Fry, Thrive, or Die
We Put the “Fun” in Fungi
A fun pocket guide to fifty common, delicious, hallucinogenic, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms of the western United States.
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Download Our Free Mushroom pictures,
identifications, recipes and fun facts!
Whether you’re a seasoned mushroom hunter or just getting started, this sample guide is sure to be a helpful resource. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start exploring the fantastic world of mushrooms!
Edible? Medicinal? Deadly? We Share All You Need to Know
About the Book
Are you skeptical of your ability to distinguish a delicious mushroom from a deadly one?
Do you want to find, process, and prepare wild mushrooms for food and medicine?
Fry, Thrive, or Die features fifty common, delicious, hallucinogenic, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms of the Western United States. The guide prepares readers to hunt and serve wild mushrooms, as well as delight the reader with stories, history, possibilities, recipes, and more.
A pocket-sized field guide to the most prominent and distinctive wild mushrooms in the Western United States, from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Southwest deserts to the Olympic Peninsula rainforests. Each species is identified with a detailed color picture, distinct features, as well as information on habitat, fruiting timing, edibility, creative uses, and dangerous look-alikes.
Mushrooms attract a distinct audience. There are wild mushrooms that make a splendid meal, can improve your health, potentially save your life, or end your life. This guide is suitable for both beginning foragers as well as experienced mushroom maniacs who seek new information on mushroom medicines, toxins, hallucinogens, innovative applications, and edibility. Happy hunting and fry and thrive!
Edible? Medicinal? Deadly? We Share All You Need to Know
About the Book
Are you skeptical of your ability to distinguish a delicious mushroom from a deadly one?
Do you want to find, process, and prepare wild mushrooms for food and medicine?
Fry, Thrive, or Die features fifty common, delicious, hallucinogenic, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms of the Western United States. The guide prepares readers to hunt and serve wild mushrooms, as well as delight the reader with stories, history, possibilities, recipes, and more.
A pocket-sized field guide to the most prominent and distinctive wild mushrooms in the Western United States, from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Southwest deserts to the Olympic Peninsula rainforests. Each species is identified with a detailed color picture, distinct features, as well as information on habitat, fruiting timing, edibility, creative uses, and dangerous look-alikes.
Mushrooms attract a distinct audience. There are wild mushrooms that make a splendid meal, can improve your health, potentially save your life, or end your life. This guide is suitable for both beginning foragers as well as experienced mushroom maniacs who seek new information on mushroom medicines, toxins, hallucinogens, innovative applications, and edibility. Happy hunting and fry and thrive!
Coming Soon
We’re Your Mushroom Explorer Guide!
Learn More About Each Type
Edible
Medicinal
Hallucinogenic
Poisonous
See What The Book Is All About!
About the Author:
Dr. Michael Amaranthus
Dr Mike Amaranthus is a world-renowned mycologist and scientist, who even has several mushroom and truffles named after him. Dr Mike believes “fungi” should emphasize “fun”. As a two-time cancer survivor, getting to know this fantastic group of mushrooms has enriched and perhaps saved his life. He believes that a book cannot only be accurate and have substance but also delight the reader with stories, history, possibilities, recipes, and much more.
About the Author:
Dr. Michael Amaranthus
Dr Mike Amaranthus is a world-renowned mycologist and scientist, who even has several mushroom and truffles named after him. Dr Mike believes “fungi” should emphasize “fun”. As a two-time cancer survivor, getting to know this fantastic group of mushrooms has enriched and perhaps saved his life. He believes that a book cannot only be accurate and have substance but also delight the reader with stories, history, possibilities, recipes, and much more.
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Are you ready to explore the wild world of mushrooms with us?

Dave
I have been hunting mushrooms for decades and have several books on mushroom identification which have been very handy. The problem has been that I don’t need to know all the hundreds of mushrooms I encounter out there. I really just want to know the ones that are edible and the ones that I won’t get sick from. The rest I can leave in books on my shelf at home. The great thing about Fry, Thrive, or Die is it does just that – all the pertinent information is bound together in pocket size guide that I can carry in my back pocket when I am out looking for mushrooms. The great thing that stands out with the book is the color photographs. Now, I know you shouldn’t be using pictures to identify mushrooms, but they are sure great for helping you zero in on a species of interest. Once you are there, you can go through the written description to make sure they are the right ones. The book also give the reader ideas of where and when to find certain species. Since there have been a lot of changes to mushroom taxonomy in the last several decades, this guide will make sure you are up to date on your identification.

Dawn
Through stories of mushroom hunters gathering together to gather from the forest floor, the book helps us understand what is going on underfoot. And after a successful day of foraging, since ‘we are what we eat’, we have a better chance to connect with our fungal friends using delicious recipes shared within the guide,
This book is bound to change the way you walk in the woods.

Jeff Lowenfels
Dr Michael Amaranthus’ new book, FRY, THRIVE or DIE is billed as a fun pocket guide. I can attest that it most surely is that, and more. This wonderful little book is chock full of fun (and useful) information (and photos) about the mushrooms you are most likely to come across. Slip it into your back pocket or pack next time you take a hike or cozy up in your tent and learn some fascinating history. Amaranthus is joined by some of his friends who impart even more words of wisdom on a variety of related subjects. What a fun book. It should be in any would-be mycologist’s library.

Dustin
Our world is filled with mystery, and the realm of mushrooms was only accessible to witches, shamans, druids and the most powerful mycologists. Fortunately, Dr. Mike Amaranthus has provided us with a ticket to MUSHROOM LAND! His field guide Fry Thrive Or Die, gives us mere mortals a chance to untangle the hyphae and peer into the wondrous fortress of fungi!

Xenia
I am a novice mushroom hunter and what I really like about this handbook is its simplicity. It covers only fifty mushrooms in detail which gives me a lot more confidence in sticking to them and identifying them. The identification key to mushrooms is really handy and the handbook size is great to take hunting with me. Love the recipes, learning about the medicinal benefits of mushrooms, but especially love the great stories from fellow mushroom enthusiasts. They can make anyone fall in love with mushrooms. Yep love this handbook.

Andy Weil M.D.
I love the book. It’s more user friendly than other mushroom guides, has a great selection of species, and fun to read



