The Bee: A Natural History

by Noah Wilson-Rich

Eyes with more than 6,000 separate lenses; bodies so hairy that they attract pollen by static; the ability to communicate by dancing... bee stats are endlessly engrossing. And the bee is as important to the production of human food as any machine; without the bees to pollinate them, most of our crops would be dead in the field. So how did this furry little workaholic come to be so crucial to the planet?

The Bee: A Natural History answers that question and many more, looking at bee development from 65 million years ago to today, when over 20,000 bee species have been identified and beekeeping is enjoying a surge in popularity. Exploring evolution, anatomy, society, behaviour, and the human factor, and presenting a visual directory of 40 bee breeds alongside practical fact panels, this is the book that will become a buzz word for every keeper, student, or lover of bees.

Genres: Science, Nature, Nonfiction, Natural History, Animals, Biology, History

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2014

Reviews

[Hildegunn Hodne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written and thorough book about bees, richly illustrated. Contrary to most other books, this one includes information about all the different types of bees, from wild bees to domesticated bees, bumble bees and stingless bees, social bees and solitary bees. A lot is covered, but without drilling too deep into each topic, making it very much a popular science book available to anyone. The book is chock full of information and probably the most complete bee book I have come across to date. Highly recommended.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The argument could be and has been made that bees are essential to life on Earth as we know it. They are most certainly crucial to the reproduction and diversity of flowering plants.

The creatures are known to pollinate more than 130 fruit, vegetable, and seed crops that we rely on to survive and those plants make economic contributions in the tens of billions of dollars every year. Therefore, it is very important on many levels that we have a healthy population of bees.

But bees are in trouble. They are dying off at an alarming rate, and although in some cases the cause of the die-off has not been absolutely pinned down, scientists are pretty much in agreement that pesticides and the practices of modern agriculture are the main culprits.

In The Bee: A Natural History, Noah Wilson-Rich explores some of the challenges faced by bees and how we can ameliorate them in order to aid the bees. This book primarily focuses on honeybees, but it also has sections on solitary bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees, which takes in the various kinds of native bees that exist in this country.

Earth is, in fact, the home to more than 20,000 bee species of an astounding diversity, but all have some essentials in common. Wilson-Rich discusses their evolution and development, their anatomy and biology, and their society and behavior.

An entire chapter is given over to the discussion of bees and humans. A second chapter explores beekeeping from the basics to hive design and harvesting the honey, and it includes information about problems which might occur and pests which can invade the hives.

This book is written in an engaging and easily accessible style and it is illustrated throughout with pictures and drawings which enliven the text. For the person interested in beekeeping, it gives the basics of organic and integrated pest management techniques. Overall, it gives its readers insights into a holistic approach to bee health and to ensuring that a vibrant population of the little creatures is able to survive on the planet. It is a very practical handbook for anyone looking for ways to help the bees.

(A copy of this book was provided to me without charge by the publisher in return for an honest review. No other remuneration was provided. The opinions expressed here are my own.)

[Meghan Fidler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and intrepid in his use of detailed scientific discourse on genetics, aerodynamics, and biology, Noah Wilson-Rich's "The Bee" was an afternoon well spent. Bees have such a fascinating little buzz about them!

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bee: A Natural History is certainly one of the most thorough overviews of the insect that I have yet laid my hands upon. The book covers all aspects of the bees - from their natural history to their importance to humans over the years, to beekeeping, and finally to the future of the species. The sections on bee husbandry were especially interesting, and included helpful items such as charts on bee care - both chemical and organic.

Did you know that a certain level of Varroa mites is expected in hives? If they get to be too many, however, you can gently coat the bees with a sugary substance to encourage them to groom more effectively. Of course, nothing quite beats breeding a more hygienic hive if you can. The allowance the US makes to use antibiotics to treat illnesses such as foulbrood rather than simply burning the hive and attempting to breed stronger broods is also a problem, and may be why 20-30 percent losses are now typical of bees in America each year.

This book was fascinating, and definitely has encouraged me to continue reading on this subject. I look forward to finding future bee books and further enlightening myself. Perhaps even one year having a few hives.

[Luis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una introducción a la vida de las abejas, a la apicultura y a las especies más representativas de este grupo de especies, todo ello adornado con preciosas fotografías que nos acercan a su mundo íntimo.

