New beekeepers usually ask the same thing: which two books should I read first? A flat list of “best beekeeping books” doesn’t answer that, so this guide is organized by reading stage. It starts with the book to read this winter, then the reference you’ll use all season, then books for your second year and beyond.
Every pick is a current US-focused edition or a classic that’s still worth reading, and we say which edition to buy. That matters because varroa mite advice has changed a lot in the last decade, and older editions are still widely sold.
All 13 books compared
| Detail | Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd Edition | The Beekeeper's Handbook, 5th Edition | Beekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition | The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition | First Lessons in Beekeeping | Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping, 3rd Edition | The Biology of the Honey Bee | Honeybee Democracy | The Lives of Bees | Natural Beekeeping, 2nd Edition | Top-Bar Beekeeping: Organic Practices for Honeybee Health | The Beekeeper's Bible | Bees: A Honeyed History |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Beginner | Beginner to intermediate | Beginner | Beginner | Beginner | Intermediate | Intermediate to advanced | All levels | Intermediate | Intermediate | Beginner to intermediate | All levels | Kids and families |
| Focus | How-to | Reference | How-to | How-to | How-to | Biology and management | Biology | Biology | Biology | Natural beekeeping | Top bar how-to | History, practice, and recipes | Bees and history |
| Hive type | Langstroth | Mostly Langstroth | Langstroth, with top bar coverage | Mostly Langstroth | Langstroth | Langstroth | Not hive-specific | Not hive-specific | Not hive-specific | Langstroth | Top bar | Various | Not hive-specific |
| Edition | 2nd edition (2018) | 5th edition (2021) | 5th edition (2020) | 5th edition (2024) | 2007 edition | 3rd edition (2022) | Paperback (1991) | 2010 (Princeton University Press) | 2019 (Princeton University Press) | 2nd edition (2013) | 2012 (Chelsea Green) | 2011 US edition | US edition (Abrams) |
Best beekeeping books for beginners
Start here. Pick one of the first four as your main beginner book, depending on your style, and read it cover to cover over the winter.
Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees (best first book)
Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd Edition
A compact, full-color guide to equipment, colony management, nutrition, pests, swarms, and the honey harvest. Readers often call it easy to read without overwhelming detail.
Key specifications
- Author
- Malcolm T. Sanford and Richard E. Bonney
- Edition
- 2nd edition (2018)
- Format
- Paperback, 224 pages
- Level
- Beginner
- Focus
- How-to
- Hive type
- Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- Short and readable, so a beginner can finish it before spring
- Second edition is redesigned with color photos and updated bee health content
- Lead author is a University of Florida professor emeritus of apiculture
Cons
- Less depth than a full reference such as The Beekeeper’s Handbook
- Mostly covers Langstroth hives
Storey’s Guide is the book we’d hand a beginner first. It covers the whole first season in about 220 pages, so you can finish it, and the second edition was redesigned in full color with updated bee health content. It’s sold through the University of Florida’s IFAS extension bookstore, and it’s the text for the University of Montana’s apprentice-level online beekeeping course.
The Beekeeper’s Handbook (best reference)
The Beekeeper's Handbook, 5th Edition
A long-running reference from Cornell University Press that lays out options for each beekeeping task, with step-by-step diagrams. The fifth edition adds newer research on bee health and expanded varroa coverage.
Key specifications
- Author
- Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile
- Edition
- 5th edition (2021)
- Format
- Paperback, 368 pages
- Level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Focus
- Reference
- Hive type
- Mostly Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- Lists the advantages and disadvantages of each approach rather than one method
- Updated varroa identification, treatment, and prevention content
- Appears on university beginner reading lists, including Rutgers
Cons
- Some readers find it dense as a first read and better as a desk reference
The Handbook is the book most beekeepers keep coming back to. Instead of one “right way,” it lays out options for each task, with diagrams and the tradeoffs of each. That’s why some readers find it dense as a first read and many treat it as their reference. The fifth edition (2021, Cornell University Press) is the one to buy: it adds newer bee health research and more on identifying and treating varroa mites. It’s on the Rutgers beginner reading list.
Beekeeping For Dummies (best friendly introduction)
Beekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition
A broad, plain-language introduction covering equipment, installing bees, inspections, honey, and bee health. The fifth edition adds nutrition and natural remedy content and a section for top bar hive keepers.
Key specifications
- Author
- Howland Blackiston
- Edition
- 5th edition (2020)
- Format
- Paperback, 496 pages
- Level
- Beginner
- Focus
- How-to
- Hive type
- Langstroth, with top bar coverage
- Context
- US
Pros
- Very approachable for complete beginners
- Covers both Langstroth and top bar hives
- Listed as a popular beginner book by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab
Cons
- Long for a first book
- Product and supplier mentions date quickly
Don’t let the series name put you off. Blackiston’s book is one of the most approachable introductions, and the University of Minnesota Bee Lab lists it among popular beginner books. It’s long, at nearly 500 pages, but it’s easy to dip into. The fifth edition (2020) includes a section on top bar hives, so it works if you haven’t settled on a hive type yet.
The Backyard Beekeeper (best for backyard and urban hives)
The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition
A photo-rich guide to keeping bees in a yard or garden, written by the longtime editor of Bee Culture magazine. The 2024 edition updates varroa treatments, American foulbrood antibiotic rules, and winter insulation.
Key specifications
- Author
- Kim Flottum
- Edition
- 5th edition (2024)
- Format
- Paperback, 256 pages
- Level
- Beginner
- Focus
- How-to
- Hive type
- Mostly Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- The newest edition of any beginner book on this list
- Written for small yards, neighbors, and urban settings
- Larger text and a redesigned layout in the 5th edition
Cons
- Less technical detail than a full reference
- Make sure you get the 5th edition, not an older one
Kim Flottum edited Bee Culture magazine for 30 years, and this book is written for people keeping a few hives at home: small yards, neighbors, and gardens. The fifth edition (2024) is the newest beginner book on this list. It updates mite treatments and the antibiotic rules for American foulbrood, and covers insulating hives for winter. Older editions are still sold, so check for “5th edition.”
First Lessons in Beekeeping (best short primer)
First Lessons in Beekeeping
A concise introduction by a University of Georgia entomologist, published by Dadant. It appears on reading lists from both the University of Minnesota Bee Lab and Rutgers.
Key specifications
- Author
- Keith S. Delaplane
- Edition
- 2007 edition
- Format
- Paperback
- Level
- Beginner
- Focus
- How-to
- Hive type
- Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- Short, clear, and science-based
- Widely recommended by extension programs
Cons
- Published in 2007, so its varroa treatment advice is older than in newer books
Keith Delaplane is a University of Georgia entomologist, and this short book appears on both the Minnesota and Rutgers reading lists. It’s a quick, science-based overview. Its 2007 publication date means the mite treatment details are dated, so pair it with a current book or extension guide.
Best books for your second season
Once you’ve kept bees for a year, you’ll want to understand why things happen, not just what to do.
Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping (best textbook)
Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping, 3rd Edition
A college-level apiculture textbook covering bee biology and colony management in depth, used in introductory university beekeeping courses. The 2022 third edition adds new chapters and full-color graphics.
Key specifications
- Author
- Dewey M. Caron with Lawrence John Connor
- Edition
- 3rd edition (2022)
- Format
- Hardcover, about 480 pages
- Level
- Intermediate
- Focus
- Biology and management
- Hive type
- Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- Thorough, well-illustrated, and current
- Bridges biology and practical management
Cons
- Large, heavy, and more expensive than a beginner guide
- More than most first-year beekeepers need
This is a college apiculture textbook, used in introductory university beekeeping courses, and it shows: it’s thorough, well illustrated, and large. The 2022 third edition, with Lawrence John Connor, adds new chapters and full-color graphics. It’s more than a first-year beekeeper needs, but it’s the natural next step when you want depth.
Best books on honey bee biology
These books won’t tell you when to add a super. They explain how a colony thinks and works, which makes your management decisions better.
The Biology of the Honey Bee
The Biology of the Honey Bee
A Harvard University Press classic on honey bee anatomy, development, communication, and colony life. It is about understanding bees, not a how-to manual.
