Books about Bees and Beekeeping

[Brooklyn]

Can you tell me what are the best books on Beekeeping and about Bees?

[Natalie]

I am sure everyone has their favorite and it depends what type of beekeeping you plan to do, organic, topbar hives etc. all have their own books.
I liked Beekeeping for Dummies to start off with, I have read alot more but this has alot of good info for the beginner.
The ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture is an encyclopedia of everything you need to look up about beekeeping.
As for just having a good read about beekeepers and their experiences I like
Robbing the Bees Holly Bishop
A Book of Bees by Sue Hubbell
She has another book The Country Year that also has some of her beekeeping experiences in it, its a great book just to have a good book to read.
The Bad Beekeeper Ron Miksa
Some people like the book Natural Beekeeping by Ross Conrad, it all depends on what you are looking for.
If you go online and poke around you can find books and get an idea of what you are looking for, I have read some that I wouldn't recommend so if you can check out your local library so you don't pay for books you may wish you hadn't.

[BeeHopper]

It is very hard to put a finger on the " Best Book ". My first and favorite is " The Beekeepers Handbook " by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile, foreworded by Roger A. Morse. My other favorite book is not a book at all unless I want to print it,  www.bushfarms.com.  There's way too many good books out there  :-D

[sparks]

Here is my $.02 worth, and you will receive lots more as there are so many and everyone has their favorites.  I would get a great little inexpensive book called First lessons in Beekeeping from Dadant publishing.  If you want to spend some real money get the latest edition of ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture published by A. I. Root.  In addition I would subscribe to either Bee Culture or American Bee Journal,  both of which are good monthly mags.   Join a beekeepers group.  Most of them have libraries.  Take a look at the Web site of Michael Bush for a small fortune worth of info for free.  http://bushfarms.com/bees.htm

That ought to get you going.

Have fun.

[wd]

Don't have a best book here either, Someone once told me from a commercial outfit that as far as books go, ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture is the only book I'd ever need.

I haven't purchased any books for a few years now, as mentioned there are websites with loads of good info. To date, I currently have - "The Classroom" by Jerry Hayes - "Bee keeping, a practical guide" by Richard E. Bonney - "Keeping Bees" By John Vivian - "Hive Management" by Richard E. Bonney and the 40th edition of "abc and xyz of bee culture" by several authors. Yes, I took the fellows advice.

I'll be adding Hive and Honeybee,  Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding by Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. along with others that I'd like to have. I bought a few on eBay just for the read and to add to my small library.

I also have several links and pdf's saved on different topics.

Have fun!

[Wynoochee_newbee_guy]

some of my favorite books on beekeeping are
1. beekeeping for dumbies very good read I recomend that for any first year beek
2 hive and the honey bee
3 backyard beekeeper by Kim Flottum it's more to wards the 8 frame all mediums still very good book.
But by far my most favorite is Beekeeping for dumbies.

[rdy-b]

Anybody know of any books that are translated into SPANISH I would like to get some quality books for my helper -so far i have found THE FIRST LESSONS IN BEEKEEPING-any others?  :-\ RDY-B

[D Coates]

As a starter book my favorite is Backyard Beekeeping by Kim Flotum.  Very informative with great descriptions and pictures.  Jam packed with enough info get you going for sure.

[Joelel]

Can you tell me what are the best books on Beekeeping and about Bees?

Here's some good on line stuff.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_bee#Pollen_packing
http://www.schoolnet.net.sb/courses/beekeeping1.0/topic_one__an_introduction_to_beekeeping.html
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/breeding.html
http://www.beeclass.com/DTS/301menupage.htm
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/queen-rearing/
http://www.gobeekeeping.com/index.htm
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/small_hive_beetle.htm
http://apinews.morkland.org/
http://www.beesfordevelopment.org/info/info/royal/royal-jelly.shtml
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa257

[USC Beeman in TN]

I have heard nothing but great things about "The hive and the honey bee".  Michel Bush's website is excellent.  I started my education last year by Googling.  Google for "Imire".  He has a lot of fantastic stuff on the net.  He died 4 or 5 years ago but I really like what he has to say.  Walt Wright has tons of info on Beesource.com.  Much of Walt's stuff has been published on ABJ or Bee Culture.  Walt isn't your normal beek, but his principles are sound as he as spent a lot of time studing bees.

[deknow]

don't forget that "the hive and the honeybee" can mean two things.

first, it was a book written by langstroth himself.  i have an early copy (1882 i think), and it's wonderful (the previous owner pasted in langstroth's obituary from the newspaper).

then, it has been "updated" for a number of years, and now is sort of a reference book (from what i gather...i haven't read the new one).

there are probably facimile versions of the old books, and probably available online (i think the whole thing read outloud is available for free, i'm saving that for a long car trip).

deknow

[Natalie]

Speaking of books, shouldn't there be another great book to read on beekeeping pretty soon?

[annette]

Speaking of books, shouldn't there be another great book to read on beekeeping pretty soon?

:?

[Natalie]

I was referring to deknow, he is writing a book with his wife Ramona on chemical free beekeeping so I was just poking at him about it since we are all anxiously awaiting its release. :)

[deknow]

...ask me after 8am tomorrow.

deknow :whip:

[Natalie]

You guys must be snowed in too, the perfect day to... oh I don't know um write a book. :-D

[Wynoochee_newbee_guy]

one more book that Is very good the authors are from Great Britain the name of the book is Keeping Bees And Making Honey. The Authors names are Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum very good well wrote and enjoyable read from fellow beeks from across the pond.

[Natalie]

I just go this in my mailbox tonight from my bee club and I thought of this thread.



The following books are being recommended as reading resources for New and Experienced Beekeepers by the American Bee Journal and Bee Culture.  They are available from the major Bee Equipment Supply Catalogs, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Advanced Book Exchange (for older editions or hard covers).


First Lessons In Beekeeping - C. P. Dadant

The Beekeeper's Handbook : A Teaching Text for Beginners to Advanced Beekeepers - Diana Sammataro, Alphonse Avitabile, Roger A. Morse

A Year In The Beeyard - Roger Morse

First Lessons In Beekeeping - CP Dadant

Plan Bee - Susan Brackney

Beekeeping Classes 101, 201 and 301 on CD's - Dana Stahlman

Beekeeping 101 Book - Dana Stahlman

Hive Management - Richard Bonney

Natural Beekeeping - Ross Conrad

Robbing The Bees - Holley Bishop

[hpm08161947]

I am trying to think of the name of a book I read a bit about - a year or so ago.  It was about a young beek from Fla (I believe) who purchased a small bee operation in Manatoba (maybe Saskatchewan) and traveled back and forth to his bee yards - Eventually he gave up his bee operations and became a journalist.... (I think) - anyone remember this booK.... might be an Ebook...

Thanks for your help...

[Natalie]

Its called the The Bad Beekeeper by Ron Miksa.