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Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper: What Not to Do When Keeping Bees (with Apologies to My Own)
Bill Turnbull had no intention of becoming a beekeeper. But when he saw an ad for beekeeping classes after a swarm of bees landed in his suburban backyard it seemed to be a sign. Despite being stung on the head twice at his first hands-on beekeeping class, Turnbull found himself falling in love with the fascinating, infuriating honeybee. As a new beekeeper, Turnbull mispla...more
Paperback, 237 pages
Published
July 1st 2011
by Experiment
(first published May 1st 2011)
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I'm a beekeeper and I'm happy when anyone tries to make beekeeping more popular. Mr. Turnbull does a great job of telling a story and his writing is sharp, crisp and humorous (the hardest kind of writing).
As an American however, the book peters out about 2/3rds of the way through when the topic of beekeeping is pushed to the side. He writes about running a marathon in his beekeeping suit (again, admirable) and then his turn on a dancing show and another turn on a quiz show. The bees are always b...more
As an American however, the book peters out about 2/3rds of the way through when the topic of beekeeping is pushed to the side. He writes about running a marathon in his beekeeping suit (again, admirable) and then his turn on a dancing show and another turn on a quiz show. The bees are always b...more
Beekeeping has long piqued my interest. Not enough to take a class or read an instruction manual, just enough to google it every once in a while and to grab this book off the new bookshelf at the library. I am so glad I did! Turnbull entered beekeeping pretty much the way I would - underprepared. He humorously recounts his adventures and misadventures as he learns what it takes to be a successful beekeeper.
Labeling himself a Bad Beekeeper, Turnbull tells both what he has done, and what he should...more
Labeling himself a Bad Beekeeper, Turnbull tells both what he has done, and what he should...more
Great title; not so good a book—that is, if you are a bad beekeeper looking for information. Mr. Turnbull is a British newsman and celebrity, his claim to fame as a participant on the English version of Dancing With the Stars. There is some stuff about bees but, unfortunately, Mr. Turnbull seems to think most every little thing he's done is interesting, more interesting than sticking to the subject of bad beekeeping. I tried to stay with it to the end but just couldn't make it to the finish line...more
BBC television host Bill Turnbull calls himself Bad Beekeeper, but he deserves a Funny Storyteller title. His stories of questionable decision making mix with lovely description of beekeeping in the English villages . His self-depricating humor and stories of disaster were funny to a apiarists. They may not be as enjoyable to non-beekeepers.
This was a very quick read and made me feel better about my upcoming plunge into the world of beekeeping. If HE can do it, I can too!
My friend Patricia has just become a beekeeper. I ran across this book and thought that it would be something that she would enjoy. Bill Turnbull is a TV personality in Britain. He has been on their version of Dancing with the Stars. I found his bad beekeeping to be quite humorous and informative.
Delightful and full of warmth and wit. Turnbull puts a humorous spin on his adventures and misadventures as a beekeeper. His joy and awe thread through each chapter. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Entertaining book about one man's foibles when attempting to take care of bees. There's not really anything for an aspiring beekeeper to learn (other than, Expect Things To Go Horribly Wrong Sometimes) but it does make one (such as I) a little less anxious about the attempt. My own bees will arrive in less than a month, and I will don my beekeeper suit for the first time and attempt to dump them into their brand-new homes. I hope I will not kill the queen. I hope they like me and live without di...more
More memoir than how-to guide ... and pretty darn funny. Well done, Mr. Turnbull.
Amusing book - Lighthearted look at the inner working of the hobby world of beekeeping. Part autobiography, part comedy, part serious Bee Business. Fast read.
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