Mortimer invites readers on an eye-opening journey into the secret world of bees-- and the singular world of his fellow bee-keepers. In connecting with a club of disparate but kindred spirits, he discovers the centuries-old history of the trade; the practicality of maintaining it; what bees see, think, and feel; how they talk to each other and socialize; and what can be done to combat their biggest threats, both human and mite. Mortimer delivers an informative, funny, and galvanizing book about the symbiotic relationship between flower and bee, and bee and the beekeepers who are determined to protect the existence of one of the most beguiling and invaluable creatures on earth. -- adapted from jacket