Few of us realize that mushrooms, humbly thriving on decay, are crucial to life on Earth. In this book a distinguished molecular biologist reveals the power of these curious organisms--not quite animal, not quite plant--to enchant and instruct, to nourish and make way for all sorts of superior forms of nature. From the biology of our favorite fungi to tales of the truffle hunt, Schaechter brings contagious enthusiasm to the story of mushrooms.