BUZZ by THOR HANSON
TITLE: Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees
AUTHOR: Thor Hanson
PUBLICATION DATE: 10 July 2018
FORMAT: ARC ebook
ISBN-13: 9780465052615
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NOTE: I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion of the book.
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Book Description:
"From the award-winning author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers, a natural and cultural history of the buzzing wee beasties that make the world go round.
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 beloved Thor Hanson 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."
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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.
NOTE FROM BOOK: "A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to help preserve and protect wil bees."
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