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Field observations - the same mushrooms from a lower angle (modified)

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Website Review: James Arthur — Wisdom or Balderdash?

Flaky? Really flaky? Compelling? It's hard to deny that his ideas are thought-provoking...

Larry Payne

Larry Payne

March 1, 2000

Field observations - the same mushrooms from a lower angle (modified)

Pleuroflammula subsulphurea. © Alan Rockefeller (CC-BY) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 395496334)

It may be that the first time you check out his website you might find it a little flaky. Then again, it may be that after reflecting on what this guy has to say, after giving yourself enough time to digest his theory, you may just come away thinking the site is really flaky. Or, you may find it compelling. But no matter how you feel, it would be hard to deny that his ideas are thought-provoking.


The website* is the home of James Arthur .. . James Arthur ... James Arthur .... (There, now you get an idea how the website begins. I felt like I was listening to one of those old Saturday Night Live Al Franken bits where he kept repeating "Hi, I'm Al Franken.") However, once you can get past all the self promoting (though his resume does sound pretty impressive) you finally arrive at the real purpose of the website, James Arthur's commentary on the theory that mushrooms played a vital role in the development of early religion and social development. Be prepared to take a good hour or two pondering James Arthur's wisdom or balderdash, depending on your take of his presentation. My own reaction was this: Deep (whether in thought or manure I'll leave for you to guess), tedious, nice pictures.


* The original website link was compromised, so you can preview James Arthur's book on Google Books if you're curious:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mushrooms_and_Mankind/qSL9jRTzXx4C?hl=en

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