Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

A great introduction to bee keeping, 09 Aug 2008
I bought this book as I inherited a hive and wanted to keep the tradition alive. It was a great place to start, giving not only sound, practical advice but also an interesting overview of the history of bee keeping. It linked in with the bee keeping associations around the country and the recipes at the back were not only lovely but gave me some great ideas for when my harvest is ready! A great book with lovely photographs and excellent advice for first time bee keepers.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

A great introduction to bee keeping, 09 Aug 2008
I bought this book as I inherited a hive and wanted to keep the tradition alive. It was a great place to start, giving not only sound, practical advice but also an interesting overview of the history of bee keeping. It linked in with the bee keeping associations around the country and the recipes at the back were not only lovely but gave me some great ideas for when my harvest is ready! A great book with lovely photographs and excellent advice for first time bee keepers.

A Book Of Bees, 24 Apr 2007
I loved this book! I have no experience with Bee's and wanted a good book to whet my appetite and give me enough info to know if I wanted to proceed with beekeeping or not, but also with the ability to engage me and be a pleasure to read. This book more than delivers. Sue's style is delightful and you can't help but be charmed by her anecdotes, way of life and the lives of the Bee's she cares for. There is enough practical advice for those who want more technical info and plenty of nature observations and stories for everyone else. A highly recommended book and a great read.

Brilliant, 11 Feb 2007
I bought this book after reading all the other reviews. I had to wait a while for it but I wasn't disappointed. A lovely book full of information, anecdots, life and love. Sue Hubbell certainly knows her bees and her affection and respect for them shines through the whole book. I felt a little like an apprentice as I spent the year with her. I learned a lot and I hope my own beekeeping will reflect what I have learned from her.

Illuminating and enjoyable, 14 Jan 2006
I read a general book about bees called 'Sweetness and Light' and enjoyed the subject so much I decided to buy Sue Hubbells' book. It did take a couple of months to arrive but it was well worth the wait. It's full title is 'A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them' but it is far less formal than it sounds and certainly not a dry manual. Don't be put off, either, that it is American. Part nature writing, with a slim slice of biography, you will learn as you enjoy. The chapters are based on the seasons, starting with a beekeepers autumn. Sue Hubbell loves and respects her bees and works with them and it is a pleasure to be apprenticed to her even in the short time it takes to read this book.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

A great introduction to bee keeping, 09 Aug 2008
I bought this book as I inherited a hive and wanted to keep the tradition alive. It was a great place to start, giving not only sound, practical advice but also an interesting overview of the history of bee keeping. It linked in with the bee keeping associations around the country and the recipes at the back were not only lovely but gave me some great ideas for when my harvest is ready! A great book with lovely photographs and excellent advice for first time bee keepers.

A Book Of Bees, 24 Apr 2007
I loved this book! I have no experience with Bee's and wanted a good book to whet my appetite and give me enough info to know if I wanted to proceed with beekeeping or not, but also with the ability to engage me and be a pleasure to read. This book more than delivers. Sue's style is delightful and you can't help but be charmed by her anecdotes, way of life and the lives of the Bee's she cares for. There is enough practical advice for those who want more technical info and plenty of nature observations and stories for everyone else. A highly recommended book and a great read.

Brilliant, 11 Feb 2007
I bought this book after reading all the other reviews. I had to wait a while for it but I wasn't disappointed. A lovely book full of information, anecdots, life and love. Sue Hubbell certainly knows her bees and her affection and respect for them shines through the whole book. I felt a little like an apprentice as I spent the year with her. I learned a lot and I hope my own beekeeping will reflect what I have learned from her.

Illuminating and enjoyable, 14 Jan 2006
I read a general book about bees called 'Sweetness and Light' and enjoyed the subject so much I decided to buy Sue Hubbells' book. It did take a couple of months to arrive but it was well worth the wait. It's full title is 'A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them' but it is far less formal than it sounds and certainly not a dry manual. Don't be put off, either, that it is American. Part nature writing, with a slim slice of biography, you will learn as you enjoy. The chapters are based on the seasons, starting with a beekeepers autumn. Sue Hubbell loves and respects her bees and works with them and it is a pleasure to be apprenticed to her even in the short time it takes to read this book.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

An excellent book, 15 Jul 2008
An excellent book about keeping bees. As a beginner it has been a good guide so far, along with others. Well presented and informative. Recommended.

