I became more curious about beekeeping after reading recently about the invention of the flow hive in New Zealand. Although that's not mentioned in this book, this is undoubtably a thorough resource that conveys a lot of technical detail without becoming a burdensome read. Illustrations and numerous comments from beekeepers across North America are included. I was particularly impressed that selective breeding programs since the 1990's have been able to heighten hygenic behaviours among bees themselves and that this shows promise for improving defence against devastating varroa mites. I should also mention that this book has a high degree of redundancy, as if almost every detail or fact is presented at least twice and often within a couple of pages. An abridged version would be a beginner beekeeper's bible.

Very detailed book on beekeeping. Pretty much it goes into detail about why you shouldn’t take up the profession and how difficult it is. That isn’t at all bad instead you appreciate the honesty of the author and how passionate he is about the subject. It is serious work and a life of utter dedication that he conveys with specific data, diagrams, and information. A great book on the subject.