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Bee Quest
A hunt for the most elusive bees leads Dave Goulson from the Salisbury plains to the Sussex hedgerows, from Poland to Patagonia. Whether he is tracking great yellow bumblebees in the Hebrides or chasing orchid bees through the Ecuadorian jungle, Dave Goulson’s wit, humour and deep love of nature make him the ideal travelling companion.
This utterly charming book will also inspire you to think about the ways in which we are all responsible for the future of our world. Through his scientific expertise and passion for conservation, Goulson shows us nature’s resilience against the odds, and that beauty hides in the most surprising places.
This utterly charming book will also inspire you to think about the ways in which we are all responsible for the future of our world. Through his scientific expertise and passion for conservation, Goulson shows us nature’s resilience against the odds, and that beauty hides in the most surprising places.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2017
45 people are currently reading
1130 people want to read
About the author
Dave Goulson
19 books342 followersAfter a childhood chasing butterflies and collecting bird’s eggs, I studied Biology at Oxford University, and then did a PhD on butterfly ecology at Oxford Brookes University. Shortly afterwards I got a lectureship at University of Southampton, where I stayed for 11 years. It was there that I began to specialize in bumblebee ecology and conservation. In 2006 I became Professor of Biology and Stirling University. In 2006 I also founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity devoted to reversing bumblebee declines. In 2013 I moved to Sussex University.
I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees. A Buzz in the Meadow (Jonathon Cape) is due to be published in September 2014.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London.
I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees. A Buzz in the Meadow (Jonathon Cape) is due to be published in September 2014.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 30, 2017
Goulson grows more like Bill Bryson and Gerald Durrell with each book. You could hardly find better mentors for writing travel/nature narratives, after all. Although the topic of this third book is probably of the least personal interest to me, there are plenty of wonderful asides and pieces of trivia that make it worth journeying along with him everywhere from Poland to Ecuador in the search for rare bees.
For as close-up as his view often is, he also sees the big picture of environmental degradation and species loss. I learned some fairly dismaying facts: gold mining is extremely destructive to the environment, producing 20 tons of toxic material per ring; and it takes five liters of water to produce one almond in California. As for a more hopeful statistic: the billions of dollars it would take to set up conservation efforts for all of the world’s struggling species would still only equate to cutting world Coke consumption by 20%. It’s all a matter of priorities.
A few favorite lines:
For as close-up as his view often is, he also sees the big picture of environmental degradation and species loss. I learned some fairly dismaying facts: gold mining is extremely destructive to the environment, producing 20 tons of toxic material per ring; and it takes five liters of water to produce one almond in California. As for a more hopeful statistic: the billions of dollars it would take to set up conservation efforts for all of the world’s struggling species would still only equate to cutting world Coke consumption by 20%. It’s all a matter of priorities.
A few favorite lines:
On my way back I was vomited on by a young fulmar, not an experience I would choose to repeat but worth doing once just for the novelty.
We should not ask what nature does for us, but instead ask what we can do for it.
As is often the case in entomology, in the end it all comes down to the genitals.
dreich is a Scottish colloquialism for damp, drizzly, cold and miserable weather. It is a useful term to describe the Scottish weather through much of the autumn, winter and spring, and often comes in handy in the summer too.
April 29, 2017
There is nothing better than sitting in the garden in summer sun with a glass of something cold, watching the bees buzz between flowers. The honey bee moves quickly collecting nectar, and then there are the bumble bees. They look like they shouldn’t be able to fly as they float lazily between the flowers. I thought that there were only one or two species of bumble bee, but it turns out there are many more than that. The question is how many are left, and how many could self-confessed insect nut, Dave Goulson, find?
Goulson begins at Salisbury Plain, a large patch of chalk downland in the south-west, which thanks to the British army, has remained untouched from modern industrial farming methods. Provided you remember to avoid the unexploded ordinance, this is one of the best places to find the shrill carder and other rarer bumble bees as well as many other invertebrates, pond shrimps and the fantastically named Great Bustard. The promise of finding a Yellow Armpit bee in Eastern Europe prompts a trip to Poland. The tiny island of Barra is surrounded by crystal clear blue seas and startlingly white beaches; the look is Caribbean, but as this is just off the west coast of Scotland, the temperatures didn’t really match, but this is where the Great Yellow is still left.
Trips further afield to Patagonia, Ecuador and California in search of orchid bees, the Franklin and Giant Golden add a touch of exotica to the search for the rear and unusual before Goulson is brought back to earth with two visits to a brownfield site on the Thames estuary, one official, and another that was, er, less official shall we say. Really enjoyed reading about the re-wilding of Knepp Castle. The changes that Sir Charles Burrell has made to his estate have been as dramatic as they have been beneficial for the local environment.
Goulson has written his best book yet, his writing keeps getting better and his Infectious enthusiasm for his furry subjects is catching. Not only is it a wonderful read, but it is a prescient warning of our meddling with the environment. Drenching the land in insecticides is fundamentally wrong; in California, Goulson saw that a small amount of land set aside for nature could actually improve yields, with none of the detrimental effects of chemical addition. Honeybees are thought to be the biggest pollinators, but it was found that bumble bees are equally good, you wouldn’t have tomatoes for example. If you are a fan of natural history book then this is a necessary addition. Only two minor flaws, it could have done with some photos, and it wasn’t long enough!
Goulson begins at Salisbury Plain, a large patch of chalk downland in the south-west, which thanks to the British army, has remained untouched from modern industrial farming methods. Provided you remember to avoid the unexploded ordinance, this is one of the best places to find the shrill carder and other rarer bumble bees as well as many other invertebrates, pond shrimps and the fantastically named Great Bustard. The promise of finding a Yellow Armpit bee in Eastern Europe prompts a trip to Poland. The tiny island of Barra is surrounded by crystal clear blue seas and startlingly white beaches; the look is Caribbean, but as this is just off the west coast of Scotland, the temperatures didn’t really match, but this is where the Great Yellow is still left.
Trips further afield to Patagonia, Ecuador and California in search of orchid bees, the Franklin and Giant Golden add a touch of exotica to the search for the rear and unusual before Goulson is brought back to earth with two visits to a brownfield site on the Thames estuary, one official, and another that was, er, less official shall we say. Really enjoyed reading about the re-wilding of Knepp Castle. The changes that Sir Charles Burrell has made to his estate have been as dramatic as they have been beneficial for the local environment.
