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The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 11, 2025
Bees are my thing. Or they are becoming my thing. A few years ago I was introduced to bees as spiritual guides & teachers. The concept fascinated me and I’ve been collecting bee related physical objects and esoterica ever since. Of course I was excited to read The Wisdom of the Hive, a collection of essays and personal reflections sprinkled with poetry and meditations. Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine share their own stories and offer practices to the community with compassion and vulnerability. It is a wonderful endeavor and yet it didn’t quite scratch the itch, if you know what I mean. I’m glad I read it. And I look forward to future books on the subject from the same authors. This was a solid line drive down the third base line while I was hoping for a home run. If you are on this bee journey with me, you’ll probably read this, there simply isn’t that much published on the subject. If you are curious about what the bees can teach us, this is a gentle introduction. Thank you to the authors - who also narrate the audio version, Sounds True - if they publish it, I’ll read/listen to it, and NetGalley for the audioARC.
September 28, 2025
2.5 stars (rounded up). This book is beautifully and poetically written. There are moments woven throughout that invite reflection and introspection. I appreciated the emphasis on interconnection - between species, the environment, and ourselves. Overall, this is a moving and lyrical read.
That said, I went in expecting something more rooted in the science of bees. Instead, the book leaned much more heavily into spirituality and folklore. For me, it would have been stronger with a clearer balance between evidence-based insights and the more mystical elements.
Some chapters also felt repetitive, which slowed the pacing. Overall, this one fell short for me, but I think it will resonate with the right reader - someone who opens the book with an open mind and is ready to lean into its spiritual lens.
That said, I went in expecting something more rooted in the science of bees. Instead, the book leaned much more heavily into spirituality and folklore. For me, it would have been stronger with a clearer balance between evidence-based insights and the more mystical elements.
Some chapters also felt repetitive, which slowed the pacing. Overall, this one fell short for me, but I think it will resonate with the right reader - someone who opens the book with an open mind and is ready to lean into its spiritual lens.
May 18, 2025
As a beekeeper, I was excited to receive a review copy of the audiobook The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing by Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine. There were a few interesting facts about the interconnectedness of bees within their colonies and their vital impact on our communities, but overall, this book was waaaay too out there for me. I feel like that's saying a lot for me! For example, the authors talked about bees purposefully stinging people on certain parts of their bodies as a wake-up call to change particular behaviors. If you gossip or say mean things, a sting to the lips may be just what you need. I strongly disagree that a bee would give its life to teach one human a lesson. That's just one example of the wishy-washy nonsense that overflows from this book. I love bees, and I love nature, but I also love science and logical thinking. This one was not a hit for me.
Thanks to Sounds True Audiobooks and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.
Thanks to Sounds True Audiobooks and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.
May 24, 2025
What a powerful reminder that we heal together. This book is so relevant for the times that we are currently living in. When I first saw this book, I didn't think I would gain much from it. I thought to myself, "A book about bees? Why not?" I thought that at the most I would learn more about bees and how they live. Boy was I wrong! All throughout this beautiful story, the beehive was used as a metaphor.
The Wisdom of the Hive is one of those rare books that meets you exactly where you are, then gently pushes you to grow. The authors write with such honesty, warmth, and clarity that it feels like you’re sitting down with a wise and trusted friend. They talk about big, important things—like collective healing, social justice, and how we relate to one another—but in a way that’s deeply human and easy to connect with.
Using the hive as a metaphor, Johnson and Burtaine remind us that we are all connected and that none of us can heal or create change alone. This idea is powerful, especially in a world that often tells us to go it alone or "fix ourselves" in isolation. In a current world that is extremely divided, the authors show us what could be if we worked together as one unit. They make it clear that healing is something we do together, in relationship—with our communities, with nature, and with ourselves.
