Bee People and the Bugs They Love
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“A successful and funny book that is sure to swell the ranks of the world’s beekeepers.”
—New York Times
A fascinating foray into the obsessions, friendships, scientific curiosity, misfortunes and rewards of suburban beekeeping—through the eyes of a Master Beekeeper . . .
Who wants to keep bees? And why? For the answers, Master Beekeeper Frank Mortimer invites readers on an eye-opening journey into the secret world of bees, and the singular world of his fellow bee-keepers. There’s the Badger, who introduces Frank to the world of bees; Rusty, a one-eyed septuagenarian bee sting therapist certain that honey will be the currency of the future after the governments fail; Scooby the “dude” who gets a meditative high off the awesome vibes of his psychedelia-painted hives; and the Berserker, a honeybee hitman who teaches Frank a rafter-raising lesson in staving off the harmful influences of an evil queen: “Squash her, mash her, kill, kill, kill!”
Frank also crosses paths with those he calls the Surgeons (precise and protected), the Cowboys (improvisational and unguarded) and the Poseurs, ex-corporate cogs, YouTube-informed and ill-prepared for the stinging reality of their new lives. In connecting with this club of disparate but kindred spirits, Frank discovers the centuries-old history of the trade; the practicality of maintaining it; what bees see, think, and feel (emotionless but sometimes a little defensive); how they talk to each other and socialize; and what can be done to combat their biggest threats, both human (anti-apiarist extremists) and mite (the Varroa Destructor).
With a swarm of offbeat characters and fascinating facts (did that bee just waggle or festoon?), Frank the Bee Man delivers an informative, funny, and galvanizing book about the symbiotic relationship between flower and bee, and bee and the beekeepers who are determined to protect the existence of one of the most beguiling and invaluable creatures on earth.
“A very entertaining book.”
—American Bee Journal
“A playful storyteller… A compelling memoir.”
—Foreword Reviews
“A useful how-to guide as well as an affectionate ode to nature’s pollinators and honey makers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This book includes great humor and a use of allegory that reveals tremendous background knowledge.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Frank’s personal stories of his beekeeping journey are entertaining, well written, and will quickly have you happily lost in the world of bees.”
—Paleo Magazine
"Bee People and the Bugs They Love is the bee's knees and getting a ton of buzz. Bee smart, people, and read this un-BEE-lievably interesting look at the quirky world of beekeeping."
—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A delightful portrayal for non-beekeepers of what life is like for those of us who are always thinking about bees.”
—Tom Seeley, author of The Lives of Bees
“A fun and exciting tale of the wonder-filled world of beginner beekeeping.”
—Noah Wilson-Rich, author of Bee: A Natural History , and CEO and partner The Best Bees Company
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Beekeeper Mortimer shares insights gleaned from years of pursuing his avocation in this illuminating debut memoir. He begins with his first hive, procured through a man known as "the Badger" at the local beekeeping club, and takes readers through his own trial by fire, in the hopes that aspiring beekeepers can avoid making the same mistakes. Mortimer lists the basic equipment needed to start, outlines the functions of a hive's different members (drones, workers, and the queen), and describes maintenance practices, such as using smoke to keep the hive calm. Some of the most charming passages involve Mortimer's friendships with other beekeepers, who are often as eccentric as they are kind and helpful. In addition to Badger, for instance, there's Rusty Spoonauer, aka "the one-eyed bee guy," a septuagenarian who advises the beekeeping club to "save your honey, 'cause when the governments fall and we're all living in anarchy," they can use their produce for barter (and use the remainder for mead, as "people always gonna need a stiff drink."). New or prospective beekeepers will find a useful how-to guide as well as an affectionate ode to nature's pollinators and honey makers, while any readers who have had their lives reshaped by a single overriding passion will enjoy learning how Mortimer found his.