: THE MUSHROOM AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing — a look at the Matsutake mushroom from a unique perspective focusing on capitalism and the people involved. PUHPOHWEE FOR THE PEOPLE by Keewaydinoquay — a unique text delving into the ethnomycology of people native to the Great Lakes region of North America. MYCOPHELIA by Eugenia Bone — storytelling that takes you on a sensory journey into the fungal kingdom. HEALING MUSHROOMS by Tero Isokauppila — a practical and culinary approach to integrating medicinal mushrooms into everyday life. ALL THAT THE RAIN PROMISES AND MORE… by David Arora — a cult classic mushroom identification field guide, first published in 1991.

Want Even More Mushroom Wisdom?

Books are a great start — but nothing beats hands-on learning and a community of fellow mycophiles. Here’s where to go next:

• Best New Mushroom Books (2025 Edition) — we updated this list with the newest releases worth reading.
• 5 Psychedelic Books You Need to Read — if Sheldrake or Stamets lit a fire, these go even deeper.
• How Mushrooms Grow: A Day in the Life of Fungi — understand the life cycle before you start cultivating.
• Mushroom Contamination Guide — the most common challenge for new growers, clearly explained.

Ready to move from reading about mushrooms to actually growing them? Our Online Mushroom Cultivation Course puts everything in these books into practice — 70+ video lessons, a 130-page workbook, and lifetime access. It’s the fastest way to go from curious reader to confident cultivator. Or join the Mushroom Membership for monthly live masterclasses with world-class mycologists, a library of past sessions, and a global community of people who share your obsession with fungi.