Key specifications
- Author
- Mark L. Winston
- Edition
- Paperback (1991)
- Format
- Paperback
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Focus
- Biology
- Hive type
- Not hive-specific
- Context
- General
Pros
- Still a standard reference on colony biology
- Explains the why behind management practices
Cons
- Decades old, so it predates current varroa and virus research
- No practical management advice
Mark Winston’s book is a long-standing reference on anatomy, development, communication, and colony life. It’s decades old, so it predates current research on varroa and viruses. Read it for the fundamentals of colony biology, not for treatment advice.
Honeybee Democracy
Honeybee Democracy
Cornell biologist Thomas Seeley explains how a swarm chooses its new home, drawing on decades of field experiments. A readable science book, and a natural fit for anyone curious about swarm season.
Key specifications
- Author
- Thomas D. Seeley
- Edition
- 2010 (Princeton University Press)
- Format
- Hardcover, 280 pages
- Level
- All levels
- Focus
- Biology
- Hive type
- Not hive-specific
- Context
- General
Pros
- Engaging narrative science writing
- Deepens your understanding of swarming
Cons
- Not a beekeeping manual
Thomas Seeley’s account of how a swarm chooses its new home is popular science at its best: field experiments explained in plain language. It’s a good read before your first swarm season, when understanding swarming pays off.
The Lives of Bees
The Lives of Bees
Seeley describes how wild honey bee colonies live and survive, and what that suggests for beekeeping that works with the bees’ natural biology.
Key specifications
- Author
- Thomas D. Seeley
- Edition
- 2019 (Princeton University Press)
- Format
- Hardcover, 376 pages
- Level
- Intermediate
- Focus
- Biology
- Hive type
- Not hive-specific
- Context
- General
Pros
- Recent research from a leading bee scientist
- Thought-provoking for management choices
Cons
- Not a step-by-step guide
- Some ideas are hard to apply in a small backyard
Seeley’s later book describes how honey bees live in the wild and what that suggests for beekeeping that works with the bees’ natural biology. It’s thought-provoking, though not all of it is practical in a small backyard.
Best books on natural and top bar beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping, 2nd Edition
A guide to organic approaches to colony health, including mite management without synthetic chemicals. The revised second edition was published by Chelsea Green.
Key specifications
- Author
- Ross Conrad
- Edition
- 2nd edition (2013)
- Format
- Paperback, 304 pages
- Level
- Intermediate
- Focus
- Natural beekeeping
- Hive type
- Langstroth
- Context
- US
Pros
- Detailed on organic management methods
- Written by a Vermont beekeeper for US conditions
Cons
- Best read after a general beginner book
- Published in 2013, so check newer varroa guidance
If you want to minimize synthetic chemicals, Ross Conrad’s book is the standard US guide to organic approaches. Read a general beginner book first, and compare its mite advice with current extension guidance, such as the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s varroa guide, since the second edition dates from 2013.
Top-Bar Beekeeping
Top-Bar Beekeeping: Organic Practices for Honeybee Health
A practical guide to managing horizontal top bar hives, from building and siting the hive to inspections and harvest. Most beginner books focus on Langstroth hives, so this fills a real gap.
Key specifications
- Author
- Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
- Edition
- 2012 (Chelsea Green)
- Format
- Paperback, 192 pages
- Level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Focus
- Top bar how-to
- Hive type
- Top bar
- Context
- US
Pros
- One of the few dedicated top bar hive guides
- Short and practical
Cons
- Not useful if you keep Langstroth hives
- Make sure you buy the book, not the companion DVD
Most beginner books assume a Langstroth hive. If you’ve chosen a top bar hive, this is one of the few dedicated guides. Our guide to top bar hives covers the basics before you read it. Chelsea Green also sells a companion DVD with a similar title, so make sure you’re buying the book.
Best beekeeping books as gifts
The Beekeeper’s Bible
The Beekeeper's Bible
A large, illustrated hardcover that mixes beekeeping history, bee biology, practical beekeeping, and honey and beeswax recipes. It is valued more as a gift and coffee-table book than as a first manual.
