The Booksmith is so excited to be welcoming Paul Stamets to the shop to sign his brand new book Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats on June 11th at 4pm. Join us!

Please note: This is a signing only and will last one hour. Space is limited. Purchase of a book is required to enter the line. If you can't make the event, you can still purchase a ticket for a signed copy to be picked up at our store or shipped to you for an additional charge.

Questions? tickets@booksmith.com

About the book

In this comprehensive reference, world-renowned mycologist Paul Stamets offers detailed descriptions and stunning photography of more than sixty psilocybin-active mushroom varieties and outlines how to find, identify, and grow psychedelic mushrooms. Stamets outlines the history and cultural use of magic mushrooms in traditional rituals and ceremonies, breaks down the species’ natural geographic distribution and habitats, and shares step-by-step instructions for growing your own backyard mushroom patch. But perhaps most important, he explains how to reliably distinguish between a nonpoisonous psychoactive mushroom and some highly toxic, even deadly, look-alikes.

Packed with a lifetime of scientific and real-world research, Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats brings depth and understanding to an often-misunderstood topic. Revealing the potential of these powerful, mind-awakening fungi to influence all aspects of our lives. This handbook is an indispensable and culture-shifting addition to mushroom literature from a trusted expert in the field.

About the author

Mycologist Paul Stamets is the author of seven books. He is an invention ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was inducted into The Explorer’s Club in 2020. He has received numerous awards, including the National Mycologist Award from the North American Mycological Association, the Gordon and Tina Wasson Award from the Mycological Society of America, the Disruptor Award from NextMed, and the SynBioBeta Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has named numerous new species of psilocybin mushrooms, and a new mushroom species has recently been named after him: Psilocybe stametsii.

He is a collaborator with numerous scientific organizations and research institutes. His research is considered breakthrough by thought leaders for creating a paradigm shift for helping ecosystems worldwide.

His work has entered the mainstream of popular culture: In the new Star Trek: Discovery series on CBS, the science officer is portrayed by an astromycologist, Lt. Commander Paul Stamets. His work with mycelium has become a central theme of this series. In addition, he is the primary guide to the incredible mushroom documentary Fantastic Fungi, which first appeared in theaters in fall 2019, with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

His new book, Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats, will be published by Penguin Books and available June 10, 2025.

About the bookstore

The Booksmith is an independent bookstore located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco since 1976.