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Reviews
Hidden Kingdom: The Surprising Story of Fungi and Our Forests, Homes, and Bodies by Keith Seifert
jomanflea's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the conversational style of this book. I’m a librarian with a background in Biology and it strongly reminded me of the joy to be found in talking to experts about a topic they are passionate about. Fungi are everywhere in our environment and strongly linked to the ways we live and so it was also interesting to learn about aspects of their lives and diversity I hadn’t spent much time thinking about previously.
modestothemouse's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This book presents a vast and varied wealth of knowledge about the fungi that shape our world. Seifert’s ability to talk about the teeming, microscopic world of fungi is approachable and informative. One thing I’ve noticed about fungi books is that they usually have fun art in them. Like so many mycologists just have to show us what they see, because it is so vastly different from how we usually see the world.
Seifert ends the book on a hopeful note with discussions of current and potential technology utilizing fungi, and listing associations that participate in conservation and identification of rare fungi.
Seifert ends the book on a hopeful note with discussions of current and potential technology utilizing fungi, and listing associations that participate in conservation and identification of rare fungi.
saareman's review against another edition
4.0
Emphasizing the Micro
Review of the Greystone Books hardcover edition (May 24, 2022)
I was drawn to The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi: Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes, and Bodies, due to the title's similarity to Peter Wohlleben's [b:The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World|28256439|The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate Discoveries from a Secret World|Peter Wohlleben|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464281905l/28256439._SX50_.jpg|48295241] (2015). It seemed a good sign that Wohlleben himself had blurbed the new book by saying:
You don't have to read very far into Hidden Kingdom of Fungi to appreciate that Seifert is obviously a hugely qualified expert in the field. The challenge is that making information about microscopic spores and moulds of interest to the general reader is not as easy as having them appreciate other forms of life such as trees, for which they likely already have positive attraction and associations with.
So this book is a bit of a hard nut to crack and the introductory chapters don't ease you into it. I suspect many general readers will get bogged down as I did, especially with the detailed terminology involved. I did persevere though and the more interesting 'human relatable' aspects are all there and with many fascinating details that go beyond just the use of yeasts for fermentation and the culinary appreciation of mushrooms. There are things such as the discovery of penicillin, the creation of LSD (a chemical derivative of an ergot fungus) and the rather incredible appreciation that we are living in constant contact with a microscopic world that can simultaneously be of benefit or of danger to us. A late chapter about the future implications of myco-technology was especially fascinating.
So this is a qualified 4 rating from me. It doesn't get into 5 'amazing' territory, as the journey is not easy, but you are definitely in the hands of an expert and your patience will be rewarded if the topic is at all of interest to you.
Review of the Greystone Books hardcover edition (May 24, 2022)
I was drawn to The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi: Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes, and Bodies, due to the title's similarity to Peter Wohlleben's [b:The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World|28256439|The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate Discoveries from a Secret World|Peter Wohlleben|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464281905l/28256439._SX50_.jpg|48295241] (2015). It seemed a good sign that Wohlleben himself had blurbed the new book by saying:
"Explore the complex and ingenious ecosystems where fungi are found and discover how these marvels of nature enrich our lives."
You don't have to read very far into Hidden Kingdom of Fungi to appreciate that Seifert is obviously a hugely qualified expert in the field. The challenge is that making information about microscopic spores and moulds of interest to the general reader is not as easy as having them appreciate other forms of life such as trees, for which they likely already have positive attraction and associations with.
So this book is a bit of a hard nut to crack and the introductory chapters don't ease you into it. I suspect many general readers will get bogged down as I did, especially with the detailed terminology involved. I did persevere though and the more interesting 'human relatable' aspects are all there and with many fascinating details that go beyond just the use of yeasts for fermentation and the culinary appreciation of mushrooms. There are things such as the discovery of penicillin, the creation of LSD (a chemical derivative of an ergot fungus) and the rather incredible appreciation that we are living in constant contact with a microscopic world that can simultaneously be of benefit or of danger to us. A late chapter about the future implications of myco-technology was especially fascinating.
So this is a qualified 4 rating from me. It doesn't get into 5 'amazing' territory, as the journey is not easy, but you are definitely in the hands of an expert and your patience will be rewarded if the topic is at all of interest to you.