What I loved most is how practical the book feels. It’s not just theory or abstract ideas; it’s full of reflections, practices, and real-life wisdom that you can actually apply. Whether you’re a community leader, educator, activist, or just someone trying to live with more awareness and compassion, this book offers something meaningful. This was such a beautiful book that I highly recommend! Such a pleasant surprise.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
The Wisdom of the Hive is one of those rare books that meets you exactly where you are, then gently pushes you to grow. The authors write with such honesty, warmth, and clarity that it feels like you’re sitting down with a wise and trusted friend. They talk about big, important things—like collective healing, social justice, and how we relate to one another—but in a way that’s deeply human and easy to connect with.
Using the hive as a metaphor, Johnson and Burtaine remind us that we are all connected and that none of us can heal or create change alone. This idea is powerful, especially in a world that often tells us to go it alone or "fix ourselves" in isolation. In a current world that is extremely divided, the authors show us what could be if we worked together as one unit. They make it clear that healing is something we do together, in relationship—with our communities, with nature, and with ourselves.
What I loved most is how practical the book feels. It’s not just theory or abstract ideas; it’s full of reflections, practices, and real-life wisdom that you can actually apply. Whether you’re a community leader, educator, activist, or just someone trying to live with more awareness and compassion, this book offers something meaningful. This was such a beautiful book that I highly recommend! Such a pleasant surprise.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
September 1, 2025
Part reminiscences about the author learning beekeeping and part new-age spirituality with built-in yoga exercises, complete with long pauses during which the reader is meant to be breathing into their shakras.
If you communicate ideas with concepts of shakras, auras, and manifesting the universe around you, this book may connect with you. If you generally agree with the author, but don't communicate with such concepts, you might find the book a bit tedious. If you don't think in these terms and also aren't already thinking in terms of the more-than-human world, you will probably not enjoy this book at all. I was in the second camp.
The book is also deeply bought into the Christian concept of the "fall of man" and the loss of paradise.
If you communicate ideas with concepts of shakras, auras, and manifesting the universe around you, this book may connect with you. If you generally agree with the author, but don't communicate with such concepts, you might find the book a bit tedious. If you don't think in these terms and also aren't already thinking in terms of the more-than-human world, you will probably not enjoy this book at all. I was in the second camp.
The book is also deeply bought into the Christian concept of the "fall of man" and the loss of paradise.
August 1, 2025
I heard these two authors interviewed on the Insights at the Edge podcast. I was intrigued enough to read the book, as I appreciate the mysticism of beekeeping but don't know much about it. A question posed in the book and on the podcast, which most fascinated me: What if the honeybees are here to save us? Some favorite passages:
P 22: Notice how your body, heart, and spirit respond to the invitation to release your grip on human superiority.
P 42: famous biologist E. O. Wilson: if all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.
P 48: some people believe bees know where to sting you and where you need to receive venom.
P 49: I have come to think of the experience of being stung and the energy of a sting as something that is meant to awaken us.
The sting can sharpen our consciousness and let us know, with a jolt, when it is time to deepen our awareness of the present moment or shift course and direction.
P 51: we are reckoning with our overwhelmed nervous systems and the need to be awake to what is occurring so we can respond and ultimately change our ways of being. A reckoning is never easy; neither is receiving a sting that is meant to awaken us with such immediacy.
P 73: People cannot tell that Michelle has lymphedema (it isn’t evident), but she is moving around in silent pain. This same experience happens in our collective. Many are suffering as they move through the world, but no one knows b/c we are not talking about it.
This is different from how honeybees work. If something is wrong in their hive, they immediately acknowledge it and try to address it in a coordinated fashion.
P 86: Francis Weller, psychotherapist, soul activist, and author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow, calls the times we are in the “Long Dark.” In a conversation with Michael Shaw, he said, “What I honor about the Long Dark is that it tells us that certain things can only happen in the Darkness. And certain pieces of work are happening collectively: the breakdowns of capitalism, of systemic racism, of economic disparities, of gender biases and cruelties. These systems must collapse, they have to collapse b/c they do not serve life. They do not serve the generative capacities of life...The Long Dark is this profound time of decay, of compost, of gestation and sustained imagination.
P 87: But what psyche, what soul, invites us to do in times like this is to develop a second kind of sight, to learn how to see in the darkness, to discover the holiness that dwells in the darkness.
