Interesting, beautifully illustrated

books:

	• Toads and Toadstools: The Natural History, Folklore, and Cultural Oddities of a Strange Association Adrian Morgan Ten Speed Press, 1995 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Fraught with Frogs and Fungi!

A real treat of a book. Morgan peruses various aspects of two subjects that are as different as chalk and cheese biologically, but are frequently linked culturally. Chock full of gleefully esoteric bits of knowledge, the author has done his homework. Even better than the research is that Morgan is his own favorite guinea pig for exploring the physiological effects of these organisms. There are many delightful moments where he dutifully reports in detailed, utterly deadpan fashion the effects of stuffing toxic bits of toad in his nose or sipping his own urine after consuming fly agaric mushrooms. The author's own illustrations are also phenomenal. I especially like the belly-up toad victim of overenthusiastic mating on page 54. It is strangely reminiscent of John Everett Millais' "Ophelia".

for more information click here

Interesting, beautifully illustrated

I was pleasantly surprised by this well illustrated work after I picked up a copy at the San Francisco Fungus Fest (where else?). The author points out that mushrooms and toads are linked in the mythologies of many different cultures, that both can be entheogenic (hallucinogenic), and both are credited with spiritual characteristics. He never does answer the central question - why are toads and "toadstools" so often linked? - but he gives you so much neat art and interesting mushroom/historical lore that you don't really mind.

Enthusiastically recommended.

for more information click here

hot or not? What's your opinion? Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

Funky Fungus Booklist

association

The Counselors: Conversations With 18 Courageous Women Who Have ...
The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite
My Life in the Pits: Living and Learning on the NASCAR Winston Cup ...
Loose Balls
Hr from the Heart: Inspiring Stories and Strategies for Building the ...

folklore

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
The Goose Girl
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons
Shadow Castle

cultural

The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One ...
The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British
Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International ...
The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality

search for books
association, cultural, folklore, natural, oddities, strange, toadstools