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The Bad Beekeepers Club: How I stumbled into the Curious World of Bees - and became (perhaps) a Better Person Hardcover – 20 May 2010

by Bill Turnbull (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 84 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Sphere; First Edition edition (20 May 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1847443982
  • ISBN-13: 978-1847443984
  • Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 2.8 x 22.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 408,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

His description of the pleasure bees bring is captivating and told in such an engaging manner. This is truly charming. (News of the World)

An entertaining beekeeping memoir (The Times)

Book Description

* The hilarious, heartwarming and surprisingly inspiring account of one BBC Breakfast TV presenter's secret passion for bees...!

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWonderfully funny account of Bill's beekeeping.
By IT123 on 21 May 2010
Format: Hardcover
This is a book I had been waiting for with some anticipation, heightened recently with the writer's bee blogs which are hilarious, witty, informative, and rather thought provoking. The problem though sometimes in eagerly anticipating a new book/film/ gadget is the book/film/gadget doesn't quite live up to its expectations.

No such problem with this book. It lived up to my expectations and more. Only a few pages in and the tears were coming down my face from laughing and in this vein I finished the book. For those who know nothing about beekeeping, you get a sort of beginners guide to beekeeping- parts of the hive, different types of bees that make up the colony, how to remove and extract honey etc. All intertwined with his own experiences, mishaps and occasional triumph over adversity. There is also a chapter devoted to stinging, or rather the nature of how he has been stung, and this chapter in itself is worth the price of the book alone.

For those who know Bill from his daytime job, this is not an autobiography; it is about beekeeping, so any references made to his job (BBC Breakfast), Strictly Come Dancing, etc are from the view point of how they impact on his beekeeping and vice versa. In addition, the problems facing bees worldwide and the measures being used to combat these problems are discussed, but not in such a heavy handed way, that you want to flick past those pages and get to the funny sections again.

All in all a very, very funny and witty book that this reader would recommend to anyone regardless of how interested or not they are in bees.
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3.0 out of 5 starsA pithy and uplifting introduction to what beekeeping can do to you
By Bengjii on 5 July 2010
Format: Hardcover
I read this book on beekeeping and the effects of same after I had heard the Author talk about the subject (and the book) on local radio recently. I've always had a general interest in bees and the observation of same, but I'd shied away from the more technical and jargon-drenched books on the subject.

Bill's book is different - while he does lay down some of the basics of bees and their world, his main focus is very much on the effects that beekeeping has had on him, and by extension possibly on the reader also. His style is quite familiar and pretty laid back, and throughout he kept me interested in both his progress and on beekeeping in general.

I'm not quite sure why I bought this book - was it due to the interview or my lateral interest in the subject, but to be honest I'm glad that I did. I came away from it with a better understanding of beekeeping and some of the joys and pitfalls pertaining thereto, I feel that I have a better understanding of what is required, and I also came away feeling just a little bit better about the world in general.

Downsides? Not many to be honest, near the end the author did focus a lot on his struggles with a dancing competition and how it distracted from his BeeDuties, but overall I did not feel that this took too much from the overall work.

Nice job Bill
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5.0 out of 5 starsReally interesting and amusing read
By Prospero77 VINE VOICE on 28 May 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Bill's writing style is as engaging and witty as his screen persona but the lexical structuring is such that he could almost be in the room with you. Amusement apart, if like me you're coming to the field of beekeeping as a complete novice it provides a real 'fly on the wall' initiation into the brotherhood. The science of hive construction and the 'what-to-expect' pratfalls of bee contact will amuse and entertain throughout. If you're looking for a holiday read with a difference I would definitely recommend.
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5.0 out of 5 starsMust for Beekeepers
By KChal on 2 Jun. 2010
Format: Hardcover
As A beginner to beekeeping and currently on a course this book is just what I needed both funny and informative. Even if you are not a beekeeper still a great read!
Congratulations Bill and I am glad you were talked into writing it...
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe Bees Knees
By YourTurnNow on 20 Sept. 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Bill Turnbull describes his 'Apiaric' adventures with a touch of wry humour.
It is funny, thought provoking and informative. His wife must have the patience of a saint as he describes in a hilarious fashion the harvesting of honey in a completely unprepared kitchen - as only a man can...oblivious in his lack of foresight as to the abject mess this intails.

His experiences with a "bad tempered" colony are as most experiences with bad temper when you leave the culprit(s) alone to stew...read the book to find out.

Oh, and bees dont like fish!

As one who has contemplated keeping bees as a hobby I found this book invaluable.
Although it is not a textbook Bill Turnbulls knowledge and skill as an Apiarist comes across succinctly. After reading the book I abandoned the thought of beekeeping as it is certainly not something for the amateur. The bee populous of the U.K. is under threat from many viruses, parasites and bacterium. To plod along without the prerequisite knowledge of how to identify bees who are ill or infected would risk the spread of disease to the healthy colonies of reputable beekeepers

There is a scheme whereby you can support Beekeepers by "adopting" colonies in the UK. Those who are interested in Apiary should become involved in this way instead of "bumbling along" (pun definately intended) mistakenly percieving Beekeeping as a hobby easily taken up without much experience.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsInformative but I didn't like his tone. Too glib in his delivery & the...

Argh! The songs. Awful! Just about as awful as Tolkien songs about elves.
Didn't enjoy the writing style but it was good about the actual bee keeping.

Published 2 months ago by joey
1.0 out of 5 starsOne Star

If you are a beekeeper I REALLY wouldn't recommend this book. It was both dull and annoying.

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book, very entertaining and enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A good insight for people considering beekeeping. Bill Turnbull's sense of self deprecating humour makes this a fun read.

Published 8 months ago by Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great beekeeping fun read

Published 9 months ago by Mr. R. F. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

As described

Published 9 months ago by uyn3387
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very funny book for beekeepers and non beekeepers

Published 9 months ago by Tim
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

hilarious

Published 10 months ago by Ann Laughlin
1.0 out of 5 starsJust awful

Just awful, if you like a second rate "celebrity" who is an incredible name dropper,amazingly smug and a bore - this is for you. Read more

Published 11 months ago by paj
5.0 out of 5 starsFabulous!

This book is a great read! It's fun and informative - Bill is very witty. It's made me realise why I shouldn't rush out and get a bee hive, but I live news even more now!

Published 12 months ago by Poppy2010
4.0 out of 5 starsthe bad beekeeper

a likeable book. Easily read and with some funny passages.

Published 13 months ago by Amazon Customer

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