P 115: The bees are in a constant dance with the seasons, the ebb and flow of the light, knowing there are times of dearth and times of flow. Their lives are the embodiment of the lemniscate, the sacred figure eight that teaches us the importance of moving back and forth b/n polarities, realizing that they are not separate.
P 187: every third bite of food we partake of is dependent on worker bee pollination to bring it to the table.
Honeybees tap 2 million flowers and fly 50,000 miles to make one pound of honey.
P 22: Notice how your body, heart, and spirit respond to the invitation to release your grip on human superiority.
P 42: famous biologist E. O. Wilson: if all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.
P 48: some people believe bees know where to sting you and where you need to receive venom.
P 49: I have come to think of the experience of being stung and the energy of a sting as something that is meant to awaken us.
The sting can sharpen our consciousness and let us know, with a jolt, when it is time to deepen our awareness of the present moment or shift course and direction.
P 51: we are reckoning with our overwhelmed nervous systems and the need to be awake to what is occurring so we can respond and ultimately change our ways of being. A reckoning is never easy; neither is receiving a sting that is meant to awaken us with such immediacy.
P 73: People cannot tell that Michelle has lymphedema (it isn’t evident), but she is moving around in silent pain. This same experience happens in our collective. Many are suffering as they move through the world, but no one knows b/c we are not talking about it.
This is different from how honeybees work. If something is wrong in their hive, they immediately acknowledge it and try to address it in a coordinated fashion.
P 86: Francis Weller, psychotherapist, soul activist, and author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow, calls the times we are in the “Long Dark.” In a conversation with Michael Shaw, he said, “What I honor about the Long Dark is that it tells us that certain things can only happen in the Darkness. And certain pieces of work are happening collectively: the breakdowns of capitalism, of systemic racism, of economic disparities, of gender biases and cruelties. These systems must collapse, they have to collapse b/c they do not serve life. They do not serve the generative capacities of life...The Long Dark is this profound time of decay, of compost, of gestation and sustained imagination.
P 87: But what psyche, what soul, invites us to do in times like this is to develop a second kind of sight, to learn how to see in the darkness, to discover the holiness that dwells in the darkness.
P 115: The bees are in a constant dance with the seasons, the ebb and flow of the light, knowing there are times of dearth and times of flow. Their lives are the embodiment of the lemniscate, the sacred figure eight that teaches us the importance of moving back and forth b/n polarities, realizing that they are not separate.
P 187: every third bite of food we partake of is dependent on worker bee pollination to bring it to the table.
Honeybees tap 2 million flowers and fly 50,000 miles to make one pound of honey.
August 28, 2025
🐝We’ve heard the plea to save the bees, but what if the bees can save us too? This guiding question is at the heart of Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine’s beautifully written and deeply thoughtful book. Drawing from beekeeping, Buddhism, and nature-based shamanic practices, the authors invite us to explore what honeybees can teach us about connection, community, and healing; both individually and collectively.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience. This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
✨The book’s holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience. This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
✨The book’s holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
July 14, 2025
The Wisdom of the Hive is one of those quietly resonant reads that offers something gentle but grounding if you let it. 🐝✨
Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine explore how we might learn from honeybees to navigate our own collective lives with more care, rhythm, and responsibility. This isn’t just a “save the bees” rallying cry, though. It’s an invitation to slow down, notice our patterns, and perhaps reimagine what community, healing, and sustainability look like through the lens of the hive.
• The writing often felt more meditative than educational, which wasn’t what I initially expected, but worked beautifully when I leaned into it.
• There are reflections at the end of most chapters and gentle prompts for slowing down, which I found restorative.
• I especially liked the chapter on wintering and how bees, like people, need to know when to conserve energy, when to huddle together, and when to rest.
• There are subtle but intentional links to social justice, climate action, and the emotional labor of tending to community, all held in a poetic voice.
But fair warning...
• Some comparisons felt stretched or metaphorical to the point of losing their grounding.
• If you’re looking for sharp scientific analysis or a structured call to action, this might feel a little too abstract.
