Haynes or Hooper?

[Wilco]

A friend I'm mentoring has a birthday coming up. I was thinking of giving them a book on beekeeping although haven't used any myself to be able to review. Can anyone advise which is 'better' - the Haynes Bee Manual or Ted Hooper's Guide to Bees and Honey?

 

[Newbeeneil]

I recommend both. The Haynes for people to get a feel for beekeeping and Hooper for people to actually learn about beekeeping.

 

[pargyle]

A friend I'm mentoring has a birthday coming up. I was thinking of giving them a book on beekeeping although haven't used any myself to be able to review. Can anyone advise which is 'better' - the Haynes Bee Manual or Ted Hooper's Guide to Bees and Honey?

It depends - if they are in Year 1 or 2 of beekeeping or they are happier following a recipe rather than knowing how things work - It's Haynes - can't be beaten for beekeeping in the early years.

If they have a few seasons under their belt and are capable of reading a fairly lengthy, technical and informational book - with a fairly outdated style and some bits out of date - then it's Hooper.

I have both on my bee shelf - Hooper is the standard reference tome (although I rarely dip in these days as most things you can find on here) - I've grown out of Haynes.

 

[user 20297]

I recommend both. The Haynes for people to get a feel for beekeeping and Hooper for people to actually learn about beekeeping.

Haynes has four indexed entries on "defecation" and no entry on "Demaree".

 

[pargyle]

Haynes has four indexed entries on "defecation" and no entry on "Demaree".

YES ... But like I said Haynes is painting by numbers for early years beekeepers ... I know beekeepers with 10 years + under their belt that have either never heard of Demaree or have completely misunderstood what it is for ....

 

[ericbeaumont]

which is 'better' - the Haynes Bee Manual or Ted Hooper's Guide to Bees and Honey?

Horses for courses: Haynes, with its photos and easy instruction for novice beekeepers can't be beaten.

Hooper is useful further down the road, though I agree it's a bit dusty now (first published 45 years ago) and was updated a while ago in an obvious and awkward style.

 

[user 20297]

... I know beekeepers with 10 years + under their belt that have either never heard of Demaree or have completely misunderstood what it is for ....

....maybe you've made my point for me???

 

[Wilco]

Thanks all! Appreciate that.

 

[user 819]

Yes, no use bombarding a newbie with Demeree or Snelgrove options before they can walk properly. Bad enough for some not even understanding the simple life cycle of the three castes especially the shorter Q cycle.

 

[user 819]

Another short fall is the teaching of SS cells which I think is bollocks, every one should be taught and sold on them as being a swarm cell what ever or where ever they are in a hive /colony and act to on them as a potential swarm that will leave if cells aren't dealt with and culled down to one at some stage before the new VQ emerges.
Initial teachings should be kept simple until experience is gained then one can start playing at loosing swarms.

 

[REDWOOD]

Most of what I learned as a new beekeeper was here, if 8 out of ten beekeepers agree you can bet its not far wrong

 

[roche]

Clive De Bruyn - Practical beekeeping. More readable than Hooper, and pretty much the same content.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I might recommend this forum for practicalities and these two for knowledge and entertainment
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0691147213/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_E7A9B5J5YMDYFFX15NSQ
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/3540787275/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TGQ3PPVV1ZVK84PBH4J8

 

[Wilco]

Thanks all. Think I'm going to go for Haynes now and de Bruyn as their Christmas present

 

[pargyle]

Good choices ... They will get to Hooper in their own good time if the bug continues to bite ...

 

[Wilco]

Good choices ... They will get to Hooper in their own good time if the bug continues to bite ...

Don't fancy the paperwork to bring in biting bees for them to keep.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Most of what I learned as a new beekeeper was here, if 8 out of ten beekeepers agree you can bet its not far wrong

Blimey 80% of beekeepers agreeing. What a wonderful world that would be!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Not sure about that

 

[pete_allotments]

as a late update, how about David Cramp "the Beekeeper's field guide", a follow on book from Haynes.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

as a late update, how about David Cramp "the Beekeeper's field guide", a follow on book from Haynes.

erm, no