Goulson has written his best book yet, his writing keeps getting better and his Infectious enthusiasm for his furry subjects is catching. Not only is it a wonderful read, but it is a prescient warning of our meddling with the environment. Drenching the land in insecticides is fundamentally wrong; in California, Goulson saw that a small amount of land set aside for nature could actually improve yields, with none of the detrimental effects of chemical addition. Honeybees are thought to be the biggest pollinators, but it was found that bumble bees are equally good, you wouldn’t have tomatoes for example. If you are a fan of natural history book then this is a necessary addition. Only two minor flaws, it could have done with some photos, and it wasn’t long enough!
June 17, 2017
This is a wonderful little book on Dave Goulson's favorit subject: bumblebees. Dave is fantastically knowledgable and also incredibly funny. Some of the subject matter here is quite sad, so it's a relief that it's lightened up along the way.
Dave is on the hunt for rare bumblebees. He discusses habitat losses and habitat finds in the UK. There are some surprising places left to wildlife still, although not many.
In South America, Dave looks for a large golden bumblebee. Sadly, the South American bee populations are collapsing - probably as a result of imported commercial bumble bees from Europe. In the United States there are similar trends, although here it's only the diseases and not the bees themselves who have crossed the Atlantic.
The first book I read by Dave - "A buzz in the meadow" - inspired me to cultivate for bees. I love flowers. The ones on the terrace are now selected for being popular with the local bumblebees. I also have a patch of land that is so slanted that I can't use it for anything. For years I've cut it down. This year, I'm cutting it once - in August. Miraculously - or so it feels - I now have a little meadow (50 * 6 meters or so) that buzzes with life and is abundant in wild flowers.
So do read Dave Goulson and figure out what you can do to support wildlife. I can't do much, but I can feed bumblebees.
Dave is on the hunt for rare bumblebees. He discusses habitat losses and habitat finds in the UK. There are some surprising places left to wildlife still, although not many.
In South America, Dave looks for a large golden bumblebee. Sadly, the South American bee populations are collapsing - probably as a result of imported commercial bumble bees from Europe. In the United States there are similar trends, although here it's only the diseases and not the bees themselves who have crossed the Atlantic.
The first book I read by Dave - "A buzz in the meadow" - inspired me to cultivate for bees. I love flowers. The ones on the terrace are now selected for being popular with the local bumblebees. I also have a patch of land that is so slanted that I can't use it for anything. For years I've cut it down. This year, I'm cutting it once - in August. Miraculously - or so it feels - I now have a little meadow (50 * 6 meters or so) that buzzes with life and is abundant in wild flowers.
So do read Dave Goulson and figure out what you can do to support wildlife. I can't do much, but I can feed bumblebees.
June 13, 2025
Some people call me a nerd for reading books like this, my eldest says I read boring books but in this book about bees within the first 20 pages I had learnt how to make a pipe bomb out of pigeon poop and how to take out the power to a village using a short piece of barbed wire…boring my ass! As for the rest of the book? Rage inducing!
Goulson is a brilliant writer, this is the first of his books that I have read and I’m sold on his writing, he blends humour and fact with personal experience and this easily draws you in. I found myself there with him as he was dancing around Salisbury Plain, net in hand catching bees, and then waiting for him to describe the bees he had caught…will they bee the rare bee hee bee looking for? His hunt takes him around the world looking for the last places these rare bees can be found, most impressive was Poland, the old style of farming used there seems to be perfect for the bees.
The rage inducing part of the book is when Goulson discusses areas in the UK with rare wildlife and our constant obsession with building or just destroying these habitats, the suggestions out there for making things better fall on deaf ears, this book was written back in 2017 but Hannah Bourne-Taylor’s recent book about swifts shows that nothing has changed, it’s all about that money. And as for people killing recently released beavers, ya want to swear, I have a huge amount of respect for people like Goulson and the work they do in such a frustrating world.
A really good book this was, I would have liked the addition of some bee illustrations or some of Goulson’s photos but had to use google instead. I have now found my dream place to work, the rewilding at Knepp Estate, just need to see if they have a job for somebody unqualified but having read Bee Quest.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2025...
Goulson is a brilliant writer, this is the first of his books that I have read and I’m sold on his writing, he blends humour and fact with personal experience and this easily draws you in. I found myself there with him as he was dancing around Salisbury Plain, net in hand catching bees, and then waiting for him to describe the bees he had caught…will they bee the rare bee hee bee looking for? His hunt takes him around the world looking for the last places these rare bees can be found, most impressive was Poland, the old style of farming used there seems to be perfect for the bees.
The rage inducing part of the book is when Goulson discusses areas in the UK with rare wildlife and our constant obsession with building or just destroying these habitats, the suggestions out there for making things better fall on deaf ears, this book was written back in 2017 but Hannah Bourne-Taylor’s recent book about swifts shows that nothing has changed, it’s all about that money. And as for people killing recently released beavers, ya want to swear, I have a huge amount of respect for people like Goulson and the work they do in such a frustrating world.
A really good book this was, I would have liked the addition of some bee illustrations or some of Goulson’s photos but had to use google instead. I have now found my dream place to work, the rewilding at Knepp Estate, just need to see if they have a job for somebody unqualified but having read Bee Quest.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2025...
April 2, 2022
Es war sehr interessant Dave Goulson bei seinen Feldforschungen zu begleiten. Den Titel finde ich nicht gut gewählt. Im Buch geht es hauptsächlich um Hummeln. Da sie zu den Bienen gehören, ist der Titel nicht falsch aber meiner Ansicht nach hat man gehofft mehr Leser*innen vom Kauf zu überzeugen, da die Bienen gerade in den letzten Jahren sehr beliebt sind. Es geht also um verschiedene Arten von Hummeln in verschiedenen Teilen der Welt. Leider sind viele Arten vom Aussterben bedroht oder sie sind schon ausgestorben. Das liegt wie meistens an uns Menschen. Durch Monokulturen, Pestizide und Zerstörung der Lebensräume sind einige Hummeln sehr selten geworden. Dazwischen erfährt man auch ein paar Anekdoten aus der Kindheit des Autors oder ein paar Informationen über verschiedene Schmetterlinge, Vögel, etc. Ich fand es sehr interessant und werde dieses Jahr noch mehr nach Hummeln im Garten Ausschau halten.
