Short Synopsis
In luminous, razor-sharp prose, Hannah Nordhaus explores the vital role that honey bees play in American agribusiness, the maintenance of our food chain, and the very future of the planet.

Full Synopsis
Award-winning journalist Hannah Nordhaus tells the remarkable story of John Miller, one of America's foremost migratory beekeepers, and the myriad and mysterious epidemics threatening American honey bee populations. In luminous, razor-sharp prose, Nordhaus explores the vital role that honey bees play in American agribusiness, the maintenance of our food chain, and the very future of the planet. With an intimate focus and incisive reporting, in a book perfect for fans of Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire, and John McPhee's Oranges, Nordhaus's stunning exposé illuminates one of the most critical issues facing the world today, offering insight, information, and, ultimately, hope.

"The story is elegant and informative . . . Xe Sands narrates ably. . . . Highly recommended." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"A fascinating read from cover to cover." ---Associated Press

"[T]he author settles for nothing less than literature." ---Boston Globe

"A fascinating peek into the precarious business of keeping the nation's crops pollinated." ---Smithsonian

"[A] revelatory, bittersweet investigation…" ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Author's and narrator's combined efforts make beekeeping a fascinating topic . . . Listeners interested in the environment or the state of agriculture and food production will find much to enjoy in this insightful audiobook." ---AudioFile

Publishers Weekly Review