best book

[bobg]

 Hi I'm the new guy, just lurking around here hoping to learn. What would you consider to be the best book on beekeeping? I need something to take me from a raw beginning foreward. Also anyone here near Laredo Texas, I learn a lot better hands on than by reading. Thanks

[pdmattox]

Hello there, and welcome to the forum. I like the beekeeping for dummies and the abc/xyz bee bible. :)

[Moonshae]

I've purchased Beekeeping for Dummines and The Backyard Beekeeper. I've found them to be excellent, complimentary books to get started, and these forums as a great source for asking questions and getting...more detailed advice.

[Robo]

Another good book is Keeping Bees by John Vivian.  It's a practical approach, easy to follow read.  You can most likely get it from your local library.  I liked it so much, I ended up going out and buying my own copy.

[Holycow]

So far my most referenced bee Book is "The Beekeepers Handbook" by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile.
The diagrams make sense to me and I'd imagine it would be a great starting book if you want to learn how it all is supposed to work.
I recommend starting a bee book reference stockpile.. all the authors seem to do things a little different.. just like most beekeepers.
My two cents.
--Jeff

[Fannbee]

Just a quick note. I see you live in TX.  An old beekeeper told me to believe about half of what I read in bee books.  His reasoning is that the books are for northern beekeepers. 

However, for begininning they give you a good base to strat with.

[indypartridge]

Don't forget your local library. Our small town library has about a dozen books on beekeeping... I went thru them, then bought copies of the books I liked.
Also, hang around these online bee forums and you'll learn even more.

[BeeHopper]

There is no best book  :-D They all have something to offer, but a good start is holycow's recommendation, Diana's book was my first.  :-D Check out www.bushfarms.com for some free online books.