Best Beekeeping Books for Experienced Beekeepers
It can be easy to find beekeeping books for beginners; however, sometimes it can be difficult to find books for those who are more experienced in beekeeping. This list highlights ten books for advanced beekeepers, in no particular order.
- The Buzz about Bees: Biology of a Superorganism (2008) Jürgen Tautz
This educational book is great for beekeepers who want to learn about bees and modern biology on a deeper level. It discusses things like the complexity of colonies including group intelligence and the integrated system and feedback between individual bees
2. Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee A Bee Keeper’s Manual (1853) Rev. L. L. Langstroth
L. L. Langstroth, the inventor of Langstroth hives, wrote this book in order to share his knowledge of modern bee management. Even though there have been many changes and technological advancements since his time, this book is a must-read for beekeepers.
3. The Practical Beekeeper Volume III Advanced Beekeeping Naturally (2011) Michael Bush
This book is about practical beekeeping that needs minimal intervention and does not require treatment for pests and diseases. It is about an unconventional style of beekeeping, and there are three different volumes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
4. Bees Make the Best Pets: All the Buzz about Being Resilient, Collaborative, Industrious, Generous, and Sweet-Straight from the Hive (2013) Jack Mingo
This is not just another book with interesting facts about bees, instead it has information that not many people have heard before. For example, it talks about the role of bees in the civil war, the legend of caroling bees on Christmas Eve, and the color and quality of local honey.
5. Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive (2015) Petra Ahnert
If you are a beekeeper looking for DIY projects using things from your hive, then this is the book for you. This book is the perfect recipe craft book that talks through the history of beeswax and how you can mold it into beautiful creations.
6. Advanced Beekeeping: A Deeper Look into Natural Beekeeping, Apitherapy and Beekeeping Business (2019) Randy Stevens
The book goes in-depth about raising bees, bee products, housing bees, how to keep bees healthy and safe, and business tips for the bee industry.
7. Advanced Top Bar Beekeeping: Next Steps for the Thinking Beekeeper (2016) Christy Hemenway
This guide is great for backyard beekeepers that are ready to take the next step using an economical, friendly approach.
8. Form and Function in the Honey Bee (2003) Lesley Goodman
Form and Function has over 300 excellent quality photographs and diagrams depicting honey bee biology. It is great for experienced beekeepers and entomology students.
9. The Wisdom of the Hive: The Social Psychology of Honey Bee Colonies (1995) Thomas Seeley
This book goes into detail about the inner workings of one of nature’s most complex animal societies: the honey bee colony. The author describes fifteen years of research he has conducted on topics such as how the hive is organized and comparing the honey bee colony to other functionally organized groups.
10. The ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture: An Encyclopedia Pertaining to the Scientific and Practical Culture of Honey Bees (2007) Amos Ives Root, Ann Harman, et al
This book functions as an encyclopedia of honey bees, beekeeping practices and equipment, and alphabetical listings of everything imaginable in the beekeeping world. The 41st edition of this book has over 900 pages and more than 1,000 photographs.
These are affiliate links, which means LeaseHoney receives a small amount (at no cost to you) if you purchase a book through our links. This helps keep the LeaseHoney site up and running. Feel free to google the titles and buy them separately if you prefer!