• The pace can feel a bit meandering, and not every chapter has the same emotional impact.
• I expected more momentum from the prose, but it was more of a gentle unfurling.
• The meditative tone may not resonate with everyone, but it offered me moments of stillness I didn’t know I needed.
This is a book for when you want to sit in the soft light of reflection, not chase answers. It’s part spiritual practice, part ecological meditation, and part call to conscious interconnection. A lovely one to dip in and out of. 🌼🍯
Thank you to Sounds True for the copy.
Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine explore how we might learn from honeybees to navigate our own collective lives with more care, rhythm, and responsibility. This isn’t just a “save the bees” rallying cry, though. It’s an invitation to slow down, notice our patterns, and perhaps reimagine what community, healing, and sustainability look like through the lens of the hive.
• The writing often felt more meditative than educational, which wasn’t what I initially expected, but worked beautifully when I leaned into it.
• There are reflections at the end of most chapters and gentle prompts for slowing down, which I found restorative.
• I especially liked the chapter on wintering and how bees, like people, need to know when to conserve energy, when to huddle together, and when to rest.
• There are subtle but intentional links to social justice, climate action, and the emotional labor of tending to community, all held in a poetic voice.
But fair warning...
• Some comparisons felt stretched or metaphorical to the point of losing their grounding.
• If you’re looking for sharp scientific analysis or a structured call to action, this might feel a little too abstract.
• The pace can feel a bit meandering, and not every chapter has the same emotional impact.
• I expected more momentum from the prose, but it was more of a gentle unfurling.
• The meditative tone may not resonate with everyone, but it offered me moments of stillness I didn’t know I needed.
This is a book for when you want to sit in the soft light of reflection, not chase answers. It’s part spiritual practice, part ecological meditation, and part call to conscious interconnection. A lovely one to dip in and out of. 🌼🍯
Thank you to Sounds True for the copy.
Read
November 21, 2025I received the ARC/ALC from Net galley for this about a month ago and I've finally managed to finish it.
I've decided not to rate this as it's really just not meant for me. That said, maybe give it a go if you're into alternative medicine thinking and guided meditative practices and stuff like that
I was expecting, as I've now seen a few others mention in reviews, that this would be a lot more scientific, and sort of an anthropological approach to studying bee behaviour. It was far more spiritual and self-help focused than I imagined and those are really not my genres. I was already stepping out of my comfort zone reading something nonfiction, and I've really never liked a single self help book.
the parts that were more focused on the nature of bees and their behaviours as a collective hive were pretty interesting.
in terms of the quality of the audiobook, it was read by the authors which I think made sense because they were basically telling personal anecdotes the whole time, but you can also tell they narrate professionally because it really felt like someone was reading an essay - like they cared about the essay, but still. It didn't feel like they were telling a story like most fiction narrators do (I don't have much experience with nonfiction narration).
They also spoke very slowly, which I'm sure is nice if you're looking for something calming, and I'm sure the guided meditative practices are fine, but I was grateful that netgalley allowed me to listen on 3x speed and I skipped the meditative practice sections...
I've decided not to rate this as it's really just not meant for me. That said, maybe give it a go if you're into alternative medicine thinking and guided meditative practices and stuff like that
I was expecting, as I've now seen a few others mention in reviews, that this would be a lot more scientific, and sort of an anthropological approach to studying bee behaviour. It was far more spiritual and self-help focused than I imagined and those are really not my genres. I was already stepping out of my comfort zone reading something nonfiction, and I've really never liked a single self help book.
the parts that were more focused on the nature of bees and their behaviours as a collective hive were pretty interesting.
in terms of the quality of the audiobook, it was read by the authors which I think made sense because they were basically telling personal anecdotes the whole time, but you can also tell they narrate professionally because it really felt like someone was reading an essay - like they cared about the essay, but still. It didn't feel like they were telling a story like most fiction narrators do (I don't have much experience with nonfiction narration).
They also spoke very slowly, which I'm sure is nice if you're looking for something calming, and I'm sure the guided meditative practices are fine, but I was grateful that netgalley allowed me to listen on 3x speed and I skipped the meditative practice sections...