July 19, 2023
I adore the very human voice that Dave has in his books, and it's very prevalent here when he's talking about the ways humans have interfered in natural processes. Originally was gonna give this a 3 but the last chapter brought it up to a 4 star.
January 21, 2019
A very interesting and enjoyable piece of nature writing. The author has a very engaging style which makes this book easily readable and not at all dry, despite clearly being well backed by the scientific literature.
The book documents the author's travels as he seeks out various rare bee species. Many of these stories are centred around his home country, the UK, but he also goes further afield to look for species in South America. While I am a UK resident myself, there was still much I did not know about many of the places he visited, and his style of writing made even the most mundane environments sound enthralling. I was particularly interested in hearing his take on the rewilding project at Knepp Castle and the effects it is having on the insect diversity there.
Overall this book gives a good account of the ecology of particular bee species and the conservation issues that face them, as well as a lot of general information about the areas he visited and how all these issues feed into the wider narrative of biodiversity conservation. I feel the book was slightly lacking in the specific biology of some of these bees, but the author does indicate that for many rare species there is relatively little information about their biology and life history, so this is understandable.
I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in ecology and conservation, or those with a particular interest in bees and insects. Having a study background in these subjects would be a benefit, but I feel the author explains concepts sufficiently enough for those not well-versed in scientific writing to understand.
The book documents the author's travels as he seeks out various rare bee species. Many of these stories are centred around his home country, the UK, but he also goes further afield to look for species in South America. While I am a UK resident myself, there was still much I did not know about many of the places he visited, and his style of writing made even the most mundane environments sound enthralling. I was particularly interested in hearing his take on the rewilding project at Knepp Castle and the effects it is having on the insect diversity there.
Overall this book gives a good account of the ecology of particular bee species and the conservation issues that face them, as well as a lot of general information about the areas he visited and how all these issues feed into the wider narrative of biodiversity conservation. I feel the book was slightly lacking in the specific biology of some of these bees, but the author does indicate that for many rare species there is relatively little information about their biology and life history, so this is understandable.
I would recommend this book for anyone with an interest in ecology and conservation, or those with a particular interest in bees and insects. Having a study background in these subjects would be a benefit, but I feel the author explains concepts sufficiently enough for those not well-versed in scientific writing to understand.
April 5, 2018
An excellent book on one man's quest to find rare and endangered bumblebees.
Like all natural history books, it's both heart warming and heart breaking.
Dave Goulson writes with a charm and quirky sense of humour that makes this book a sheer delight to read. A word of advice: read the footnotes. You must read the footnotes. Nine tenths of the quirky sense of humour appears in the footnotes.
As well as being entertaining I learned a lot about bumblebees. Including how they came to be in New Zealand. I always adored bumblebees. The always seemed to me to be earnest, flying teddy bears. All fat and furry, bumbling from flower to flower. Winnie-the-Pooh with wings and stripes!
This book has simply cemented my affection for the creatures.
Like all natural history books, it's both heart warming and heart breaking.
Dave Goulson writes with a charm and quirky sense of humour that makes this book a sheer delight to read. A word of advice: read the footnotes. You must read the footnotes. Nine tenths of the quirky sense of humour appears in the footnotes.
As well as being entertaining I learned a lot about bumblebees. Including how they came to be in New Zealand. I always adored bumblebees. The always seemed to me to be earnest, flying teddy bears. All fat and furry, bumbling from flower to flower. Winnie-the-Pooh with wings and stripes!
This book has simply cemented my affection for the creatures.
December 27, 2019
huuuuuumloooooooor
December 24, 2022
Interesting locations. Learned a lot about bumble bees.
June 6, 2022
Dave Goulson has a way with words that doesn't let you be uninterested in the fate of the rarest of bumblebees. His quest for rare species across the globe was fascinating, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his adventures. It pushed me back towards my interest in the smallest creatures, in how ecosystems function, and how one can improve their health. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter that touches upon the topic of rewilding.
Overall a very interesting read, with a British focus, that poses a lot of questions as to how we do science and conservation.
Although he seems like a rather optimistic person, I find that this subgenre - the privileged European/American male scientist, desilusioned naturalist and conservationist flying to the other side of the world to notice how much damage humanity is causing, is getting a bit old. Why do British universities keep sending their students flying to other continents instead of working to study and save more local ecosystems? Isn't this counterproductive? These remnants of the UK's colonial past need to go, if British scientists want to make a solid case against unnecessary emissions.
Overall a very interesting read, with a British focus, that poses a lot of questions as to how we do science and conservation.
Although he seems like a rather optimistic person, I find that this subgenre - the privileged European/American male scientist, desilusioned naturalist and conservationist flying to the other side of the world to notice how much damage humanity is causing, is getting a bit old. Why do British universities keep sending their students flying to other continents instead of working to study and save more local ecosystems? Isn't this counterproductive? These remnants of the UK's colonial past need to go, if British scientists want to make a solid case against unnecessary emissions.
January 11, 2018
A really well written look at the state of the environment and the UK and various other countries around the world. I say 'the environment' as Dave Goulson, whilst his primary interest is bees, has an obvious interest in all wildlife, making this a fairly expansive view. The occasional bee fact or detail by no means overwhelms the general narrative, as Dave manages to intersperse it with excellent humour, and great story telling. The general plight of insects etc. covered in the book does make for pretty depressing reading, though Dave tries to make up for it with some positive tales and suggestions too.
June 25, 2024
What a beautiful book. This is packed full of interesting research and not just on bees but lots of other species as well as conservation concepts and case studies that provide hope for the future. Goulson’s writing is compelling, making it hard to put this book down, although I purposely chose to take my time reading it over a few months. I didn’t have any prior knowledge of entomology or of biology more broadly, but I have always admired bees. So a chapter every now and then really helped me properly take in all the technical expertise and knowledge Goulson has to offer. Goulson is also funny, I wasn’t expecting the humour and it was a nice surprise!
October 24, 2018
I read the majority of this book while I was away in the wild for a long weekend and I have to say that made the whole experience even better. I was definitely keeping more of an eye out for bees and other insects than I would normally. I have loved reading every one of Dave Goulson's books and this one was no exception. It's fascinating and fun at the same time. Definitely a book that I will be recommending to people.
April 22, 2017
I liked it. A really interesting read that moved along at a nice pace. There was ALOT of facts that I never knew about Bees, some were really interesting some not so much.
I would recommend this only to someone who already had an interest in Bees and there habits.
I would recommend this only to someone who already had an interest in Bees and there habits.
May 3, 2020
Could not be more happy I judged this book by its pretty cover because it is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It has everything, passion, humor, love, education, realisation... You will not regret picking this one up, do it now before we let the natural world around us deteriorate so much we forget what a wonder bumblebees are.
September 30, 2019
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A Review of Bee Quest by Dave Goulson
Unfortunately, where I currently live, my library did not have this book and I had to request it via Interlibrary Loan and fork out three dollars (well, my husband did, he picked them up for me). Fortunately, however, I was able to read this book, even if for a small fee. This book is quirky, detailed, and ever so interesting to read.
First and probably most importantly, I love that Goulson has an innate passion and excitement for bees and all things that are creepy crawly. He actually apologizes several times in the opening chapters for his enthusiastic descriptions of bees and how to identify them. It is plainly obvious that he is passionate about his field. This is immediately something I relate to in regards to my field. I also appreciate his mention of one thing that has “always given him the willies”: big spiders (i.e.: tarantulas). I am exceptionally passionate about environmental education, but I am not looking to cuddle with reptiles or amphibians. I appreciate his honesty while also exuding fervent pleasure in what he studies.
I also love books that are funny, sometimes without intent of being funny. He mentions during one research trip to Poland that he had taken with him many photographs of bee genitals (for identification purposes, obviously) and says that his “Bee Porn” seemed okay to be transported across borders. Hilarious. There was another instance, developed by a colleague, when they were discussing bee-related diseases: Florally-transmitted diseases. And by no means are diseases a laughing matter, but I love that someone had the presence of mind to develop a phrase for it: FTD’s. I also love his extensive footnotes which are usually funny, but also educational (I’ve come to really love footnotes, thank you Mary Roach of Bonk).
I caught myself wondering as well (because I try to love every book I read and Dawn Light is haunting me), why do I love his descriptions so well but despised another book? The best reasonable conclusion that I have is two-fold. One, Goulson is not speaking in a stream of consciousness, everything he says has a deliberate point. Second, the way Goulson writes, the pages fly by like an exciting novel (or at least to a nerd like me). Many times, I felt like Bilbo Baggins when he shouted, I’m going on an adventure! Goulson travels widely, Poland, Ecuador, and California to name a few places (he lives in the UK). There is one example of his rich description, I have to share, that has caused me to reflect deeply about what I really think of bees: “With their large size and furry coats they over heat in warm climates”. Are we really talking about bees here? Sounds like bears. Or a large predator cat or canine. Surely, we are not speaking of bees! And yet, he was!
I only have one quibble with this book. The chapters are so long. And there are zero breaks. I mean ZERO. Some of the paragraphs, while the content is interesting, are horribly long. Like entire pages long, sometimes carrying over to the next page. When I started the book, I was excited to read about bees, but was terribly overwhelmed immediately. The break between paragraphs is like a breath [when speaking] and when the paragraphs are long, I feel like I cannot take a breath. Information overload is in full swing. I do not mean to sound stupid, I have read a great many books, this year alone. I just have become a better reader when I have the opportunity to rest between thoughts. It is similar to talking to a person. When they ramble on and on, it can be hard to keep up with all of the information.
So. Let’s get to the scoring.
Content: 5/5 He is incredibly thorough and passionate. I appreciate that he also mentions opportunities for research and where he falls short (like in Ecuador).
Structure: 4/5 Can we please break up those paragraphs? Please. It’s just too much.
Meets Objectives: 5/5 Goulson states his goal of the book in the prologue, to take the reader on a world tour, honestly sharing the information about bees. And, he without question, does that. I want to visit many of the places he mentions.
Creativity: 4/5 I only give him a 4 of 5 because there’s nothing exceptionally creative about the book. He has also written two other bee books. I have not read them, though I hope to do so. I loved this book very much, but he was not creative. He was undeniably detailed and passionate, however.
Over all that is 90%. If you have an interest in bees, pollination, etc. I recommend this book. However, it is deep in the trenches of the study of insects, so bee warned. That is my trigger warning for anyone scared of bees.
A Review of Bee Quest by Dave Goulson
Unfortunately, where I currently live, my library did not have this book and I had to request it via Interlibrary Loan and fork out three dollars (well, my husband did, he picked them up for me). Fortunately, however, I was able to read this book, even if for a small fee. This book is quirky, detailed, and ever so interesting to read.
First and probably most importantly, I love that Goulson has an innate passion and excitement for bees and all things that are creepy crawly. He actually apologizes several times in the opening chapters for his enthusiastic descriptions of bees and how to identify them. It is plainly obvious that he is passionate about his field. This is immediately something I relate to in regards to my field. I also appreciate his mention of one thing that has “always given him the willies”: big spiders (i.e.: tarantulas). I am exceptionally passionate about environmental education, but I am not looking to cuddle with reptiles or amphibians. I appreciate his honesty while also exuding fervent pleasure in what he studies.
I also love books that are funny, sometimes without intent of being funny. He mentions during one research trip to Poland that he had taken with him many photographs of bee genitals (for identification purposes, obviously) and says that his “Bee Porn” seemed okay to be transported across borders. Hilarious. There was another instance, developed by a colleague, when they were discussing bee-related diseases: Florally-transmitted diseases. And by no means are diseases a laughing matter, but I love that someone had the presence of mind to develop a phrase for it: FTD’s. I also love his extensive footnotes which are usually funny, but also educational (I’ve come to really love footnotes, thank you Mary Roach of Bonk).
I caught myself wondering as well (because I try to love every book I read and Dawn Light is haunting me), why do I love his descriptions so well but despised another book? The best reasonable conclusion that I have is two-fold. One, Goulson is not speaking in a stream of consciousness, everything he says has a deliberate point. Second, the way Goulson writes, the pages fly by like an exciting novel (or at least to a nerd like me). Many times, I felt like Bilbo Baggins when he shouted, I’m going on an adventure! Goulson travels widely, Poland, Ecuador, and California to name a few places (he lives in the UK). There is one example of his rich description, I have to share, that has caused me to reflect deeply about what I really think of bees: “With their large size and furry coats they over heat in warm climates”. Are we really talking about bees here? Sounds like bears. Or a large predator cat or canine. Surely, we are not speaking of bees! And yet, he was!
I only have one quibble with this book. The chapters are so long. And there are zero breaks. I mean ZERO. Some of the paragraphs, while the content is interesting, are horribly long. Like entire pages long, sometimes carrying over to the next page. When I started the book, I was excited to read about bees, but was terribly overwhelmed immediately. The break between paragraphs is like a breath [when speaking] and when the paragraphs are long, I feel like I cannot take a breath. Information overload is in full swing. I do not mean to sound stupid, I have read a great many books, this year alone. I just have become a better reader when I have the opportunity to rest between thoughts. It is similar to talking to a person. When they ramble on and on, it can be hard to keep up with all of the information.
So. Let’s get to the scoring.
Content: 5/5 He is incredibly thorough and passionate. I appreciate that he also mentions opportunities for research and where he falls short (like in Ecuador).
Structure: 4/5 Can we please break up those paragraphs? Please. It’s just too much.
Meets Objectives: 5/5 Goulson states his goal of the book in the prologue, to take the reader on a world tour, honestly sharing the information about bees. And, he without question, does that. I want to visit many of the places he mentions.
Creativity: 4/5 I only give him a 4 of 5 because there’s nothing exceptionally creative about the book. He has also written two other bee books. I have not read them, though I hope to do so. I loved this book very much, but he was not creative. He was undeniably detailed and passionate, however.
Over all that is 90%. If you have an interest in bees, pollination, etc. I recommend this book. However, it is deep in the trenches of the study of insects, so bee warned. That is my trigger warning for anyone scared of bees.
November 4, 2025
unexpectedly brilliant read - i had thought it would be a good informative book about rare bees globally, something i am interested in, but the memoir style approach to writing totally blew me away. It is full of interesting observations of personal and professional details as well as stunning portraits of the terrains he visits in search of rare bumble bees. I think it would appeal to anyone even vaguely interested in nature and habitat destruction, in global issues of food versus nature, specifically insects
August 6, 2018
Anybody who knows me will know that bumblebees are my favourite animal so I thought this book was amazing and I cannot wait to read some of Goulson’s other books in the future!!
August 24, 2025
Very gentle and cute reading, more of a travelogue than a scientific novel but always nice to hear about wildlife and insects in the UK
October 20, 2018
Obwohl er die jeweils gesuchten seltensten Bienen (Wakdhummel, Deichhummel, Bombus dahlbomii ...) vor Ort nicht gefunden hat gibt Goulson einen erhellenden Einblick in die oft unerwartete Entwicklung unserer Umwelt. Es geht um das komplizierte Geflecht von Pflanzen, Insekten, Natur und den Eingriffen von uns Menschen. Besonders die hochsubventionierte industrialisierte Landwirtschaft kommt dabei nicht gut weg.
Empfehlenswert für alle Naturinteressierten und die, die das Vorgängerbuch Wenn der Nagekäfer zweimal klopft: Das geheime Leben der Insekten mochten.
"Das scheint vielleicht alles ziemlich trivial - wen interessiert es schon, was diese Hummeln da treiben? Aber dann hätte man auch Darwins Studien als trivial abtun können, wäre da nicht die Tatsache, dass er am Ende die vielleicht wichtigste Theorie vorlegte, die die Naturwissenschaft je formuliert hat. Während seine Zeitgenossen sich mit praktischen Herausforderungen herumschlugen wie der Entwicklung neuartiger Dampfmaschinen und der Begründung der industriellen Chemie, verwandte Darwin Jahrzehnte aufn die beobachtung von Rankenfußkrebsen, ließ seine Kinder Hummlen jagen und verglich die Schnabelformen von Galapagos-Finken. Was für ein Firlefanz." (Seite 160)
Empfehlenswert für alle Naturinteressierten und die, die das Vorgängerbuch Wenn der Nagekäfer zweimal klopft: Das geheime Leben der Insekten mochten.
"Das scheint vielleicht alles ziemlich trivial - wen interessiert es schon, was diese Hummeln da treiben? Aber dann hätte man auch Darwins Studien als trivial abtun können, wäre da nicht die Tatsache, dass er am Ende die vielleicht wichtigste Theorie vorlegte, die die Naturwissenschaft je formuliert hat. Während seine Zeitgenossen sich mit praktischen Herausforderungen herumschlugen wie der Entwicklung neuartiger Dampfmaschinen und der Begründung der industriellen Chemie, verwandte Darwin Jahrzehnte aufn die beobachtung von Rankenfußkrebsen, ließ seine Kinder Hummlen jagen und verglich die Schnabelformen von Galapagos-Finken. Was für ein Firlefanz." (Seite 160)
March 13, 2018
Goulson writes of some of his adventures in the search of bumblebees, touching on various factors affecting their diversity.
A major theme in the book is the threat to bees of modern agriculture, largely because it develops into large mono-cultures that cover the land virtually completely. Little marginal space is left for plant variety. In the case of the bees, no wildflowers or arable weeds are present. The contrast is found when he visits Poland where traditional agriculture is still strong, and numerous varieties of bee are found. An interesting item is that the use of avermectin de-worming agent in cattle causes the cowpats to become somewhat poisonous to dung beetles.
It is almost ironic that such agricultural areas cannot support significant bee populations, but they need to be imported for pollination. The author gives the example of the Californian almond industry which must import 85 percent of all the commercial hives in the U.S. - 1.7 million hives of 80 billion bees - to pollinate 2.5 trillion almond flowers.
Gause's Law states that two species that use exactly the same resources cannot co-exist. In the 1970's Graham Pyke visited numerous mountains and found that in the meadows only three to four species of bumblebee were found, generally divisible into short, medium and long-tongued species that fed on different flower species. In the Gorce mountains of Poland, the author found up to fifteen species co-existing, apparently being more specific in their flower visitation than simply the short / medium / long differentiation.
One of the most impressive bumblebees is the Giant Golden (Bombax dahlbomii) of Patagonia as it is large (up to 40 mm) and is a golden color. Unfortunately, it is in decline. Research points to disease transferred from other species of imported bumblebee.
One of the author's travels was to the Santa Lucia Cloud Forest Reserve, an appealing location with a large diversity of flora and fauna.
Brownfields - industrial areas that have fallen into disuse - are the subject of one chapter, as they can at times become surprisingly diverse and support a variety species out of proportion to their size. Re-development causes the loss of this variety. The author points out the uselessness of relocating endangered species as the release area in most cases is probably supporting the maximum population of that species.
Re-wilding is the subject of a chapter on the Knepp Castle in England. The estate had been used for agriculture, but has been allowed to return to the wild, but with the introduction of large herbivores including fallow deer, Exmoor ponies and old English longhorn cattle. Limitations of the project include a lack of large predators, and the need to manually control invasive plants such as hawthorn and birch. The net result has been a huge increase in diversity. An issue is what is "wild", as the country was quite different hundreds of years ago when England was largely forest.
A major theme in the book is the threat to bees of modern agriculture, largely because it develops into large mono-cultures that cover the land virtually completely. Little marginal space is left for plant variety. In the case of the bees, no wildflowers or arable weeds are present. The contrast is found when he visits Poland where traditional agriculture is still strong, and numerous varieties of bee are found. An interesting item is that the use of avermectin de-worming agent in cattle causes the cowpats to become somewhat poisonous to dung beetles.
It is almost ironic that such agricultural areas cannot support significant bee populations, but they need to be imported for pollination. The author gives the example of the Californian almond industry which must import 85 percent of all the commercial hives in the U.S. - 1.7 million hives of 80 billion bees - to pollinate 2.5 trillion almond flowers.
Gause's Law states that two species that use exactly the same resources cannot co-exist. In the 1970's Graham Pyke visited numerous mountains and found that in the meadows only three to four species of bumblebee were found, generally divisible into short, medium and long-tongued species that fed on different flower species. In the Gorce mountains of Poland, the author found up to fifteen species co-existing, apparently being more specific in their flower visitation than simply the short / medium / long differentiation.
One of the most impressive bumblebees is the Giant Golden (Bombax dahlbomii) of Patagonia as it is large (up to 40 mm) and is a golden color. Unfortunately, it is in decline. Research points to disease transferred from other species of imported bumblebee.
One of the author's travels was to the Santa Lucia Cloud Forest Reserve, an appealing location with a large diversity of flora and fauna.
Brownfields - industrial areas that have fallen into disuse - are the subject of one chapter, as they can at times become surprisingly diverse and support a variety species out of proportion to their size. Re-development causes the loss of this variety. The author points out the uselessness of relocating endangered species as the release area in most cases is probably supporting the maximum population of that species.
Re-wilding is the subject of a chapter on the Knepp Castle in England. The estate had been used for agriculture, but has been allowed to return to the wild, but with the introduction of large herbivores including fallow deer, Exmoor ponies and old English longhorn cattle. Limitations of the project include a lack of large predators, and the need to manually control invasive plants such as hawthorn and birch. The net result has been a huge increase in diversity. An issue is what is "wild", as the country was quite different hundreds of years ago when England was largely forest.
May 12, 2017
David Goulson neemt de lezer in dit boek mee in zijn zoektocht naar hommels. Hij bezoekt daarbij verschillende plaatsen over de hele wereld. Onder andere Engeland, Polen, Argentinië, Californië en Ecuador. Het boek is ingedeeld in een zeer uitgebreide proloog waarin de auteur beschrijft hoe belangrijk het is om in je jeugd de kans te krijgen de natuur te ontdekken. Iets waar hij de kans voor heeft gekregen en waar zijn liefde voor de hommel door ontstaan is.
Vervolgens bevat het boek 8 hoofdstukken. Elk hoofdstuk bevat een deel van de zoektocht. Van dorre bloemloze tot prachtige bloemrijke gebieden. Op zoek naar hommels. Hij gaat op zoek naar de redenen van het dreigende uitsterven van bepaalde soorten. De ontdekkingen, maar ook de vragen die daarbij oprijzen laten de lezer zien hoe groot het belang is van aanwezigheid van verschillende soorten bloemen en wat de risico’s zijn van het bewust verplaatsen van hommels naar andere streken. De fijne manier van schrijven, wat ook nog eens met een dun laagje humor overgoten is, maakt dit boek tot een mooi document voor liefhebbers van de natuur. Het boek is leerzaam, opent de ogen voor de afhankelijkheid van de voedselvoorziening van onder andere hommels. Bovendien laat David Goulson de lezer ook wel duidelijk worden dat determinatie van hommels niet eenvoudig is en dat er enorm veel variaties zijn en verschillende soorten bloemen nodig hebben. De variaties worden soms uitgebreid beschreven, waarbij de auteur zich bij voorbaat al verontschuldigd voor de soms verregaande omschrijving. Het wordt hem vergeven. Uiteindelijk is dat ook zijn vak.
Een opvallend gedeelte in dit boek was het watertekort bij de amandelteelt. Het onttrekken van bodemwater en daardoor de enorme inklinking van de grond. Bijzonderheden waardoor je aan het denken wordt gezet.
In de epiloog die kort maar krachtig is verwoord David Goulson heel duidelijk wat er gedaan kan worden om er voor te zorgen dat de hommels recht van bestaan hebben. En dat niet alleen, hij doet suggesties die de leefomgeving van iedereen een stukje mooier zou kunnen maken.
Heel bijzonder om te lezen, zeker als je als lezer al bewust bezig bent met bloemenranden aan te leggen op boerenerven en percelen en probeert met elkaar bewust ervoor te zorgen dat de insecten in je leefomgeving voedsel kunnen vinden.
De vlucht van de hommel is een ontdekkingsreis over het belang van de biodiversiteit.
Dit boek mocht ik als manuscript lezen voor De Club van Echte Lezers. Dank hiervoor.
