Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation Book

I've never read a book solely based on beekeeping before but have always been fascinated by the process. I learned a lot from this book, and I'm going to delve into that below. So... erm, nonfiction historical spoiler alert? You have been warned, interwebz.

I found it really interesting to see how the gender of beekeepers changed throughout history. From Dutch wives to pastors to the factories in WW2. It was also really cool to read about how bees made their way into American rhetoric

Teachers and librarians of my goodreads account! If a student ever asks you who you think he or she should write a paper on, suggest Lorenzo Longstroth. Considered a radical during his time, Longstroth was a huge activist for female education. He invented the removable frames in beehives and eventually opened a school for women in Philadelphia. I wish I had known about him sooner.

One of the things that struck me from this novel was how beekeeping was a frequent occupation for WW1 veterans. Many veterans returned handicapped and sometimes had their faces damaged from trench warfare. Beekeeping was private, able to be performed at a slower pace, and still contributed to society. It was the ideal job.

Overall, very enjoyable book. Tammy Horn did a great job. I really loved how she incorporated popular culture and literature while building the scope around bees.