title: A Short History of the Honey Bee: Humans, Flowers, and Bees in the Eternal Chase for Honey
author: E. Readicker-Henderson
description: <DIV>&ldquo;Whether describing the life of an individual bee from her start as an egg to her death from hard work roughly six weeks later, or how honey is made from flower nectar by the alchemy of the bees, the author&rsquo;s passion for the subject shines through.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Booklist</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;When this honey connoisseur speaks of the sweet substance as &lsquo;the truest distillation of the landscape,&rsquo; it&rsquo;s easy to be seduced by the idea. You&rsquo;ll want to participate in a honey tasting after finishing this book.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>The Sierra Club</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;Readicker-Henderson. . .&#160;makes no apology for his very personal delight in the succulent ambrosia of honey and his enthusiasm for local products rather than the bland, sweet, blended gloop sold in plastic bottles.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Gardens Illustrated</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;The amazing photography and the engaging text are fabulous.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Charleston Gazette</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;Filled with just the right mixture of learning, personal narrative and historical facts, this piece is enhanced by strikingly beautiful photographs by Ilona, set among the pages like brilliant gems. The prose is comprehensible and inspiring.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Sacramento Book Review</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;A short and accessible narrative, written through the author&rsquo;s personal experience growing up with honey and becoming a beekeeper. His delight and dedication to bees comes through, and Ilona&rsquo;s images are gorgeous.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Buffalo Spree Magazine</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;Honey is a main subject of this delightful book. . . . Certainly our diet cannot be the same without honey bees.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Greenfield Recorder</B></I><BR /><BR /> &ldquo;This book by the poetic E. Readicker-Henderson and the talented photographer Ilona far exceeded my wildest expectations. I am, in short, in love with this book!&#160;. . . Readers, I implore you. Buy this book. Then buy it for others. And teach your children every word. Every one.&rdquo;&#160;&mdash;<I><B>Plant Whatever Brings You Joy</B></I></DIV>
zlib_text: SHOW ME THE HONEY
  
  Adventures of an Accidental Apiarist
  
  ![](Images/image00134.jpeg)
  
  DAVE DOROGHY
  
  ![](Images/image00122.jpeg)
  
  _To my mother, Susan, who always taught my sister and me that the more things
  in life you are interested in, the more interesting your life becomes._
  
   **Table of Contents**
  
    1. [_Cover_](../Text/cover.xhtml)
    2. _Title Page_
    3. _Dedication_
    4. _Foreword_
    5. _Preface_
    6. Waggle Dancing on a Tidal Estuary
    7. The Sting
    8. The Process of Creating an Almost-Perfect Food
    9. The Outyard
    10. God Save the Queen
    11. The Mighty Mite
    12. Show Me the Honey
    13. I’ve Looked at Bees from Both Sides Now
    14. Wasps, Mashed Potatoes, and an Etch a Sketch
    15. Sugar, Sugar
    16. Conventional Wisdom
    17. Swarming Bee Club
    18. Bee School
    19. Fly United
    20. Old Man Winter
    21. All My Bees Are Dead
    22. Splitsville
    23. _Photo Gallery_
    24. _Acknowledgments_
    25. _About the Author_
  
  **Landmarks**
  
    1. [Cover](../Text/cover.xhtml)
  
  **Foreword*