Good first book; comprehensive enough but not overwhelming, 07 Jul 1999
I lost this book (maybe a jealous competitor took it), so I bought another.

An abseloutly fabulous book!, 02 May 1999
I have read many beekeeping books, and out of all of them, this is the one I would reccommend. It has very detailed pictures and instructions and smoothy guided me through having a successful hive! The author obiously knows bees very well and has a lot of experience with them. He also shares the "do's and don'ts" of beekeeping.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

A great introduction to bee keeping, 09 Aug 2008
I bought this book as I inherited a hive and wanted to keep the tradition alive. It was a great place to start, giving not only sound, practical advice but also an interesting overview of the history of bee keeping. It linked in with the bee keeping associations around the country and the recipes at the back were not only lovely but gave me some great ideas for when my harvest is ready! A great book with lovely photographs and excellent advice for first time bee keepers.

A Book Of Bees, 24 Apr 2007
I loved this book! I have no experience with Bee's and wanted a good book to whet my appetite and give me enough info to know if I wanted to proceed with beekeeping or not, but also with the ability to engage me and be a pleasure to read. This book more than delivers. Sue's style is delightful and you can't help but be charmed by her anecdotes, way of life and the lives of the Bee's she cares for. There is enough practical advice for those who want more technical info and plenty of nature observations and stories for everyone else. A highly recommended book and a great read.

Brilliant, 11 Feb 2007
I bought this book after reading all the other reviews. I had to wait a while for it but I wasn't disappointed. A lovely book full of information, anecdots, life and love. Sue Hubbell certainly knows her bees and her affection and respect for them shines through the whole book. I felt a little like an apprentice as I spent the year with her. I learned a lot and I hope my own beekeeping will reflect what I have learned from her.

Illuminating and enjoyable, 14 Jan 2006
I read a general book about bees called 'Sweetness and Light' and enjoyed the subject so much I decided to buy Sue Hubbells' book. It did take a couple of months to arrive but it was well worth the wait. It's full title is 'A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them' but it is far less formal than it sounds and certainly not a dry manual. Don't be put off, either, that it is American. Part nature writing, with a slim slice of biography, you will learn as you enjoy. The chapters are based on the seasons, starting with a beekeepers autumn. Sue Hubbell loves and respects her bees and works with them and it is a pleasure to be apprenticed to her even in the short time it takes to read this book.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

An excellent book, 15 Jul 2008
An excellent book about keeping bees. As a beginner it has been a good guide so far, along with others. Well presented and informative. Recommended.

Good first book; comprehensive enough but not overwhelming, 07 Jul 1999
I lost this book (maybe a jealous competitor took it), so I bought another.

An abseloutly fabulous book!, 02 May 1999
I have read many beekeeping books, and out of all of them, this is the one I would reccommend. It has very detailed pictures and instructions and smoothy guided me through having a successful hive! The author obiously knows bees very well and has a lot of experience with them. He also shares the "do's and don'ts" of beekeeping.

A fantastic guide to keeping bees, 12 May 2008
This book is an excellent book which takes beekeeping through all the stages. It have been a great reference for me during my first 2 years and kept my bees fit and healthy. Starts with the history through to aquiring bees, basic equipment, care, management, swarm control, queen marking everything really and well written to boot!

Starting with Bees, 16 Mar 2006
There are many good books on beekeeping but for the complete beginner there's nothing to beat this book. It does not assume prior knowledge and explains everything clearly. I particularly liked the illustrated detail such as 'how to read a comb'. In fact the book is so well illustrated and easy to read that it's the one I recommend to my students.

Excellent book for someone considering beekeeping, 11 Jun 2008
I bought this book knowing virtually nothing about bees (they exist, they live in hives and they make honey was about the sum total of my knowledge).
I have been considering keeping bees for a while and thought that a little reading would help guide me to a decision.

From memory, the book covers: types of bees (not just honey bees), types of hives, the gear required by the beekeeper, where bee hives can be situated, how bees can be purchased, the maintenance of the colony & hive, pests and how to mitigate their impact, the social structure of the bee colony, the way honey is produced by the bees, the 'swarming' of bees, how to harvest honey from the hive and how to store the harvested honey. There's definitely more - my memory just isn't good enough.

