Guide to Bees & Honey - Ted Hooper MBE

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JazzJPH

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Hi everyone,

A couple of nights ago I briefly searched for what might be the best book to learn about bees/beekeeping. From what I read on the Internet, including this forum, I decided to buy the book "Guide to Bees & Honey" by Ted Hooper MBE. It arrived tonight and I was hooked from the moment I picked it up.

I'm only on page 27 so far but I've found it incredibly interesting learning how bees are made up and how their systems work.

Is this book on the shelf of every experienced beekeeper here? I would be interested in learning how the book has helped other forum members and which part(s) in particular you like the most.
 
Hi.

I found this a fantastic book. I read it cover to cover before starting beekeeping and now I’ve completed my first year I need to take a look through again to pick up on some more bits in light of what I’ve seen.

It certainly helps to read a book like this but I found it a little clunky to flick through to a specific issue. For that I have other reference books/guides.

Nothing beats experience tho as if you ask any two beekeepers for their opinion on something you’ll likely get three answers.

Great book tho for sure!


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It is a great book.....even after many years of beekeeping, I still refer to it on some topic every year. One caveat: it is a long time since the last reprint, and the chapter on disease isn't current, so another book needed for that (important) subject. I use John McMullan's 'Having Healthy Honeybees'. He gave a talk at my association a few years ago and was excellent
 
It is a great book.....even after many years of beekeeping, I still refer to it on some topic every year. One caveat: it is a long time since the last reprint, and the chapter on disease isn't current, so another book needed for that (important) subject. I use John McMullan's 'Having Healthy Honeybees'. He gave a talk at my association a few years ago and was excellent

It's a great read so far. I'll make a note of John McMullan's book as it sounds like it'll be very useful.
 
Have a signed copy by the man himself, got it as a gift from my cousin. He and Ted were in the same club
 
Very good book and I have it with me all the time...

I have made made notes in it all over the pages in the relevant chapters that I have learned from this forum so for me it's up to date...😁 also good to have all your notes and a good book in 1 place rather than scratting around for bits of paper with good info on....

TIP
I started to write the notes in the book in pencil so can be updated if need modifying but main reason was at the beginning I just inserted the notes in the book at the right section, then when I dropped it I was chasing bit of paper all over in my suit....
 
Very good book and I have it with me all the time...

I have made made notes in it all over the pages in the relevant chapters that I have learned from this forum so for me it's up to date...😁 also good to have all your notes and a good book in 1 place rather than scratting around for bits of paper with good info on....

TIP
I started to write the notes in the book in pencil so can be updated if need modifying but main reason was at the beginning I just inserted the notes in the book at the right section, then when I dropped it I was chasing bit of paper all over in my suit....

That's a good idea Simon. I have some sticky page markers, I might stick some of them in too for quick reference.

From reading the book, visiting these forums and watching YouTube beekeeping videos I've learned so much. Mainly I've learned American beekeepers kinda love being stung :laughing-smiley-004
(dirt rooster and barnyard bees mainly)
 
Well, I just finished reading this book last night. It's been really interesting! I'd recommend it to anyone else starting out with beekeeping.

Just in time for my course next weekend :D
 
"Have a signed copy by the man himself" :
Ted reckoned he had signed so many that unsigned ones would be worth more because of their rarity!
 
We use Hooper, I am inexperienced so can't comment too much but I do find some of the old terms such as referring the beekeeper as "Him" very quaint.
 
Its a book I recommend to all new beekeepers but with the following caveats
1) read it through but don't try to understand it.
2) having read it leave it alone for 6 weeks
3) read it a second time
4) leave it alone until you've had bees for several months (ideally the winter of season 1)
5) read it again.. it'll now make sense.
I refer to it on occasions and it was the first book I bought.
 
Its a book I recommend to all new beekeepers but with the following caveats
1) read it through but don't try to understand it.
2) having read it leave it alone for 6 weeks
3) read it a second time
4) leave it alone until you've had bees for several months (ideally the winter of season 1)
5) read it again.. it'll now make (SOME) sense.
I refer to it on occasions and it was the first book I bought.

I have to confess I've never managed to read it cover to cover ... early years of beekeeping were covered by less technical tomes, mentors and this forum .. but it's the book that will remain on your shelf when the 'Noddy guides' are long gone. It's the book that will usually have some sort of an answer.

As said in earlier posts .. beware, there are some chapters that really do need a bit of updating.
 
"Have a signed copy by the man himself" :
Ted reckoned he had signed so many that unsigned ones would be worth more because of their rarity!

:icon_204-2::icon_204-2::icon_204-2: Bet you've got one too eh!
 
I have to confess I've never managed to read it cover to cover ... early years of beekeeping were covered by less technical tomes, mentors and this forum .. but it's the book that will remain on your shelf when the 'Noddy guides' are long gone. It's the book that will usually have some sort of an answer.

As said in earlier posts .. beware, there are some chapters that really do need a bit of updating.

Are there any up-to-date books would you recommend?
 
Are there any up-to-date books would you recommend?

Believe it or not .. to get you through the first years of beekeeping you can't really go wrong with the Haynes Manual of Beekeeping. Easy to read, takes you step by step through the year with lots of pictures and diagrams, includes all the standard aspects of what you need to do and manipulations.

If you and your bees survive the first two or three seasons and you take note of the GOOD advice given on here you will find that you only need books on specialist aspects of beekeeping such as queen rearing, microscopy etc.

Hooper covers an awful lot, Ted Hooper was a very, very, knowledgeable beekeeper and apart from the fact that beekeeping has moved on a bit as a result of later influences that he never had to face it's still very much a goto book when you are not sure what's happening. Unfortunately, the way it is written and the index are not altogether conducive to finding what you are seeking !

If you want beekeeping qualifications such as the BBKA Modules and the theory of beekeeping is what floats your boat then you will need a variety of text books.

Depends really on what you want from your beekeeping.

I think we all face situations that confuse us in beekeeping and sometimes the answers can't be found in a book .. as RAB often says - you need to THINK about what is happening and what you need to do.
 
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I'm glad I have read the book before getting my first colony. I won't remember all the information but at least it's in my head somewhere, to be reminded when I plan each inspection or action on my hive(s).

When reading I could see it wasn't written in the most modern way - but that's just writing style to me. I'm happy to look past that and to the information there.

I found it interesting that he mentioned a time when OSR was rare in Britain, as well as a time before Varroa was a problem. I like how he has shown the scope of beekeeping changing through time.

Very interesting. Now I wonder what to get next - maybe the Haynes Manual.

Any other suggestions for the bookshelf?
 
Keeping Healthy Honey Bees is good
 
Very interesting. Now I wonder what to get next - maybe the Haynes Manual.

Any other suggestions for the bookshelf?

Practical Beekeeping - Clive de Bruyn

then maybe some Golden Oldies - still worth reading decades later

'Beekeeping in Britain' and 'Honey farming' both by ROB Manley
Practical Bee guide by JG Digges
'The Introduction of Queen bees' and 'Swarming - it's control and prevention' by Snelgrove
 
Keeping Healthy Honey Bees is good

Practical Beekeeping - Clive de Bruyn

then maybe some Golden Oldies - still worth reading decades later

'Beekeeping in Britain' and 'Honey farming' both by ROB Manley
Practical Bee guide by JG Digges
'The Introduction of Queen bees' and 'Swarming - it's control and prevention' by Snelgrove

Thanks guys! :D
 

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