Synopses & Reviews
“Youllnever think of bees, their keepers, or the fruits (and nuts) of their laborsthe same way again.” —Trevor Corson, author of
The Secret Life of LobstersAward-winning journalist Hannah Nordhaus tells the remarkable story of John Miller, one of Americas foremost migratory beekeepers, and the myriad and mysterious epidemics threatening American honeybee populations. In luminous, razor-sharp prose, Nordhaus explores the vital role that honeybees play in American agribusiness, the maintenance of our food chain, and the very future of the nation. With an intimate focus and incisive reporting, in a book perfect for fans of Eric Schlossers Fast Food Nation, Michael Pollans The Botany of Desire,and John McPhees Oranges, Nordhauss stunning exposé illuminates one the most critical issues facing the world today,offering insight, information, and, ultimately, hope.
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“I loved The Beekeeper’s Lament. With great reporting and great writing, Hannah Nordhaus gives a new angle on an ever-evolving topic. You’ll learn a lot.” Bernd Heinrich, author of Winter World and Mind of the Raven
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“Hannah Nordhaus has written an engaging account of the men and insects who put food on our tables. The Beekeeper’s Lament is a sweet, sad story.” Trevor Corson
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"Rollicking, buzzing, and touching ...You'll never think of bees, their keepers, or the fruits (and nuts) of their labors the same way again." Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Guys Won!
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“A crackerjack story…the author struck gold….Nordhaus is a lively writer who…ably conveys the economics of the trade…and is just as able to describe the romance and miracle of honey….A smooth-as-honey tour d’horizon of the raggedy world of beekeeping.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Miller is a complex and colorful man, and his story, along with the story of the bees, is an engaging read.” < i=""> Booklist <>
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“Rollicking, buzzing, and touching meditation on mortality....Youll never think of bees, their keepers, or the fruits (and nuts) of their labors the same way again.” Trevor Corson, author of < i=""> The Secret Life of Lobsters <> and < i=""> The Story of Sushi <>
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“This book is a terrific read.” < i=""> American Bee Journal <>
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“Her book is extraordinary in its breadth and depth, and most of all, it is exquisitely written….The Beekeepers Lament offers us a fascinating peek into the diverse, interrelated, and worrisome aspects of the beekeepers world....Enjoyable and enlightening.” < i=""> AlterNet <>
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“A fascinating read from cover to cover.” < i=""> Associated Press <>
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“The Beekeepers Lament is at once science lesson, sociological study, and breezy read….A book about bees could easily descend into academe, but the author settles for nothing less than literature.” < i=""> Boston Globe <>
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“A remarkable book….Nordhaus uses a somber, lyrical writing style to make bees into just about the most fascinating subject youve ever encountered while at the same time crafting an elegiac metaphor for the contingency of modern American life.” < i=""> The Millions <>
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“Some of the best narrative and storytelling Ive had the pleasure of reading since Rebecca Skloots The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks...You must read this book.” Maggie Koerth-Baker, < i=""> Boing Boing <>
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“A graceful, informative, and engaging book.” < i=""> Hill Rag <>
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“A fascinating peek into the precarious business of keeping the nations crops pollinated.” < i=""> Smithsonian <>
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“Bees are amazing. Thats the first reason to read The Beekeepers Lament, journalist Hannah Nordhauss rewarding account of migratory beekeeping and the mysterious scourge stalking the domestic bee population… Its metaphorical and poetic, elegiac and somehow sad.” < i=""> Christian Science Monitor <>
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“The book is a rich mix of head and heart.” < i=""> Minneapolis Star Tribune <>
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“Nordhaus, an award-winning journalist, weaves a dramatic tale of how and why beehives and bees themselves are threatened by everything from mites to moths to bee thieves.” < i=""> Washington Post <>
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“Highly recommended as both a character study and a compelling popular science work for interested readers.” < i=""> Library Journal <>
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“Echoing Rachel Carsons 1962 attack on the effects of pesticides, Silent Spring, Nordhaus explores this fascinating subject, providing long overdue recognition to the beekeeper and their task as stewards of a species.” < i=""> Financial Times <>
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“In this revelatory, bittersweet investigation into the state of commercial beekeeping in the 21st century, Nordhaus follows the migratory life of a commercial beekeeper, John Miller, as he trucks his bees between California and North Dakota...and, against all odds, keep[s] his bees and his business alive.” < i=""> Publishers Weekly <> (starred review)
Synopsis
The honey bee is a willing conscript, a working wonder, an unseen and crucial link in America's agricultural industry. But never before has its survival been so unclear — and the future of our food supply so acutely challenged.
Enter beekeeper John Miller, who trucks his hives around the country, bringing millions of bees to farmers otherwise bereft of natural pollinators. Even as the mysterious and deadly epidemic known as Colony Collapse Disorder devastates bee populations across the globe, Miller forges ahead with the determination and wry humor of a true homespun hero.
The Beekeeper's Lament tells his story and that of his bees, making for a complex, moving, and unforgettable portrait of man in the new natural world.
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About the Author
Hannah Nordhaus is the author of the critically acclaimed national bestseller The Beekeeper's Lament, which was a PEN Center USA Book Awards finalist, a Colorado Book Awards finalist, and a National Federation of Press Women Book Award winner. She has written for the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, Outside magazine, the Times Literary Supplement, the Village Voice, and many other publications. She lives with her husband and two children in Boulder, Colorado.