everywhere. I’ve been interested for years but still struggle to ID anything. I collect specimens and try to ID using this book - any suggestions for improving? 
Discussion
I like that book, especially for its funny anecdotes and even poetry, but IMO it’s not the best as far as getting beginners out confidently IDing mushrooms to consume.
When I first started looking I read a book Mushrooming Without Fear. It has maybe only a dozen mushrooms, all with pores or ridges - no gills. It’s extremely basic, but it introduced me to common mushrooms One by One.
It includes this advice in the photo, which I now definitely ignore, but it was great for starting out.
For me in SE US, right now I might still be able to find Hen of the Woods and Black Trumpets, which are great for starting out..
Then I might try
Winter: wood ears and turkey tails
Spring: morels and pheasant back
Summer: chanterelles, boletes, chicken of the woods
Adam Haritan of Learn Your Land has excellent video content on YouTube.
Best wishes.
TLDR: One by One. 
There is a Youtube channel called Mushroom Wonderland. Super helpful and detailed videos. Its pretty great since everything he does is right around us.
Stuff like this…