The Bad Beekeeper's Club: How I Stumbled into the Curious World of Bees - and Became (perhaps) a Better Person

by Bill Turnbull

Hello. My name is Bill and I'm a bad beekeeper. A really bad beekeeper.'
So begins Bill Turnbull's charming account of how he stumbled into the mysterious world of beekeeping (sometimes literally). Despite many setbacks - including being stung in the head (twice) on his first day of training - beekeeping somehow taught Bill a great deal about himself and the world around him.
Bill chronicles his mishaps - and brief triumphs - with the humour and Zen-like acceptance of a man who knows his enthusiasm will always outweigh his abilities. At the same time his stories highlight the very real threats to our bee population, and what we can do to create a better environment for these vital and rather wonderful creatures.
Fascinating and hugely engaging, The Bad Beekeepers Club is a universally appealing story about a very singular passion.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2010

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

And another bit of a star. Does what it said on the tin - light hearted, warmhearted and humorous. A quick read. Now go and read 'A Sting in the Tale' by David Goulson for more humor, and a bit more depth and bumblebees.

[Judy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating Story Which Generates Lots of Smiles

I am not a beekeeper - they frighten me. However we do have a couple of colonies on our acreage; one in a hive and one 'wild' colony in the double wall of our barn. Our daughter who has her own hives on her own property, looks after our hive. This well written book evokes memories of our rural way of life, of the challenges, joy and sheer wonderment of owning bees and observing these amazing little creatures which are so essential to human existence. Even if you do not own bees you will find this book interesting and amusing.

[Bodil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book and you do learn a bit about beekeeping. In a very lighthearted way. I think that Turnball stresses the bit about bad beekeeper at times, he seems to be doing rather OK in many ways. (Though I admit that there always is at least something that should have been done with the bees yesterday, but then I am probably a bad beekeeper, too.) Apart from his beekeeping he tells us a bit of his ‘other life’ as a journalist, which is fone, although I found the bit on his dancing career much too long.

[Sarah-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should be 3.5 ⭐️ at least . Learnt a fair bit & really enjoyed the insights & way book flowed. The “ I’m such a bad beekeeper” theme was a little overdone at times but the 2nd half of book picked up pace & had me turning pages faster . I’m keen to learn more about the Bees for Development organisation. Sounds a really neat project to get involved with. A definite yes read for a relatively new Beeker.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more but the "bad beekeeper" line wore a bit thin and by the time he was on strictly I'd stopped caring. On the plus side there are enough warnings in there to put off anyone with only a lukewarm interest in beekeeping.

[Claire Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read and confirms my suspicions. I'm a very bad beekeeper!

[Therese Cawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very light read. As a beekeeper I'm furious, I should have written it, we have all done all of these things, I'm sure.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very amusing with some laugh out loud moments. I liked it.

[Eva Malkki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very amusingly written and makes our own modest beekeeping efforts seem positively professional!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and easy to read - in fact I read it in one sitting. Bees are fascinating even if a bit scary. Bill makes it all sound like lots of fun.

[Lesleyts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some laugh out loud moments and an easy read from a man who seemed really lovely and he loved his bees!

[Fi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was only ok - & there were only two reasons I bothered finishing it:
1) It was a Christmas present, & I thought it would be rude not to finish reading it
2) Bill Turnbull is my guilty breakfast pleasure, & I felt I should persevere in the hope of finding I liked it more than I seemed to be

Still, it was mildly amusing in parts, & I do know a bit more about bees now (actually, a lot more than I ever wanted to)

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to have bees one day so this book caught my eye. It was very funny and informative and has made me see that keeping bees cannot be taken lightly so I think I will have to wait a long time before being in a position to have some of my own.

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combined humour and practical knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed Bill's admissions as a bad beekeeper. And it's given me a bit more respect for the humble bee, although I'm still not too keen on them when they get too close!

[KP · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a nice light friendly read for someone who is curious about bee keeping, which is exactly what i was looking for. I laughed out loud in the first half, but found the last few chapters were less about bees, more about other stuff.

[Kieran Nally · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new bee keeper this was an enjoyable book. For those not interested in beekeeping it I still a very humerous read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, a light hearted read or those chill out moments. Even if you are not thinking of taking up bee keeping it's worth reading; if you are, it's a must.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I know why my husband is a bad beekeeper!

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I know why my husband is a bad beekeeper!

[Joe Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new beekeeper, this is a handy book explaining both the many parts of beekeeping and why people d oit.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - very enjoyable and a fair few laugh out loud moments.

[Kate Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

. One of my "Read 50 books in my 50th year" .