“I was really drawn to Tom Seeley’s The Lives of Bees. He IS the bee keeper’s bee keeper.”—Ira Flatow, Science Friday

“[A] beautifully written exposition of the fascinating details of honey bee behaviour, physiology, genetics and interplay with the environment.”—Peter Neerup Buhl, International Journal of Environment Studies

“Finalist for the PROSE Award in Popular Science and Popular Mathematics, Association of American Publishers”

“Cornell University biologist Seeley is one of the most beloved authors in the beekeeping community, and with good reason: his writing elucidates the lives of honeybees with clear science and a sense of joyous discovery. Seeley employs that approach here; even non-keepers will appreciate his bee’s-eye view of life outside managed apiaries.”—Gemma Tarlach, Discover

“Elegantly simple in design, the research is expertly synthesized by Seeley to give us a vivid glimpse of how honeybees live when left to their own devices. . . . It is the most complete picture yet of the honeybee’s natural history. . . . As the biblical Prov­erbs 6:6 notes of the ant, we need to go to the bee, ‘consider its ways and be wise’. Seeley has done that better than anyone.”—Gene Robinson, Nature

“A wealth of information about honeybees based on decades of scientific research.”

“[The Lives of Bees] both celebrates and chronicles the natural history of the honey bee.”—Barry Silverstein, Foreword Reviews

“This book is a surprise and one heck of a good read.”—Scott Shalaway, WV News

“This is a first class work that should be read by anyone concerned with the alarming decline in pollinators of all taxa, but is especially important for bee keepers and their future as honey producers, and for biologists and landowners anxious to preserve habitat for wild honey bees.”—David M. Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

“Written for experts, beekeepers and biology buffs alike. Seeley’s fifth book on bees illuminates why wild honeybees across the planet are thriving while managed colonies are under threat.”—Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle

“William Hope narrates this highly informed work with a sharp focus on its scientific language. His clear, frank style helps the listener follow the author’s deep dive into the lives of wild honey bees in their natural colonies, as opposed to those raised and kept by beekeepers. . . . This intriguing scientific study . . . elucidates the distinctive methodology of the entomologist and has much to teach.”

“As one of the great communicators of honey bee science, Tom Seeley has written a superb account . . . This is a book for every beekeeper and anyone interested in the natural world.”—Stephen Fleming, Bee Craft

“This is a wonderful and original book about honey bees, unlike the numerous ‘hand books’ which are the staple fare of beekeepers. Professor Seeley has turned the idea of keeping bees on its head, pointing out the many indications that our current methods of exploiting honey bees may be quite harmful to them, or at best, not helpful. . . . so well-researched and presented that I feel it should be basic and essential reading for all beekeepers”

“A detailed and well-illustrated work that will fascinate both curious scientists and those with a passion for bee keeping. . . . Seeley’s book offers great opportunities to learn about honey bees in the wild . . . a source of inspiration for sustainable beekeeping practices.”—Fabrice Requier & Robin M Crewe, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

“Both the layman and general entomologist will enjoy this scientific detective story that is so engagingly and entertainingly told by a preeminent expert in the field.”—Angus McCullough, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine