The Beekeeper's Handbook

by Diana Sammataro, Diana Sammataro, Alphonse Avitabile

Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile have created the best single-volume guide to the hobby and profession of beekeeping. The Beekeeper's Handbook provides step-by-step instructions for setting up an apiary, handling bees, and working throughout the season to maintain a healthy colony and a generous supply of honey. Various colony care options and techniques are explained so that beekeepers can make the best choices for their hives. The Beekeeper's Handbook is an invaluable resource for both beginner and veteran beekeepers. This fully updated and expanded fifth edition
Hand-drawn instructional diagrams that provide step-by-step instructions
Updated research regarding the health and behaviors of bees in different habitats and what operations may best suit individual needs
Information on how to identify, treat, and prevent the introduction of Varroa destructor mites and other harmful intruders in a colony

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Gardening, Research, Animals

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 1978

Reviews

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Propolis, Batman, this book is awesome!

If I were to choose one book for all my beekeeping, this would be #1. If I were to recommend one book for the beginner, a book that will last a lifetime of beekeeping, this book would be #1.

Well written, clear, concise. None better as far as I'm concerned.

[Rendi Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're moving to the country and thinking about keeping bees, so I read this sucker from cover to cover. Very thorough book about all aspects of the bees themselves (anatomy, behavior, diseases, pests, etc.), equipment for beekeeping, and the overall cycle of starting and maintaining a healthy and productive apiary. My only wish was that it had color photos - they primarily had line drawings.

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful book, but reads more like a super dry textbook. There's a lot of great information, just not entertaining to read. There's a great glossary and huge set of references, and would definitely encourage reading through this if you want to learn about keeping bees and A LOT of extra tangentially related info.

[Zinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great basic book on how-to. Covers almost all the important questions and problems that come up during the different seasons while beekeeping.

I think I will purchase this book to add to my library for quick reference.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know (and then some) about beekeeping.

The only downside is that the book is printed in landscape orientation, which makes it less practical as a "hand" book. Definitely takes two hands to hold this sucker. :)

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic how-to book, updated in 2011 with the latest beekeeping info. It is more than a "for dummies" type of book, but not a so-called "bible." Excellent book for beginners and experienced beekeepers.

[Jiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit long and repetitive.
I read the fifth edition - 2021.

The good: it covers a lot, the inside cover has a lot of interesting and fun facts about bees and the back cover has measurement conversion charts both very useful.
The book is chock full of information and has some very good illustrations. The research and information are extensive to exhaustion.

The bad: At almost 360 pages of small font with 2 columns per page it is pretty long now add to the fact that a lot of text is repeated sometimes multiple times. Listing a number of scenarios, a lot of information is copy and pasted word for word in each example. With some editing I think 100 pages could be cut out of the book without losing any information.
The book sometimes seems to be geared to largescale commercial operations or people looking to go into such ventures describing pallets of hives and huge rooms for winter storing your hives, special honey houses etc.
Other times it goes into detail describing how to dissect bees under a microscope and chemical compositions of various ingredients - this part seems to be written for college students doing graduate work.

As backyard beekeeper not looking to go into large scale commercial production or pursuing a Phd in beekeeping the book was a bit too much and as mentioned too repetitious.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Beekeeper's Handbook" by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile is a true gem in the world of beekeeping literature. In fact, I dare say it's the best book I've ever come across on the subject.

What sets this book apart is its comprehensive and practical approach to beekeeping. Whether you're a seasoned apiarist or just starting out, the wealth of information contained within these pages is invaluable. From understanding the biology of bees to practical tips on hive management and honey production, this book covers it all with clarity and expertise.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its role as a reference guide. With detailed explanations, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions, it's the kind of book you'll want to keep on your shelf for easy access whenever you have a question or encounter a problem in your beekeeping endeavors.

But what truly makes "The Beekeeper's Handbook" stand out is its passion for the subject matter. You can sense the authors' genuine love for bees and beekeeping in every page, making it not just an educational read, but a truly enjoyable one as well.

In conclusion, if you have any interest in beekeeping, "The Beekeeper's Handbook" is a must-have addition to your library. Informative, practical, and infused with a deep love for the craft, it's a book that deserves a place on the shelves of beekeepers everywhere.

[Christine Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome reference, much more thorough than expected.

This deeper understanding of bee behavior, prevalent diseases, and the importance of timing of maintenance activities left me feeling alternately empowered to reach out to local beekeepers and get started with my own hives and intimidated by how fragile and intricate this hobby actually is in practice.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the type of book that you read cover to cover, but it's such a useful reference when researching specific questions related to beekeeping, like overwintering techniques, treating hive pests, swarming behavior, etc. This book has helped troubleshoot many problems that I encountered as a new beekeeper. Highly recommend.

[Andrew Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best beekeeping book I've read. Unlike other very pretty beekeeping books, this updated handbook has almost everything you need to know to keep bees, and has references to everything else you would want to know.

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, and covers a wide variety of important beekeeping topics in depth, but there is a great deal of repetition of information that could have been avoided by simply refering the reader to other chapters/sections.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for a newbie beekeeper like me. Excellent! Will use as a resource. The first book in my beekeeping library.

[Katie Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for people thinking about going into beekeeping!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic reference! A must have for anyone interested in bees.

[Sarah Zucca]

Made it to page 50. Definitely a necessary and knowledgeable read. Will need to check out from the library again come spring, for sure. Bee lives depend on it!!

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay. Seemed sort of basic. Didn't have the photos I was hoping for.

[R.M. Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone seemed to recommend this, so I picked it up. Dense, but very informative. I think this will be a great resource.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent diagrams and advice for any beekeeper.

[Kerry Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the better bee books I've read. I found it to be very thorough and definitive without delving into the bee debates. It was clear cut and provided answers that were well researched and documented.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

good bee book, simple to understand for beginners.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book! I learned more reading this one than I had the previous two books on beekeeping.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good details, Seems like it covers all the topics. I read the first 9 chapters, had to set it aside at the chapter on re-queening hives. Winter reading.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading the 4th edition. Really enjoying the book as I go thru my beekeeping course.

[Bill Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got this book. Has great photos and easy to understand. I use it as a reference book.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really dense for a beginner like me. Need a more introductory book with more regional specific information and pictures.