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Dave Goulson

A Sting in the Tale Hardcover – 25 April 2013

by Dave Goulson (Author)

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Shortlisted for the 2013 Samuel Johnson Prize

Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.

Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee now only exists in the wilds of New Zealand, the descendants of a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century. Dave Goulson’s passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land is one of the highlights of a book that includes exclusive research into these curious creatures, history’s relationship with the bumblebee and advice on how to protect it for all time.

One of the UK’s most respected conservationists and the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Goulson combines Gerald Durrell-esque tales of a child’s growing passion for nature with a deep insight into the crucial importance of the bumblebee. He details the minutiae of life in their nests, sharing fascinating research into the effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and on the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Jonathan Cape
Publication date

25 April 2013
Dimensions

14.35 x 2.77 x 22.35 cm
ISBN-10

0224096893
ISBN-13

978-0224096898
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Product description

Review

[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. -- Michael McCarthy ― Independent

Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. -- Hannah Rosefield ― Literary Review

A worthy book of the year. -- Mary Beard ― Observer

Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. -- Patrick Barkham ― Guardian

This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. -- Mark Mason ― Spectator

About the Author

Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at University of Sussex. He has published more than 300 scientific articles on the ecology and conservation of bumblebees and other insects. His books include the Sunday Times bestsellers, The Garden Jungle and A Sting in the Tale, which was also shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson prize and has been translated into fifteen languages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a trustee of Pesticide Action Network, and an Ambassador for the UK Wildlife Trusts.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jonathan Cape; 1st Edition (25 April 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0224096893
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0224096898
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.35 x 2.77 x 22.35 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 486,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 310 in Wild Insects & Spiders
- 515 in Insects (Books)
- 1,114 in Wildlife Gardening

Customer reviews:
507 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		82%
4 star		12%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Amazon Customer

Pictures?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2019

Verified Purchase

Bought this book in the hope of putting the names to the different bees in our garden. Only read the first few reviews before I ordered it which all said how great it was (I should have read the more critical ones with less stars). Only when I received it through the post did I realise that the only pictures were those on the cover and though there is a list of the Latin name for the bees in the book it doesn't refer to any pictures on the cover or give the common names. How someone who purports to know so much about bees and wants to tell people about it thinks they can do so without any pictorial guide is beyond me. Moral-Don't buy a book on the looks of the cover, or the reviews of the ones who liked it, or you will be disappointed. I know I was.

26 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Delightful, personal, scientific and funny

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2014

Verified Purchase

I can't imagine how anyone who chose to read this could give it less than 5*. It's delightful, personal, scientific and funny.
Dave Goulson is passionate about bumblebees and wildlife in general. He conveys this in his writing, which to me is reminiscent of Gerald Durrell and Bill Bryson. He makes it personal by taking us through his developing childhood interest, through his academic studies to his project in rural France. He talks affectionately about people he's worked with, describing their quirks alongside their passion and tenacity.
His insights into the way science works is fascinating, both for scientists and others. His writing is widely accessible, unlike other "popular science" writing which is often unsatisfactory to either the lay person or to fellow scientists.
Don't expect to come to the end with an ability to recognise any species of bumblebee. He directs us to other resources for that. However some photos would have been good, not just of the bees but of the characters and landscapes he describes. What you can expect to come away with it a greater understanding of the importance of bumblebees and a desire to read "A Buzz in the Meadow".

6 people found this helpful

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Beth Stacey

Informative and interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 September 2020

Verified Purchase

I learned so much about bumblebees from this book: previously I had thought that there was only one type. It has moved me to plant some suitable flowers and I look forward to next spring when I shall examine every one and try to identify it.
At one point, I found the narrative a bit slow and dry but it perked up and I eventually enjoyed the whole book. I'd recommend this as an important read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Nigel Jennings

A truly brilliant book with a publishing howler

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2013

Verified Purchase

It is hard to categorise this wonderful book: a mixture of autobiography, ecological field guide and experimental science account.

I do not think it an exaggeration to say that Professor Dave Goulson probably knows more about bumblebees than any other living person, but he writes with an engaging blend of humility, candour and humour. Other reviewers have done an excellent job of precising the book contents which I will not repeat here. I enjoyed every page but I was eager to get to the final chapters where Goulson talks about founding the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and initiating the project to reintroduce the Short-Haired bumblebee to England.

On this last aspect, it is deeply irritating that the publisher's dust-jacket editor could not be bothered to read the book thoroughly enough to comprehend that these Short-Haired bumblebees are actually being sourced from Sweden and not New Zealand. The latter, sadly, turned out to be an ecological dead-end. The myth that New Zealand is these bees' last remaining habitat is perpetuated by Amazon and other online suppliers in their descriptions of the book and it nearly deterred me from buying as I knew it was blatantly untrue.

Notwithstanding this gross error however, the book should appeal to anybody who wishes to learn more about bumblebees in an entertaining and well-rounded account.

3 people found this helpful

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hazeyhj

A great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2018

Verified Purchase

Whilst the book is mainly about bees, it is written in a novel style, as you follow the story of Dave Goulson's interest in bees from a young age and the funny mistakes he makes along the way, like thinking he could dry the drenched bees in the over! Very funny and full of fascinating research which would appeal to everyone, especially environmental students or people who love bees. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

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Mr D.

Fascinating subject matter, fantastic book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is amazing! It's a page turner, which is a real rarity in the natural history realm of books. I couldn't put it down, it was fascinating and so are bumbleBees. I was quite interested in them but wanted to learn more, now I really want to help protect these fascinating and complex creatures. If you have even a vague interest in natural history, buy this book you will love it.

9 people found this helpful

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P TATNER

Excellent insight into the great opportunities for bee research and the good times of a life science academic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2013

Verified Purchase

Dave outlines his enthusiasm for the natural world in an engaging and lively manner, that will strike a chord among those who have a similar passion for natural history and should catch the interest of those who would like to know more about the world around us.
The chapters are nicely arranged to cover different aspects of bumblebees and each is an engaging read in it own right. You will find out a lot of about biological processes and systems in a very palatable manner, and if you wish to delve more deeply into the science, then he has written more academic works on Bumblebees. You are also able to gain some insight into the most enjoyable aspects of academic profession, as Dave's enquiring mind and focused ambitions have enabled him to gain the finance to travel the world and expose some fascinating new insights in conservation in general and bumblebees in particular. Who would ever have guessed that Bumblebees would make 'weeds' more damaging in Tasmania, or that Honey bees have the potential to reduce biodiversity ? Lots of fascinating insights, highly recommended !

Helpful

Mrs. Margaret G. Evans

A real buzz

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 June 2014

Verified Purchase

This exceeded all my expectations! I had been recommended this book by a friend, and thought it would be useful in bee identification. I never realized there were so many different bumblebees & that their little lives are so dramatic!
Dave Goulson writes with knowledge and experience + enthusiasm. I've checked my comfrey plants & they all have been "robbed" I had never noticed before!!
I had planted a wildflower area couple of years ago, mainly for disappearing honeybees, but having bumblebees around is now just if not more important......they rarely sting!!!!

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