June 4, 2025
Beautiful cover, interesting book. Interesting in that I am sympathetic too and concerned about the plight of the honey bee. Interesting in the comparisons the authors draw between bees and human species. The comparison of winter being a time of decreased activity for bees, being a critical time for them. A time of slowing down and their interconnectedness and the community resilience that helps them survive. Is this the bees form of "wintering"? Some of the comparisons they draw are a little beyond me, many are interesting. I enjoyed reading the meditative prompts at the end of many of the chapters. Not quite as engaging as I anticipated but still an interesting read.
July 29, 2025
The Wisdom of the Hive is a luminous and soul-stirring guide that reveals the honeybee as both teacher and mirror for our times. Johnson and Burtaine blend myth, mysticism, and ecological insight to draw us into the sacred rhythms of the hive, offering pathways to collective healing, relational harmony, and spiritual attunement. With reverence and poetic clarity, the authors show us how honeybees embody wisdom that transcends survival; they model how to live with purpose, interconnection, and grace. This book is a healing journey, one that calls us to remember our place in the natural world and the sacred responsibility we carry within the collective hive of humanity.
Read
August 4, 2025Calming. That is how I would describe this book. It is how it made me feel.
Through this book I learned a lot about Honeybees and our role on this planet. All through a perspective that I have never considered.
If you are looking for practices, meditation, reflection and a more abstract understanding of Honeybees and human beings, this book is perfect for you!
The audiobook is narrated by the authors, which personally I always love and appreciate very much.
I am taking this thoughts through my life and hopefully they will help me see things more clearly.
Thank you for NetGalley for the gifted Audiobook copy.
Through this book I learned a lot about Honeybees and our role on this planet. All through a perspective that I have never considered.
If you are looking for practices, meditation, reflection and a more abstract understanding of Honeybees and human beings, this book is perfect for you!
The audiobook is narrated by the authors, which personally I always love and appreciate very much.
I am taking this thoughts through my life and hopefully they will help me see things more clearly.
Thank you for NetGalley for the gifted Audiobook copy.
August 27, 2025
The author has a very distinct voice, which the narrator captures well. Drawing inspiration from bees, the book explores political, philosophical, and social justice themes. While there was less focus on bees themselves than I expected, the author uses their social structures as a lens to reflect on human behavior. Each chapter ends with personal exercises that invite readers to engage more deeply with the ideas. There is also a strong emphasis on spirituality and mysticism, which at times reminded me of books on Tarot I’ve read. If you enjoy inner contemplation and social reflection, this book may resonate with you.
March 2, 2026
The world's problems will only be solved by working collectively, as the bees do. These two beekeeper authors make a decent argument to support their premise, but it seems like they sometimes forget that they are supposed to be talking about bees. Each chapter ends with an original poem. Most chapters include writing prompts. It was hard to do most of them as I was reading because I didn't have the context needed to respond; but now that I have finished the book, I want to go back to them. Also included are meditations and other activities called "Practice." So, this is a pretty interactive book!
January 7, 2026
This book revolutionized my concept of bees and hives and humanity’s connection to them. I am deeply grateful to authors Michelle and Amy for sharing their insights and wisdom. I learned so much! I was fortunate enough to be in the room for a workshop with Michelle and experienced the collective hum and resounding interconnection within our group. Remarkable book! I look forward to humming my way through the year(s) ahead with a greater awareness of our interdependence and the wisdom of the hive!
July 23, 2025
A good book! The writers are obviously very passionate about bees, and it’s lovely to read that.
(Thanks goodreads for the giveaway)
(Thanks goodreads for the giveaway)
May 3, 2026
This book answered questions I didn’t know I had. It came to me during a time when I really needed it, and I have the sensation of hope again. Oh, and my love for bees is immeasurable.
June 2, 2025
When I first came across this book, I was intrigued by its premise: using bees as a lens for exploring connection, healing, and community. It seemed like a fresh and thoughtful approach to thinking about how we relate to one another and the natural world. In hindsight, I probably should have looked more closely at the book’s spiritual framework before jumping in, as it ended up being quite different from what I typically read.