The book material is pitched at the level of the layman/novice. In particular areas the book is usefully pratical and in-depth e.g. There are guides to setting up the hive and putting in the colony, checking the colony's health after setting up your apiary, harvesting the honey, controlling swarming and spring-cleaning the hive. There are also little practical tips throughout that will obviously help you avoid common mistakes e.g. Approach your hive from the side, approaching the front entrance will only wind-up your bees!

To sum up. I thought the book was excellent and was written at exactly the right level for someone in my position. It increased my knowledge greatly (admittedly i started with none), it informed me that i have a more-than-reasonable environment for a hive, it convinced me that i'd be capable of performing the duties required to keep the bees happy and healthy, it told me how to go about performing the duties required, it told me what equipment i'd need to keep bees and finally it was a thoroughly pleasant read into the bargain.


Simply the Best Bee Keeping Book, 04 Aug 2008
It is the Bible as far as I am concerned. Critically, in places it shows its age, but generally you will not get a better book on Bee Keeping.

So far, excellent!, 12 Jul 2008
Nicely written and highly informative by someone who evidently has an immense amount of experience and knowledge and who is happy to share it without ever becoming dogmatic.

I am a beginner to be-keeping and this book is giving me a great combination of directly applicable advice and an overview of how it all works together.

good book for beekeepers in the UK, but slightly out of date, 21 May 2007
the best book on beekeeping i have bought BUT it does give a false impression of how easy, spontaneous and predictable beekeeping is. Only the hands on experience of owning your own hives and keeping your own bees will give you a full insight.

My only other fault with this book was despite the fact it is very extensive and probably the best book on the matket it is slightly out of date, not containing some modern beekeeping methods and although it says it is completly up to date on Varroa, it isnt and for that information the best place to go is the DEFRA website at beebase.csl.gov.uk and look at there PDF about the control of the mite, this is the primary reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

The chapter at the back labelled "flowers for food" gives an extensive overview of the diffrent forage for the bees and is better than other books I have bought that are designed to address solely the issue of bee forage, and it is worth buying the book just for this chapter alone

In conclusion despite being slightly out of date this is the best book I have found so far on beekeeping and no beekeepers book case is complete without it.


Buy it you won't need another book on bees, 27 May 2005
However, one of my beekeeping friends who has been keeping bees for some 20 plus years, refers to this book as his bible, he frequently disagrees with it, for example he frowns on the process of dividing the brood to increase the laying rate of the queen and thus expand the colony.

Something you just have to live with I suppose.

Bridgend Beekeepers Recommend Hooper, 02 Oct 1999
There are many good beekeeping books on the market but this is the one that Bridgend Beekeepers recommend to all its new members.If you are looking for a good book to get started and still be useful to you when your beekeeping knowledge has increased then this is the one to buy.

Beekeeping for Dummies, 01 Aug 2007
I always thought that the Howells series were for techno dudes. So I was amazed to see this title. And what an excellent surprise it is. This is one of the best guides to the keeping of bees, anywhere in the world, I've read. It's informative, honest, helpful and entertaining. Thus making bee keeping an achievable and enjoyable pastime. Everyone should read this, even if you don't ever get the bees.

Warning - Bears, 27 May 2005
This is a super book, I am a beginer and although this book is limited in detail it is idea for the beginer.

This book concentrates on one type of Hive, the lanstroth, which world wide is the most popular hive, but in the UK most beekeepers use the national, but this make no diffrence at all they are based on the same principals.

It gives you practical advice, on silly things that you dont want to ask, i.e. how do you start your smoker and, what is a smoker.

The book is very easy to read and comprehensive, for keeping bees on a small scale this is the book I would happily recormend, and fequently refer to.

If you do really get into bees the British Bee Keepers (to whom i now belong) recormended reading - Ted Hoopers Bees & honey. This is the next stage, this book covers everything there is, although again you will find that most of the bee keepers will frequently disagree with both books.

Oh and the bears, this is refered to as a common problem it appears that bears do like honey. The book is rather clear on this that you should protect your hives from bears.