Vervolgens bevat het boek 8 hoofdstukken. Elk hoofdstuk bevat een deel van de zoektocht. Van dorre bloemloze tot prachtige bloemrijke gebieden. Op zoek naar hommels. Hij gaat op zoek naar de redenen van het dreigende uitsterven van bepaalde soorten. De ontdekkingen, maar ook de vragen die daarbij oprijzen laten de lezer zien hoe groot het belang is van aanwezigheid van verschillende soorten bloemen en wat de risico’s zijn van het bewust verplaatsen van hommels naar andere streken. De fijne manier van schrijven, wat ook nog eens met een dun laagje humor overgoten is, maakt dit boek tot een mooi document voor liefhebbers van de natuur. Het boek is leerzaam, opent de ogen voor de afhankelijkheid van de voedselvoorziening van onder andere hommels. Bovendien laat David Goulson de lezer ook wel duidelijk worden dat determinatie van hommels niet eenvoudig is en dat er enorm veel variaties zijn en verschillende soorten bloemen nodig hebben. De variaties worden soms uitgebreid beschreven, waarbij de auteur zich bij voorbaat al verontschuldigd voor de soms verregaande omschrijving. Het wordt hem vergeven. Uiteindelijk is dat ook zijn vak.
Een opvallend gedeelte in dit boek was het watertekort bij de amandelteelt. Het onttrekken van bodemwater en daardoor de enorme inklinking van de grond. Bijzonderheden waardoor je aan het denken wordt gezet.
In de epiloog die kort maar krachtig is verwoord David Goulson heel duidelijk wat er gedaan kan worden om er voor te zorgen dat de hommels recht van bestaan hebben. En dat niet alleen, hij doet suggesties die de leefomgeving van iedereen een stukje mooier zou kunnen maken.
Heel bijzonder om te lezen, zeker als je als lezer al bewust bezig bent met bloemenranden aan te leggen op boerenerven en percelen en probeert met elkaar bewust ervoor te zorgen dat de insecten in je leefomgeving voedsel kunnen vinden.
De vlucht van de hommel is een ontdekkingsreis over het belang van de biodiversiteit.
Dit boek mocht ik als manuscript lezen voor De Club van Echte Lezers. Dank hiervoor.
February 5, 2019
3.5 Stars. Dave Goulson's enthusiasm for bees, insects, flowers, and swinging nets over shrubs and grasses is contagious. Multiple times during the book I wanted to stop reading, grab a net, and head to the wild flower patches between the fields outside of Prague and the weeds and scrubs retaking derelict buildings. And while he is clearly distraught over habitat loss, industrial farming, and general ignorance about the importance of peppering domesticated areas with bits of the wild (as well as preserving large chunks of the wild), his glee in chasing bugs makes his reflections almost more of a wake than a lament.
And this is one reason I've docked it a star. While 200 pages of a heavy, "we're-all-gonna-die-if-we-don't-do-something" tone would have been exhausting, a bit more urgency would have been welcome. Another reason the book loses a star is the sameness of the chapters. Goulson paints excellent verbal pictures of Scotland, Ecuador, Argentina, California, and the Thames Estuary. But he paints them with similar techniques. About 2/3rds the way through the book the approach to the next place was starting to get tedious. Looking back, it would have been better to alternate chapters with those from another book to keep things fresh.
And he loses a half star because there is not one picture, image, or map. Yes I read the book with my smart phone in reach, and often looked up the bugs and bees he described. I also get that he describes hundreds of different bees, and it simply would not be possible to include them all (or even a dozen of them). But one diagram showing how a common bumble bee differs from a honeybee would have been nice. So too would have been a map--even if just a rough line drawing--to introduce each section, showing the location of that mountain in Ecuador, that drive across Argentina, that sheep-ravaged island on the outer edge of the Outer Hebrides.
Still, the book is well worth one's time. Bee Quest lets Goulson discuss agriculture practices, urban development, the ambling nature of college students, and all kinds of bee behavior with bright humor and an infectious joy while letting an important message buzz through.
And this is one reason I've docked it a star. While 200 pages of a heavy, "we're-all-gonna-die-if-we-don't-do-something" tone would have been exhausting, a bit more urgency would have been welcome. Another reason the book loses a star is the sameness of the chapters. Goulson paints excellent verbal pictures of Scotland, Ecuador, Argentina, California, and the Thames Estuary. But he paints them with similar techniques. About 2/3rds the way through the book the approach to the next place was starting to get tedious. Looking back, it would have been better to alternate chapters with those from another book to keep things fresh.
And he loses a half star because there is not one picture, image, or map. Yes I read the book with my smart phone in reach, and often looked up the bugs and bees he described. I also get that he describes hundreds of different bees, and it simply would not be possible to include them all (or even a dozen of them). But one diagram showing how a common bumble bee differs from a honeybee would have been nice. So too would have been a map--even if just a rough line drawing--to introduce each section, showing the location of that mountain in Ecuador, that drive across Argentina, that sheep-ravaged island on the outer edge of the Outer Hebrides.
Still, the book is well worth one's time. Bee Quest lets Goulson discuss agriculture practices, urban development, the ambling nature of college students, and all kinds of bee behavior with bright humor and an infectious joy while letting an important message buzz through.
May 8, 2023
The chapter on Ecuador has the best and unfortunately the worst traits of Goulson's writing. His tireless curiosity and his observant, vivid description make for joyful reading. The information about bees is fascinating, but Goulson is aware and appreciative of everything. One especially memorable page describes Goulson smiling to himself as he watches hummingbirds, observing sylphs and woodstars and others in all their amazing variety. I hope his books continue to wake us up to wonders and saving them.
I have mixed feeling about the way he describes his students. This chapter starts with an off-putting couple of paragraphs about walking behind large, slow students, and in this and the other book of his that I read, there are the few descriptions of "pretty" students that sound sexist. It's disappointing because otherwise Goulson is generous in giving props to his students for their brains and notice for their work.
The last chapter has an hopeful message about nature's resilience: "There will come a time when we stop seeing up the Earth-- either because we have wiped ourselves out or because we have learned to live amongst nature rather than trying to exert dominion over it. When that happens wildlife will come back, creeping from the cracks in the concrete, sprouting from the seeds that remain in the soil, adapting, thriving, evolving into new and wonderful forms. It would be nice if we or our children were here to see it" (22).
I have mixed feeling about the way he describes his students. This chapter starts with an off-putting couple of paragraphs about walking behind large, slow students, and in this and the other book of his that I read, there are the few descriptions of "pretty" students that sound sexist. It's disappointing because otherwise Goulson is generous in giving props to his students for their brains and notice for their work.