I genuinely appreciated the book’s emphasis on interconnectedness and the importance of being grounded in nature. However, its strong focus on spiritual and mystical traditions fell a bit outside my usual reading comfort zone. I did my best to approach the reflection prompts and mindfulness exercises woven throughout the text with openness, and I can see how they might resonate deeply with some readers. For me, however, this framing, especially in the sections that leaned most heavily into these themes, created a bit of distance. There were moments where the tone of the book bordered on overly self-assured or even self-righteous, particularly when asserting broad spiritual or ecological claims without sufficient grounding. This made it difficult for me to stay engaged, as I often felt like I was being guided toward a very specific worldview rather than invited into a reflective conversation.
I also found myself reflecting on how these traditions were being presented. At times, I felt unsettled by how the book incorporated various spiritual and cultural traditions without clearly naming or crediting their origins. This left me wondering whether the authors were fully acknowledging the depth, complexity, or histories behind the practices they were drawing from. Without that accountability, the book’s calls for healing and justice felt somewhat hollow, especially given its critiques of colonialism and extraction.
That said, I did enjoy the sections of this book that focused on the bees themselves. I learned more about their behaviors, relationships, and role within ecosystems. However, I often found myself feeling as though the broader framing of the book was somewhat disjointed. While I agree with many of the foundational premises: the need for collective care, dismantling of systems of oppression, and the importance of rethinking how we live in community with one another, and can see how the authors are using bees as an entry point into these conversations, the more nuanced examples and arguments presented, and in particular how they relate to bees, often felt underdeveloped or at least underexplained. Some of the claims felt quite outrageous, while a few crossed a line for me and felt damaging.
Stylistically, the writing was repetitive at times and frequently interrupted by “priming” statements like “we’ll return to this later” or “this will be explored more in chapter X.” Later on, this became “as mentioned in chapter X,” which disrupted the narrative flow. Additionally, the consistent overuse of buzzwords/phrases without clear definitions or follow-through sometimes left the text feeling more performative than substantive.
One contradiction that stood out to me was the framing early in the book (and repeated at the end) that perhaps “the bees are here to save us,” rather than us saving them. This is later extended to coral reefs, the sun, and the moon being here to save us, all while the authors critique how humans center themselves in Earth’s systems. That framing felt a bit circular or self-defeating, as it seemed to re-center the human experience, which is at odds with the book’s own critique of human-centered thinking. I was also struck by the repeated references to retreats and workshops, including some held in places like Hawai‘i, without any acknowledgment of the privilege, settler colonialism, or extractive practices often underlying such wellness retreats. This omission felt especially jarring given the book’s occasional anti-capitalist messages.
What I struggled with most, I think, was a lingering sense that the book wanted to be transformative, but didn’t always do the work to earn the reader’s trust. It sometimes felt like I was being asked to suspend critical thinking in favor of belief, and that made it hard for me to feel truly connected to the text, even when I appreciated its intentions.
Overall, I think this book may be a meaningful and affirming read for those who are drawn to spiritually centered work that blends nature, mindfulness, community, and social justice. I appreciated several of the reflection questions offered throughout, which could be useful prompts for deeper engagement, and enjoyed some sections (the one on ‘sweetness’ comes to mind). Ultimately, though, it wasn’t quite the right fit for my reading style.
1.75 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True Audiobooks for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I genuinely appreciated the book’s emphasis on interconnectedness and the importance of being grounded in nature. However, its strong focus on spiritual and mystical traditions fell a bit outside my usual reading comfort zone. I did my best to approach the reflection prompts and mindfulness exercises woven throughout the text with openness, and I can see how they might resonate deeply with some readers. For me, however, this framing, especially in the sections that leaned most heavily into these themes, created a bit of distance. There were moments where the tone of the book bordered on overly self-assured or even self-righteous, particularly when asserting broad spiritual or ecological claims without sufficient grounding. This made it difficult for me to stay engaged, as I often felt like I was being guided toward a very specific worldview rather than invited into a reflective conversation.