Just the job, 22 May 2008
The perfect primer for someone with an interest in, but no knowledge of, beekeeping. Gives enough information and inspiration to enable the reader to make sense of the more detailed works, such as 'Bees and Honey' which must be tackled later on. A great 'first' book.

A great little book, 30 Mar 2008
This book is an excellent, gentle introduction to the world of bee keeping. Having decided to read-up on the art/science, I purchased a number of books which are aimed at the beginner/novice. Whilst they are all pretty much the same, this is the one I have on standby for a little light reading when the fancy takes me, and the hand drawn pictures are fantastic.
Simple, easy to understand theory, this book gentle leads you from one subject to the next building on previous chapters as it goes. It is also nice that it is a UK book rather than an Americanised one such as "Bee Keeping for Dummies" (also excellent and defiantly worth buying as your slightly more advance book).
Whilst this does not have enough information for scientific types or more learned bee enthusiasts, it will give you all the information needed to make a decision whether or not to attend your local association lectures (which are a must) before embarking upon your new hobby!

History Repeats Itself., 26 Feb 2008
Many years ago, pre-Internet, the best I could get as far as a book about bee keeping was a dog-eared between-the-Wars book which did little more than put me off. Now, what with 'The Good Life' being a reality so many more families want to not only recapture in spirit, but also do it for themselves, bee keeping has once again become a reality for everyone.
Published in 2007, this book is bang up to date and excellent in telling you everything you need to know about bees, keeping them and harvesting their honey; and how to avoid being stung, and if you are, how to get rid of the stinger quickly before it does too much damage.
Yes, a spledid book in every aspect, and although I believe every word it says, I may just venture into reading a couple more editions before I, possibly, take the plunge? But hey, if Grandad kept bees here 60 years ago, why not give it another shot for nostalgia's sake?

A great introduction to bee keeping, 09 Aug 2008
I bought this book as I inherited a hive and wanted to keep the tradition alive. It was a great place to start, giving not only sound, practical advice but also an interesting overview of the history of bee keeping. It linked in with the bee keeping associations around the country and the recipes at the back were not only lovely but gave me some great ideas for when my harvest is ready! A great book with lovely photographs and excellent advice for first time bee keepers.

A Book Of Bees, 24 Apr 2007
I loved this book! I have no experience with Bee's and wanted a good book to whet my appetite and give me enough info to know if I wanted to proceed with beekeeping or not, but also with the ability to engage me and be a pleasure to read. This book more than delivers. Sue's style is delightful and you can't help but be charmed by her anecdotes, way of life and the lives of the Bee's she cares for. There is enough practical advice for those who want more technical info and plenty of nature observations and stories for everyone else. A highly recommended book and a great read.

Brilliant, 11 Feb 2007
I bought this book after reading all the other reviews. I had to wait a while for it but I wasn't disappointed. A lovely book full of information, anecdots, life and love. Sue Hubbell certainly knows her bees and her affection and respect for them shines through the whole book. I felt a little like an apprentice as I spent the year with her. I learned a lot and I hope my own beekeeping will reflect what I have learned from her.

Illuminating and enjoyable, 14 Jan 2006
I read a general book about bees called 'Sweetness and Light' and enjoyed the subject so much I decided to buy Sue Hubbells' book. It did take a couple of months to arrive but it was well worth the wait. It's full title is 'A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them' but it is far less formal than it sounds and certainly not a dry manual. Don't be put off, either, that it is American. Part nature writing, with a slim slice of biography, you will learn as you enjoy. The chapters are based on the seasons, starting with a beekeepers autumn. Sue Hubbell loves and respects her bees and works with them and it is a pleasure to be apprenticed to her even in the short time it takes to read this book.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., 31 Jul 1999
There is no better information on beekeeping for public, hobbiest or professional. Where six beekeeper can have ten opinions between them, Sue Hubbell is someone that I read a year after assertively taking up bees - and I agree with 99.5% of the knowledge and methodology that she shares. As bees are now threatened and the public is becoming supportive and curious about them, this book is a wonderful read even if one never even thinks of getting close to bees. The book is a joy. The author conveys the essence and reveals an accurate portrayal of how one uses probability and intuition to undertake what can only be equated to playing chess with a logical, but still wildly independent species, that beautifully represents the best that nature has to offer, and then there's the honey which one can thoroughly appreciate with greater insight. This book is a winner. Buy several. Give them to people you want to have as lifelong friends.

