A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them [Paperback]

Sue Hubbell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 1998

"The real masterwork that Sue Hubbell has created is her life," David Quammen wrote in the New York Times. This book is, like its author, a unique achievement. Weaving a vivid portrait of her own life and her bees' lives through the seasons, Hubbell writes "about bees to be sure, but also about other things: the important difference between loneliness and solitude . . . the accommodating of oneself to nature" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her widely acclaimed A Country Year , Hubbell wrote about living on her 100-acre honey-producing farm in the Ozarks. Here she introduces us to the tasks and pleasures of beekeeping. Hubbell manages 300 hives, some on her own farm, others scattered about the countryside on land she rents for one gallon of honey a year. Beekeeping, we're shown, is a marvelous example of symbiosis, advantageous to humans, bees and crops. Noting that the end of one honey season is the start of the next, Hubbell begins with autumn when she checks the hives and prepares them for winter. She takes us, step by step, through the construction of a hive, explaining terms used by beekeepers. Spring brings re-queening if needed, and late summer, the harvest. Hubbell describes the collection and extraction of honeyhot, hard workto complete the season. Beekeeping has to be the apex of animal husbandry; it is a wondrous subject, and Hubbell does it justice. Portions of the book have appeared in the New Yorker . Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"a melodious mix of memoir, nature journal, and beekeeping manual" Kirkus Reviews

"The real masterwork that Sue Hubbell has created is her life." The New York Times

"about bees to be sure, but also about other things: the important differences between loneliness and solitude. . . the accommodating of oneself to nature" The Philadelphia Inquirer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (April 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395883245
• ISBN-13: 978-0395883242
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Insects & Spiders
  • #65 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Essays

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without exception, the finest book on beekeeping - none better., July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them (Paperback)

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.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, interesting subject, May 15, 2005

By 

M. Hamilton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them (Paperback)

I received a call from a friend who said he had a book on bees that I needed to read. I raised my eyebrows, you see, because I'm allergic to bees. Why would I want to read a book on bee-keeping?

What you'll find in this book is a story about a life. A woman who has survived a broken marriage and has made an interesting career in farming, but not just an ordinary farm. As she puts it, she farms not pigs, cattle, or horses- but "bugs". With over 300 hives of bees, she stays busy year around tending to animals that (as you'll find) have maybe more personality than the typical farm critters.

The story covers the 4 seasons of a typical year. She is a talented writer with a style that is both captivating, interesting, and (due to her choice of words) entertaining. The bees themselves are a treat to learn about, from their close-knit community behavior to the critical details of their survival.

But, it's not about the bees. It's about a simple rural life that a lot of us feel we have missed. If you daydream about a simple life away from the office, then this book is for you.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful book, July 8, 2002

By 

S. Gardner (Lincoln, Nebraska, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them (Paperback)

A friend lent this book to me and I waited a while before I picked it up, but when I did, I could hardly put it down. Sue Hubbell's writing style is engaging and just fun to read.

I learned a lot about bees and beekeeping, a little about the author and a little about myself when I read this book. She lays it on the line about what is involved in beekeeping. If you have any inclination to keep bees, Sue Hubbell will dispell any romantic myths you may have about the process. But she also paints a picture of idyllic days in fields surrounded by forests, observing the wondrous life of bees.

Sue Hubbell's real contribution to the beekeeping literature is that she tells about her own special ways with bees, based on many years working with them, some of which counter common theories about them. I would think that a beekeeper would find this information very useful, and I found it simply fascinating.