I also found myself reflecting on how these traditions were being presented. At times, I felt unsettled by how the book incorporated various spiritual and cultural traditions without clearly naming or crediting their origins. This left me wondering whether the authors were fully acknowledging the depth, complexity, or histories behind the practices they were drawing from. Without that accountability, the book’s calls for healing and justice felt somewhat hollow, especially given its critiques of colonialism and extraction.
That said, I did enjoy the sections of this book that focused on the bees themselves. I learned more about their behaviors, relationships, and role within ecosystems. However, I often found myself feeling as though the broader framing of the book was somewhat disjointed. While I agree with many of the foundational premises: the need for collective care, dismantling of systems of oppression, and the importance of rethinking how we live in community with one another, and can see how the authors are using bees as an entry point into these conversations, the more nuanced examples and arguments presented, and in particular how they relate to bees, often felt underdeveloped or at least underexplained. Some of the claims felt quite outrageous, while a few crossed a line for me and felt damaging.
Stylistically, the writing was repetitive at times and frequently interrupted by “priming” statements like “we’ll return to this later” or “this will be explored more in chapter X.” Later on, this became “as mentioned in chapter X,” which disrupted the narrative flow. Additionally, the consistent overuse of buzzwords/phrases without clear definitions or follow-through sometimes left the text feeling more performative than substantive.
One contradiction that stood out to me was the framing early in the book (and repeated at the end) that perhaps “the bees are here to save us,” rather than us saving them. This is later extended to coral reefs, the sun, and the moon being here to save us, all while the authors critique how humans center themselves in Earth’s systems. That framing felt a bit circular or self-defeating, as it seemed to re-center the human experience, which is at odds with the book’s own critique of human-centered thinking. I was also struck by the repeated references to retreats and workshops, including some held in places like Hawai‘i, without any acknowledgment of the privilege, settler colonialism, or extractive practices often underlying such wellness retreats. This omission felt especially jarring given the book’s occasional anti-capitalist messages.
What I struggled with most, I think, was a lingering sense that the book wanted to be transformative, but didn’t always do the work to earn the reader’s trust. It sometimes felt like I was being asked to suspend critical thinking in favor of belief, and that made it hard for me to feel truly connected to the text, even when I appreciated its intentions.
Overall, I think this book may be a meaningful and affirming read for those who are drawn to spiritually centered work that blends nature, mindfulness, community, and social justice. I appreciated several of the reflection questions offered throughout, which could be useful prompts for deeper engagement, and enjoyed some sections (the one on ‘sweetness’ comes to mind). Ultimately, though, it wasn’t quite the right fit for my reading style.
1.75 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True Audiobooks for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
October 20, 2025
🐝The bees really might just save us after all! 🐝
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves nature, spirituality, or that cozy cottage core life. 🏡 The authors' narration brings calm, soothing energy - the honey bee content is essential cottage core. A vibe that makes you want to curl up with tea and honey. 🍵
The guided meditations sprinkled throughout are pure gold. I keep going back and relistening to them when I need help grounding. The guided fire sipping ritual was both mystical and empowering! 🔥Not to be missed, is the final meditation; a deeply emotional guided practice that is an exercise in dreaming and creative exploration.
Thank you to Sounds True Audio for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review! 🙏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves nature, spirituality, or that cozy cottage core life. 🏡 The authors' narration brings calm, soothing energy - the honey bee content is essential cottage core. A vibe that makes you want to curl up with tea and honey. 🍵
The guided meditations sprinkled throughout are pure gold. I keep going back and relistening to them when I need help grounding. The guided fire sipping ritual was both mystical and empowering! 🔥Not to be missed, is the final meditation; a deeply emotional guided practice that is an exercise in dreaming and creative exploration.
Thank you to Sounds True Audio for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review! 🙏
August 28, 2025
🐝We've heard the plea to save the bees, but what if the bees can save us too? This guiding question is at the heart of Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine's beautifully written and deeply thoughtful book. Drawing from beekeeping, Buddhism, and nature-based shamanic practices, the authors invite us to explore what honeybees can teach us about connection, community, and healing; both individually and collectively.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience.
