This is a fascinating book delving into the mind of a bee supported by hours/years of scientific research.
The book begins with the introduction of ‘What’s it like to
be a Bee’ discussing a bees first journey after it leaves its nest – describing
how they have to immediately remember their route home and also how they can
make choices – so everything in their world is not decided by innate
priorities. They can choose their own predispositions. It is this first bit of
information that makes you immediately realise how clever bees are especially
when the author describes how they also communicate in the hive in the dark –
sorting out who does what job – just by using their pheromones.
The book itself – although fascinating – does contain a lot
of scientific knowledge though and assumes that everyone has that knowledge. I
wonder if some of this technical detail could have been simplified slightly to
make it more accessible to all readers.
The last chapter in the book about why we need to
conserve bees is definitely well worth reading. The last paragraph of the
‘Afterword’ leaves you with thoughts to ponder on…..
‘The ancient bees honey might well have provided the
necessary carbohydrates for our ancestors’ costly brain enlargement, and might
thus have fuelled the evolution of the human mind.
We owe bees. Act accordingly.’
A very thought provoking read about the value of such a
small insect to humankind.
By Melanie Wakley
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