Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures

Fungi are neither plant nor animal, but are vital to nearly all living systems. They are the most humble of organisms, breaking down the refuse of other species and returning their nutrients to the soil, and at the same time, they can be incomprehensibly expansive: the single largest living organism on the planet is a fungus that spreads for hundreds of miles across the Blue Mountains in northeastern Oregon and southeast Washington. In this fascinating introduction to the world of fungi, author Merlin Sheldrake takes the reader on a journey into this hidden and often overlooked world to reveal its secrets. Not only do fungi perform mind-boggling functions in the natural world, like allowing trees to communicate with each other through mycelial networks, but they are pivotally important for the processes and products we take for granted in our day to day life. Without fungi, there would be no yeast, no bread, no beer. The process that converts sugar into alcohol could not take place. Without fungi, we wouldn't have penicillin, a medication that has saved countless lives since its discovery. It's possible even, that without fungi, human evolution would have occurred very differently. Sheldrake delves into the mysteries of psychedelic mushrooms, exploring the science of these powerful natural drugs and their use over the course of human existence. For any budding mycologist, this book is a must read.