Se trata de un volumen más bien expositivo, en el que cada tema ocupa dos páginas y está acompañado de varias fotografías e ilustraciones. El formato está bastante logrado, pero no se puede decir mucho sobre el contenido. Las explicaciones son parciales, muchas de ellas no profundizan y alguien que ya sepa algunas cosas sobre estos insectos no verá colmadas sus aspiraciones de aprender más. Tampoco es que para un apicultor este libro sea de utilidad alguna, ese capítulo también es superficial. La parte más larga del libro es una descripción de las distintas especies de abeja que es bastante llamativa. Por lo demás, se puede aprender algún dato curioso sobre las abejas y hay fotografías maravillosas que merecen la pena, teniendo en cuenta que este no es ningún libro de referencia.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I could desire in a book: good topic, lots of pictures, good size.

[Jessica Strunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bees are fascinating!!! Loved this layout. Very informative but captivating!

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

My interest in bees came through my photography of flowers. The variety of bees, their shapes, colors and sizes fascinated me. I find this book fascinating with information about bees, their role in human history, their importance for food production, and their many and varied habits. Bees have suffered recently, perhaps largely due to humanity's effects on the environment. Because our lives are so intertwined, it makes sense for us to help the bees as best we can.

[David Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a body of brief bits of information, Noah Wilson-Rich offers a broad and knowledgeable scope of topics. As a 45-year beekeeper of constant studies, I find this book informative and inspiring. It is a fine book for everyone's curiosity. The book is beautiful in terms of photography and typography. I think it gives the book more value than meets the eye. After all there are a thousand words in a photo, especially beautifully crafted photos like these that invite lingering and admiration. And the easy flow of the typography and editing make it a pleasure to follow. It serves as a useful book for me to proudly use as a personal reference. Being thorough and comprehensive, I'm happy to suggest it to beginning bee stewards as well as fans and admirers of our friends the honey bee.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I finished reading this book I thought what do I write in my review about the book. Thinking about what to write in this review did not help me. I liked the bee guide. One fascinating fact I learned for this book is that ever four minutes the sun moves one degree to the west. Cool. I also liked reading about the waggle and the round dances. I know if I were a bee I would never find any food. Its amazing to me that they can find their way to pollinate any flowers at all.
I can't think of anything more to write except to say that if you like bees you will not be wasting your time if you read this book. In my opinion.

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating, gorgeously designed look at bees--even apart from the information, it's worth a read just for the design/illustrative elements. Like a lot of books about bees, this one focuses heavily on honey bees, but did discuss solitary bees as well. I did find it a little hard to get into initially, since it's more of an infographic than a front-to-back text. Once I got into it, though, it was a fairly quick and easy read, and I enjoyed it a lot.

[Rob Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overall primer on modern bees, with a concentration on wild and domestic honey bees - "natural history being only a part of the content. ID guide is handy, but seems to lean largely on Eurasian species. Includes robust notes on bee keeping and current pathogen and parasite problems effecting the contemporary populations.

[Anouska Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book 4* and not 3 as it is chock full of information but some bits were a little too scientific for me! I did t really enjoy the part about bees and spirituality etc as not really my thing. But otherwise (for me) a fantastic read and some great pictures.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and comprehensive guide to all things on BEE!

[Maggie Gruenbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most amazing creature! Great book and pics

[Topherjaynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gob’s not on board.


Very digestible and learned more than I thought I would. Very lovely layout.

[Safaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book to everything bees, two-page explanations on all things bee, from anatomy to behaviour to honey production to conservation.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely book! I learned so much -- the interdisciplinary focus was delightful. It is also a very visually compelling book.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE BEES

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good pictures, basic information.

[Serefeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

yo they got bees in this thang

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly amazing read - the author summarizes almost every topic about bees. Oh the eye-opening things I learned reading this book. Perfect for really anyone - not very heavy on scientific terms. Random pick for me.

[Anne Fabing · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers every possible aspect regarding the bee, yet reads like a text book. Large, highly detailed pictures are included in the directory of bees towards the back of the book. A valuable resource for any bee enthusiast.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully put together book, but for a very intelligent middle schooler. Still. I enjoyed reading it.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and entertaining.

[Michael Blackmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of biology and behaviors of the various bees of the world. Serves as a nice introduction to the topic with a generous bibliographic for further reading.