An excellent book, 15 Jul 2008
An excellent book about keeping bees. As a beginner it has been a good guide so far, along with others. Well presented and informative. Recommended.

Good first book; comprehensive enough but not overwhelming, 07 Jul 1999
I lost this book (maybe a jealous competitor took it), so I bought another.

An abseloutly fabulous book!, 02 May 1999
I have read many beekeeping books, and out of all of them, this is the one I would reccommend. It has very detailed pictures and instructions and smoothy guided me through having a successful hive! The author obiously knows bees very well and has a lot of experience with them. He also shares the "do's and don'ts" of beekeeping.

A fantastic guide to keeping bees, 12 May 2008
This book is an excellent book which takes beekeeping through all the stages. It have been a great reference for me during my first 2 years and kept my bees fit and healthy. Starts with the history through to aquiring bees, basic equipment, care, management, swarm control, queen marking everything really and well written to boot!

Starting with Bees, 16 Mar 2006
There are many good books on beekeeping but for the complete beginner there's nothing to beat this book. It does not assume prior knowledge and explains everything clearly. I particularly liked the illustrated detail such as 'how to read a comb'. In fact the book is so well illustrated and easy to read that it's the one I recommend to my students.

Getting a buzz, 17 Jul 2005
Moving to a city meant abandoning my bees. The loss of truly fresh honey was aggravating by wondering if the bees "knew" me and felt the absence. Such feelings are examined in historical detail in this delightful book. "Bee" [Beatrice] Wilson's career as a food journalist has provided an excellent background for this history. She has a talent for reaching a wide audience, with a good balance for history, personality and shared interests. It's almost impossible to finish this account without wanting to rush to Paris' Maison du Miel [or its local quivalent] and browse through the selection of honey sitting on the shelves waiting to pleasure your palate.

The title is an indicator - how we've related to bees, their habits and their delicious product has a long history. Bees are the one social animal we've had a deep relationship with. They've provided templates to explain or guide human society - although we've been almost always wrong in how their society forms and operates. Early civilisations viewed them as warrior monarchies, ruled by a "king" driving, or being supported by, a soldier caste. Wilson examines six areas where humans have dealt with bees as their counterparts: work, sex, politics, food and drink, life and death. In their most intimate relationship, she adds the beekeeper as her conclusion.

Wilson explains how early commentators viewed the drone-worker relationship as symbolic of human society. Even today's leading British entomologist, Francis Ratnieks, compares the partitioning of roles to "the efficiency of the modern supermarket". The hive is actually superior in that it needs no central management to control events. The constant activity, however, has led many societies to adopt the hive as a symbol of "industriousness". Perhaps the most famous example is Brigham Young's Mormon "Deseret" colony. The bees showed how cooperation could accomplish anything. Wilson, in contrast, shows how worker bees go through successive levels of participation in simply doing the same thing over and over through the generations. Even a new colony simply repeats an age-old process.

The mystery of how bees procreate, mixed with the various views of how colonies were organised, led to some bizarre interpretations. So long as the "monarch" was seen as male, bee-human comparisons seemed apt. When it was discovered that the big bee, the centre of so much hive activity, was female ature itself appeared overturned. The idea of a single female, adored by crowds of "gallants" was abhorrent. That didn't prevent commentators from rationalising the arrangement.

Wilson recounts the views of numerous observers of apian life. Certain figures stand out, of course. Dutchman Jan Swammerdam had determined the sex of the hive "monarch". A dedicated naturalist, Swammerdam made meticulous drawings of bee anatomy, some still unmatched today. In Britain, it's Charles Butler who spanned the late 16th and early 17th Centuries, was the first serious observer of bee society. Karl von Frisch, of course, is honoured as the man who revealed how bees communicate, and that they perceive flowers in the ultraviolet part of the light spectrum. His discovery of the "waggle dance" as a means of imparting location of food sources among worker bees ultimately granted him a Nobel Prize. That he began his work refuting a false notion of colour perception in animals has a touch of
irony.

Wilson worked hard to give us this excellent summary of an insect essential to humanity. Pollinating orchards, providing a non-fattening sweetener, giving us valuable insights to Nature's processes, bees have gained a spirited champion with this book. Not a