It truly is a tome; it’s about 2.5 inches thick, heavy as a brick, and is chock full of endless information. I will admit that I haven’t read it cover-to-cover; instead, I’ve enjoyed going to the Table of Contents, choosing the topic I wanted to read, and flipping through to read the information. Since that’s how I use it, I can tell you with certainty that it’s organized well. Whether it is bees in mythology, honey and bee products, recipes, or practical beekeeping, what you’re looking for is easy to find and well laid-out. It is really thoughtfully organized once you’re bee-deep in the chapters as well.
The photos are fantastic…a queen hatching?! Incredible! I especially loved the several pages illustrating seasonal blooming plants for bees (helpful for this former city girl that can’t identify a palm tree from a maple!). That helped me identify a late-season pollen source for one of my hives. There are also photos of various shades of honey, charts that describe the various honeys’ country of origin, name, color, flavor, etc. Each type of honeybee is illustrated and has its own page, dedicated to its traits, geographical origins, behavior patterns and more. It sounds academic in a review, but in this book, it’s captivating!
I would recommend this book for anyone from a “newbee” to an experienced beekeeper, to anyone interested in cooking with and making cosmetics with honey. Even if you don’t keep bees, but just love them, it’s an excellent read.
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