Buzz: The Nature & Necessity of Bees Book

by Thor Hanson

Award-winning author Thor Hanson, known for The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers, presents a natural and cultural history of bees in Buzz: The Nature & Necessity of Bees. Featured on PBS’s American Spring LIVE, this book explores the essential role of bees in sustaining life on Earth — from their ancient origins to their profound influence on ecosystems, agriculture, and human culture.

Beginning 125 million years ago with the first pollen-feeding wasps, Hanson traces the incredible evolution of bees and their deep connections to the plants, animals, and people that depend on them. Combining storytelling and science, Buzz reveals the importance of bees both to natural habitats and to human survival.

Key Features

• Author: Thor Hanson

• Featured On: PBS’s American Spring LIVE

• Publisher: Basic Books

• Topics Covered:

  • Evolution and history of bees

  • Honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutters, masons, and solitary species

  • The ecological and agricultural significance of pollination

  • Cultural and mythological connections to bees

  • The current threats facing global bee populations

• Style: A blend of natural history, environmental science, and narrative storytelling

• Format: Hardcover and paperback editions available

Detailed Description

In Buzz: The Nature & Necessity of Bees, Thor Hanson brings readers deep into the world of bees — the “buzzing wee beasties” that make the planet thrive. Through engaging research and vivid storytelling, Hanson explains how bees have shaped human history, inspired myths, and fueled biodiversity.

The book spans from the origins of bees in the age of dinosaurs to the present-day challenges of habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. It explores familiar species like honeybees and bumblebees, as well as lesser-known miners, leafcutters, and masons — all of which play vital roles in pollination.

Buzz celebrates bees’ indispensable role in producing much of the world’s food and maintaining the balance of natural ecosystems. This is both a scientific exploration and a call to awareness — a reminder of why protecting bees is essential for the health of the planet.

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