ALL THAT THE RAIN PROMISES AND MORE…, BY DAVID ARORA

This is the most amusing field guide ever. Freaks like myself often peruse field guides for fun, but this one is so absurd even you would enjoy it. It’s basically an abridged guide to western mushrooms, with nice color photos and useful notes on identification, location, edibility, etc. Under ‘Edibility’ it often lis ts ‘hallucinogenic’ without the also common ‘Not Recommended.’ The cover image is the most hilarious example of many other nutty pics, mostly of the eccentric folks who collect mushrooms, but also of perfectly normal people looking thoroughly deranged as they hug over-sized puffballs with glee. There are also plenty of anecdotes from former hippies and crazy Californians in general recalling their favorite mushroom experiences.

Needless to say I am now anxious for a little rain so I can start looking for these things, possibly with the help of the Mycological Society of San Francisco.