Buzz - The Nature and Necessity of Bees (Paperback)

Bees are like oxygen: ubiquitous, essential, and, for the most part, unseen. While we might overlook them, they lie at the heart of relationships that bind the human and natural worlds.

In Buzz, the award-winning author of Feathers and The Triumph of Seeds takes us on a journey that begins 125 million years ago, when a wasp first dared to feed pollen to its young.

From honeybees and bumbles to lesser-known diggers, miners, leafcutters, and masons, bees have long been central to our harvests, our mythologies, and our very existence. They’ve given us sweetness and light, the beauty of flowers, and as much as a third of the foodstuffs we eat. And, alarmingly, they are at risk of disappearing.

As informative and enchanting as the waggle dance of a honeybee, Buzz shows us why all bees are wonders to celebrate and protect. Read this book and you'll never overlook them again.

General

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

My review

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 | Review by: Tanya K.

Buzz by Thor Hanson is a wonderfully written book about bees - all sorts of bees. The author does not focus on honeybees, but "celebrates bees in general, from leafcutters and bumbles to masons, miners, diggers, carpenters, wool-carders, and more." This is not a book about honey-bees and how to cultivate them. Hanson starts off with why bees are important, then delves into their evolution from wasps, bee anatomy, habitats and habits, as well as the special relationship bees and flowers have. Without bees the colourful and fragrant flowers we have today would not exist. There is also a fascinating section on honeyguides (a species of bird), early hominins and their possible evolutionary honey munching habits. Hanson also briefly covers Colony Collapse Disorder, the decrease in wild bees in connection with current mono-culture farming habits, how farmers are working to provide more habitat for wild bees, and how our food is reliant on bee pollination. This book is well-written, informative, wide-ranging book on a fascinating topic, made more personal with Hanson's observations and experiences. Thor Hanson loves bees and this is evident through out the book.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes (0) | No (0)