The last chapter has an hopeful message about nature's resilience: "There will come a time when we stop seeing up the Earth-- either because we have wiped ourselves out or because we have learned to live amongst nature rather than trying to exert dominion over it. When that happens wildlife will come back, creeping from the cracks in the concrete, sprouting from the seeds that remain in the soil, adapting, thriving, evolving into new and wonderful forms. It would be nice if we or our children were here to see it" (22).
June 12, 2021
No you are wrong ! This is not a university type text book ! Dave definitely knows what he's talking about and writes with a colourful, easy to read informative style . It's not boring at all but the things I learnt about bees and their decline all over the world was amazing and at the same time horrifying. Who knew about the little nature reserves dotted around England that are the last refuge for endangered types of bees especially those by the Thames . These sites will disappear if we allow huge companies to develop and concrete over them . I did think it was a shame that there was not a colour plate in the book showing some of the bees Dave investigated . I had to google the pictures later . Why Dave don't you approach a TV company and do a program report on some of the nature reserves and how bees actually work. A lady on This Morning who was an expert on bees told us that the bumble bee unhinged its wings and the buzzing sound you hear is its chest muscles vibrating. Have I got that right ? Astounding fact which had those in the studio fascinated . I wanted to hear more and I'm sure that if people understood bees more they would certainly start to care more about their decline .
January 4, 2018
I highly recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in the natural world, and I am not just talking about exotic creatures in far-flung locations but the unsung bugs struggling to live just outside your door.
Dave Goulson immediately took me back to the joyful days as a kid, getting mucky in the garden in the quest to catch woodlice, crickets anything I could capture in an old ice-cream tub, to then accidentally unleash in the house. Sorry, mum!
It must have been those moments in the past that I found my love for the humble but so vitally important, bee.
This book has reignited my passion for them, and for the natural world as a whole and I can't wait to read the other two books by the author. It's insightful, informative, at times very amusing when he shares his personal experiences, anecdotes and comments. I found his opinions on how we view the natural world particularly compelling.
Overall, even if you only have a smidge of interest in bees, I do recommend reading it. Anyway, one thing is for sure; I am going to make it my mission to go on a bug hunting adventure this year.
Dave Goulson immediately took me back to the joyful days as a kid, getting mucky in the garden in the quest to catch woodlice, crickets anything I could capture in an old ice-cream tub, to then accidentally unleash in the house. Sorry, mum!
It must have been those moments in the past that I found my love for the humble but so vitally important, bee.
This book has reignited my passion for them, and for the natural world as a whole and I can't wait to read the other two books by the author. It's insightful, informative, at times very amusing when he shares his personal experiences, anecdotes and comments. I found his opinions on how we view the natural world particularly compelling.
Overall, even if you only have a smidge of interest in bees, I do recommend reading it. Anyway, one thing is for sure; I am going to make it my mission to go on a bug hunting adventure this year.
July 16, 2018
The third of Goulson’s books that I’ve read, and as enjoyable as the first two. He is the Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Sussex, and has spent the last twenty years studying bumblebees. Yet he writes in an easy, readable style; although his writing is backed by immense scientific knowledge and research, it is not dry or dusty. He has a wry sense of humour and is not self important.
In this book, he travels widely, both in the U.K. and Europe, and to more exotic destinations like Patagonia and Ecuador, to search for rare and elusive bumblebees. The theme throughout is the threat posed to the natural world by humankind’s actions, but although Goulson is passionate in his defence of nature, and his condemnation of the idiocies committed against it, this is not just a diatribe against the destruction of the natural world. It is delightfully written yet with an underlying serious theme; we destroy nature at our own peril, especially pollinators, who we rely on for our sustenance and future existence.
In this book, he travels widely, both in the U.K. and Europe, and to more exotic destinations like Patagonia and Ecuador, to search for rare and elusive bumblebees. The theme throughout is the threat posed to the natural world by humankind’s actions, but although Goulson is passionate in his defence of nature, and his condemnation of the idiocies committed against it, this is not just a diatribe against the destruction of the natural world. It is delightfully written yet with an underlying serious theme; we destroy nature at our own peril, especially pollinators, who we rely on for our sustenance and future existence.
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March 22, 2022I ”Den stora humleresan” får vi följa med författaren och tillika biologiprofessorn på hans resor runt om i världen. Resor för att studera sitt favoritdjur, humlan.
🐝
Vi får lära oss massor om humlor, som finns i fantastiskt många varianter, deras olika förutsättningar i olika delar av världen, samtidigt som dråpligheter från resorna skildras med härlig humor. Det är ingen tveksamhet om att Goulson har ett passionerat förhållande till de små liven.
🐝
Dock finns det även en mörk sida. Vi matas ständigt med nyheter om att den biologiska mångfalden är hotad, och därmed även humlorna. Författaren summerar detta i sin epilog. Vi känner kanske att det spelar ingen roll vad lilla jag gör, men författaren menar att det gör ju faktiskt det. Genom att använda naturens resurser vettigt hjälper vi till! Återvinn, återanvänd, handla mat efter årstid för att minimera transporter över jorden, kompostera, odla egna grönsaker, så lite blommor - varje litet beslut gör skillnad!
🐝 En fin och viktig bok 🐝
#denstorahumleresan @dave.goulson @volanteforlag @creadiembokcafe #caritasläsning2021 #60 #humlor
🐝
Vi får lära oss massor om humlor, som finns i fantastiskt många varianter, deras olika förutsättningar i olika delar av världen, samtidigt som dråpligheter från resorna skildras med härlig humor. Det är ingen tveksamhet om att Goulson har ett passionerat förhållande till de små liven.
🐝
Dock finns det även en mörk sida. Vi matas ständigt med nyheter om att den biologiska mångfalden är hotad, och därmed även humlorna. Författaren summerar detta i sin epilog. Vi känner kanske att det spelar ingen roll vad lilla jag gör, men författaren menar att det gör ju faktiskt det. Genom att använda naturens resurser vettigt hjälper vi till! Återvinn, återanvänd, handla mat efter årstid för att minimera transporter över jorden, kompostera, odla egna grönsaker, så lite blommor - varje litet beslut gör skillnad!
🐝 En fin och viktig bok 🐝
#denstorahumleresan @dave.goulson @volanteforlag @creadiembokcafe #caritasläsning2021 #60 #humlor
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