Beautiful cover, interesting book. Interesting in that I am sympathetic too and concerned about the plight of the honey bee. Interesting in the comparisons the authors draw between bees and human species. The comparison of winter being a time of decreased activity for bees, being a critical time for them. A time of slowing down and their interconnectedness and the community resilience that helps them survive. Is this the bees form of "wintering"? Some of the comparisons they draw are a little beyond me, many are interesting. I enjoyed reading the meditative prompts at the end of many of the chapters. Not quite as engaging as I anticipated but still an interesting read.

Thank you, Sounds True Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own:
The Wisdom of the Hive is a gentle yet powerful invitation to reflect on how we live, connect, and care—for ourselves, for others, and for the planet. Through the lens of honeybees, Michelle and Amy offer a beautiful exploration of collective wellbeing, community, and deep interconnection.

As someone who practices green witchery and holds a deep reverence for bees, I was naturally drawn to this book. What I found within its pages was more than I expected—stories, meditations, and soulful insights that opened my eyes to the wisdom of the hive and how its teachings mirror what our human world so desperately needs.

Each chapter brings meaningful lessons on collective care, emotional resilience, and our role in an interconnected web of life. The Wisdom of the Hive is more than a book—it's a gentle revolution in how we live, love, and belong. A must-read for anyone seeking sweetness, healing, connection, and a deeper understanding of their place in the web of life. The bees are calling—and their message is one of hope, unity, and sacred purpose.

Lovely book for a novice beekeeper, a gardener, or someone who loves honey. The author shares her experience with beekeeping and the wisdom she gained from tending her hive, Sting.

Even though I am not a beekeeper, I appreciated her insights. Her point of view may still be a bit anthropomorphic and romantic for some, but for those looking to understand a very different type of intelligence than our own, Johnson's mediations and insights provide a way to understand and appreciate these fascinating creatures.

Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Amy Burtaine, and Sounds True for this ARC!
On a whim, I decided to take a break from reading fiction. I had began to think I hated reading, because I wasn't finding joy or fulfillment anymore, so I decided to possibly switch it up and read a nonfiction book (something rare to me). While deciding a book, I reached down and felt my bee necklace that I wear on a daily basis and remembered that I was granted access to this ARC. I think the bees were calling to me to read this (they ARE psychopomps, like you say!). This book made me 1. rediscover my love of reading and the fulfillment I always used to get from it and 2. fall in love with the complexities AND the simplicities of one of our most important insects. I've never been one to be frightened of bees, in fact, I've loved them since I was little (hence my necklace), but if I were to have apiphobia, this book would've helped me if not healed me from that. The way Cassandra and Amy write this piece and share their experiences and knowledge is such a breath of fresh air. There is no superiority. There is no overuse of complicated, scientific terms in the attempt to appear intelligent. These women talk to you like they're talking to a new friend who asked what got them into their love of bees. This book is written in a way that you not only feel their incredible knowledge on the subjects they've dedicated their time to but also all the passion they have for these sweet living things. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for writing this beautiful piece of art and emotion. This will be a staple of my hand-selling for the rest of my time as a bookseller. The honeybees are here to save us, and we are the students of the honeybee hive. <3

I'm into honeybees. That makes this title especially grabbing to me. Very few authors can use a metaphor these. authors do and have such a great effect.

Well done.