This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
are.
✨The book's holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience.
This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
are.
✨The book's holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
August 28, 2025
🐝We've heard the plea to save the bees, but what if the bees can save us too? This guiding question is at the heart of Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine's beautifully written and deeply thoughtful book. Drawing from beekeeping, Buddhism, and nature-based shamanic practices, the authors invite us to explore what honeybees can teach us about connection, community, and healing; both individually and collectively.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience.
This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
are.
✨The book's holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
☀️I loved how accessible and adaptable the practices are. Each chapter includes spells, meditations, and journaling prompts, and the authors encourage readers to approach them with flexibility and intuition. As someone who lives with disability, I was grateful for the way the book affirms that disabled readers can fully engage in these practices, often through simple adaptations. This inclusivity felt intentional and heartfelt, making the book feel welcoming to a truly diverse audience.
💛I appreciated the vulnerability the authors showed in sharing their own lived experiences with disability, trauma, grief, joy, and resilience.
This openness creates a sense of trust and reminds us that the lessons of the hive are not abstract ideas, but lived truths. The writing is both trauma-informed and rooted in love, consistently acknowledging the different realities readers bring with them while offering practices that can meet people wherever they are.
are.
✨The book's holistic approach, weaving together science, spirituality, and storytelling was especially powerful. I was fascinated by the idea of the hive as a superorganism and found myself reflecting on how much brighter the future of humanity could be if we embraced a similar sense of collective interdependence. I found the journaling prompts especially beneficial; they were so insightful that I even adapted them into tarot queries, deepening my personal reflection.
🌼This book is an invitation to remember our interconnectedness with one another and with the natural world. I know I will revisit its meditations and practices often, as they offer gentle yet profound ways to embody the wisdom of the bees. I hope finds its way into the hands of every soul ready to receive its message.
🙏Many thanks to @NetGalley and @SoundsTrue for this ARC to review.
May 5, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced audio copy of The Wisdom of the Hive!
As a beekeeper, I was thrilled to be approved for this one—and Michelle and Amy did not disappoint.
The book opens with the thought-provoking question: “What if the bees are here to save us?”—a powerful invitation that sets the tone for the rest of the journey. I was captivated by the blend of information, personal stories, and spiritual insight. The authors offer a beautiful shift in perspective, inviting us to see bees not just as insects, but as mystical beings that move between worlds.
I enjoyed the audiobook so much that I’ll be picking up a hard copy to sit more intentionally with the practices and reflections. Thank you, Michelle and Amy, for sharing your wisdom and reverence for these extraordinary creatures!
As a beekeeper, I was thrilled to be approved for this one—and Michelle and Amy did not disappoint.
The book opens with the thought-provoking question: “What if the bees are here to save us?”—a powerful invitation that sets the tone for the rest of the journey. I was captivated by the blend of information, personal stories, and spiritual insight. The authors offer a beautiful shift in perspective, inviting us to see bees not just as insects, but as mystical beings that move between worlds.
I enjoyed the audiobook so much that I’ll be picking up a hard copy to sit more intentionally with the practices and reflections. Thank you, Michelle and Amy, for sharing your wisdom and reverence for these extraordinary creatures!
October 2, 2025
I found this book to be an absolute delight—truly a meditation from start to finish. It has quickly become one of my top favorites of all time. I originally picked it up because of my curiosity about bees, honey, and honey’s role in magical practice. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would align with my own spiritual journey. The author weaves together natural history, mythology, and wisdom in a way that feels both grounding and transformative. This isn’t just a book about bees; it’s an invitation to see the world with reverence, sweetness, and a renewed sense of connection.
May 3, 2025
Part memoir, part education, part meditation practice.
This book is full of hope but also care, toward bees and nature but also towards humanity.
It helps us connect with the living and refocus on what really matters.
It's a real tribute to biodiversity !
This book is full of hope but also care, toward bees and nature but also towards humanity.
It helps us connect with the living and refocus on what really matters.
It's a real tribute to biodiversity !
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