Key specifications
- Author
- Richard Jones and Sharon Sweeney-Lynch
- Edition
- 2011 US edition
- Format
- Hardcover, 416 pages
- Level
- All levels
- Focus
- History, practice, and recipes
- Hive type
- Various
- Context
- UK-origin, US edition
Pros
- Beautifully illustrated
- Includes recipes and crafts for honey and beeswax
Cons
- UK origin, so some practical details don’t match US seasons and equipment
- Not a substitute for a current US manual
A large, illustrated hardcover that mixes history, biology, beekeeping, and honey and beeswax recipes. It makes a lovely gift, but it originated in the UK, so some practical details don’t match US seasons and equipment. Treat it as a coffee-table book, not a first manual.
Bees: A Honeyed History (for kids and families)
Bees: A Honeyed History
An oversized illustrated book about bees and their history with people, published in the US by Abrams. In the UK it is published as The Book of Bees.
Key specifications
- Author
- Piotr Socha (illustrations) and Wojciech Grajkowski (text)
- Edition
- US edition (Abrams)
- Format
- Hardcover, oversized
- Level
- Kids and families
- Focus
- Bees and history
- Hive type
- Not hive-specific
- Context
- General
Pros
- Large, striking illustrations
- The UK edition won the Society of Authors’ 2017 Educational Writers’ Award
Cons
- Not a beekeeping how-to
- Its large size can be awkward to shelve
An oversized, beautifully illustrated book about bees and their long history with people. In the UK it’s published as The Book of Bees, and that edition won the Society of Authors’ 2017 Educational Writers’ Award. For more ideas, see our beekeeper gift ideas.
How we chose
How to choose a beekeeping book
Match the level to your stage. In year zero or one, you need a how-to book. Biology books and textbooks are more useful once you’ve seen a colony through a season.
Check the publication date. Varroa mites and treatment options have changed a lot since the early 2000s. Buy the newest edition and treat mite advice in older books with caution.
Check whether it’s US or UK. UK books use different hive types (such as the National hive), seasons, and treatment rules. Many are excellent, but a US beginner should start with a US book.
Match the hive type. Most books assume Langstroth hives. If you keep top bar or Warré hives, choose a book written for them.
Books vs classes vs YouTube. Books give structure and depth, classes give hands-on practice and local contacts, and videos show techniques like lighting a smoker. Most beginners do best with one good book plus a local or online beekeeping class.
Which beekeeping book should I read first?
Read one beginner book cover to cover over the winter: Storey’s Guide if you want short and clear, Beekeeping For Dummies if you like a friendly step-by-step style, or The Backyard Beekeeper if you’re keeping bees in a small yard. Then buy The Beekeeper’s Handbook as your reference. Our first-year beekeeping plan shows where reading fits in your first-year timeline, and our guide to overwintering hives covers the season when most beginners do their reading. When you’re ready to shop for gear, start with the starter gear list.
Common questions
Is Beekeeping For Dummies good?
Yes, for beginners who like a friendly, step-by-step style. The University of Minnesota Bee Lab lists it among popular beginner books. It’s long, so if you want something you can finish quickly, start with Storey’s Guide instead.
Which beekeeping book should I read first?
One general beginner book, such as Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, read cover to cover before your bees arrive. Then add The Beekeeper’s Handbook as a reference for the season.
Are UK beekeeping books useful in the US?
For biology and general principles, yes. For practical management, start with a US book, because UK books assume different hive types, seasons, and treatment regulations.
What is the 7/10 rule in beekeeping?
Add the next box when the bees have drawn comb on about 7 of the 10 frames in their current box (6 of 8 in eight-frame equipment). Most beginner books cover it in their chapters on hive expansion.
Sources and further reading
- Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education, Bee-ginner’s Beekeeping recommended reading
- University of Minnesota Bee Lab, Reading
- UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore, Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees
- Cornell University Press, The Beekeeper’s Handbook (5th edition)
- Wiley, Beekeeping For Dummies, 5th Edition
- Hachette Book Group, Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd Edition
- Chelsea Green Publishing, Top-Bar Beekeeping
- Chelsea Green Publishing, Natural Beekeeping
- Penn State Extension, Beekeeping Basics