Dancing with Bees cover art

Dancing with Bees

A Journey Back to Nature

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Dancing with Bees

By: Brigit Strawbridge Howard
Narrated by: Brigit Strawbridge Howard
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About this listen

AudioFile Earphones Award Winner!

Shortlisted for the 2020 Wainwright Prize

The Sunday Times Best Nature Writing Books 2020

A naturalist’s passionate dive into the lives of bees (of all stripes) — and the natural world in her own backyard

Brigit Strawbridge Howard was shocked the day she realized she knew more about the French Revolution than she did about her native trees. And birds. And wildflowers. And bees. The thought stopped her — quite literally — in her tracks. But that day was also the start of a journey, one filled with silver birches and hairy-footed flower bees, skylarks, and rosebay willow herb, and the joy that comes with deepening one’s relationship with place.

Dancing with Bees is Strawbridge Howard’s charming and eloquent account of a return to noticing, to rediscovering a perspective on the world that had somehow been lost to her for decades and to reconnecting with the natural world. With special care and attention to the plight of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, and what we can do to help them, Strawbridge Howard shares fascinating details of the lives of flora and fauna that have filled her days with ever-increasing wonder and delight.

©2019 Brigit Strawbridge Howard (P)2019 Chelsea Green Publishing Agricultural & Food Sciences Animal Husbandry Animals Biological Sciences Biology Ecology Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Sustainable Agriculture Conservation Sustainability

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Critic reviews

"Listeners will quickly discern that this is a love story that begins with bees in the backyard and spreads to a wide array of native fauna and flora. One does not have to be a trained naturalist to appreciate the author's point about the critical need for preserving native species, especially pollinators, which are at the heart of our ecosystem. Her lyrical prose translates well to audio and comes across as more of a freestyle tone poem than a chronicle of her growing awareness of the natural world around her." (AudioFile)

"[A] fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of nature.... This satisfying memoir of a woman’s reawakening to the importance of nature in her life will appeal to fans of natural history memoirs, bees, the natural world, or ecology." (Library Journal)

"[An] engaging, richly descriptive tale of natural discovery." (Booklist, Starred Review)

All stars
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I have just finished listening to Brigit reading her own amazing book and will now go back to the beginning to listen again!
To listen as you discover and glory in the wildlife around you and in the places you visit is a balm to my soul.
I may have to purchase the physical book; is it illustrated I wonder?
Thank you for a beautiful book Brigit x

What a beautiful book!

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I really liked Brigit's book. it is not a technical book on bee ecology, rather the personal (re)discovery of nature, the seasons and so much more through bees and relatives, their looks and even attitudes. I share many of the author's frustrations when you see something new and interesting and want to identify it quickly, and then it's not so easy. But Brigit says it is sometimes ok just to enjoy it, put a bit of effort and find yourself getting better with time.
The fact that I listened to the audiobook made the story-telling even more personal, as you can hear her showing so much enthusiasm and wonder.

It got me hooked on bees!

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Will listen again and again as I'm sure I missed lots first time.
This is a book about bees. But so much more than just bees. It's about how we interact with and care for the world.
Brigit's actual voice and her authorial 'voice' are gentle, full of joy and wonder. It's a pleasure to listen, learn, smile, cry (a bit) and walk alongside her through the book

wonder, joy, bees!

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Such a relaxing and informative book to listen too. My favourite audible book.
I can certainly recommend Dancing with Bees.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book and I have learnt so much too.

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Well observed, written and narrated. Very informative. Brigit does a good job. But will it support a second hearing?

Well observed

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The author is wonderfully eloquent, and reads at such a wonderful pace, allowing the listener to take in what she is saying. Her enthusiasm is so infectious and I have loved every moment. I have felt like she was were with me, encouraging my already extensive interest in the natural world. I thank the author for this book, for her care of the natural world and for caring enough to not only write it down but record it for us too. I think everyone should listen to this book, so that their eyes will be opened to a wonderful world they may not yet be aquatinted with. I think I will listen regularly to this book as it’s already a favourite.

A wonderful insight to finding nature again

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Very insightful and full of interesting facts, it really made me think about how I veiw nature

Very interesting

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I have been totally captivated by this book from start to finish! I have had lots of long car journeys recently and listening to Brigit's wonderfully calming voice, describing in so much detail, her passion and enthusiasm for bees and the natural world, has had me enthralled. I have learnt so much about the wonderful world of bees from this book and I felt like Brigit was in the car with me. In fact, a couple of times, I almost turned to ask her a question!!
If you have a love and a passion for the natural world, and a thirst for learning as I do, then I thoroughly recommend the audio version of this book... it certainly made my long car journeys evaporate. WildlifeKate (www.wildlifekate.co.uk)

Thoroughly enjoyed!

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I learnt a lot from this book, even if I am already a country person and a beekeeper..
I went to school in Malvern, and live in West Dorset, so could relate even more closely to the narrative.
But I found the author's reading stilted, unspontaneous and somewhat monotonous.

A lot of very useful and interesting content

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Brigit, I do hope you get to see this review.

I was having a conversation with another colleague (at the bank) of whom we know as actors, writers, artist and other “celebs”
We got on the topic of writers and I mentioned I have book by Brigit called Dancing with bees. Sadly and shamefully I have not had the chance to ever read it but recently I have fallen in love with reading again as I have audible and can listen whilst houseworking, driving etc - unfortunately I don’t have the time to pick up a physical book and if I do I tend to fall asleep at the first few words.

I found your book on my shelf and took a photo of it to show my colleague, packed it in my bag to bring to work and although I very rarely see you these days I had it in mind to keep it at work that should you be passing by I’d ask you to sign it but when I had opened the cover I was so pleased to see that actually you had! And then, suddenly a thought came to mind that in my vague memory in one of your visits to the bank not long after your book was published you had said you were in the process or had recorded reading it… I dashed on here to see if by chance it was listed and to my absolutely joy it was.
I immediately downloaded it!!
Oh Brigit, what a wonderful wonderful book! I know I’ve only started it but there’s something about knowing you (albeit from a customer service aspect) and hearing you read out your book is truly delightful. I am looking forward to the next 10hrs…

Readers/listeners I promise you you will not be disappointed.

I still have 10hrs to go…..

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