Bees are my thing. Or they are becoming my thing. A few years ago I was introduced to bees as spiritual guides & teachers. The concept fascinated me and I’ve been collecting bee related physical objects and esoterica ever since. Of course I was excited to read The Wisdom of the Hive, a collection of essays and personal reflections sprinkled with poetry and meditations. Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine share their own stories and offer practices to the community with compassion and vulnerability. It is a wonderful endeavor and yet it didn’t quite scratch the itch, if you know what I mean. I’m glad I read it. And I look forward to future books on the subject from the same authors. This was a solid line drive down the third base line while I was hoping for a home run. If you are on this bee journey with me, you’ll probably read this, there simply isn’t that much published on the subject. If you are curious about what the bees can teach us, this is a gentle introduction. Thank you to the authors - who also narrate the audio version, Sounds True - if they publish it, I’ll read/listen to it, and NetGalley for the audioARC.

When I first came across this book, I was intrigued by its premise: using bees as a lens for exploring connection, healing, and community. It seemed like a fresh and thoughtful approach to thinking about how we relate to one another and the natural world. In hindsight, I probably should have looked more closely at the book’s spiritual framework before jumping in, as it ended up being quite different from what I typically read.

I genuinely appreciated the book’s emphasis on interconnectedness and the importance of being grounded in nature. However, its strong focus on spiritual and mystical traditions fell a bit outside my usual reading comfort zone. I did my best to approach the reflection prompts and mindfulness exercises woven throughout the text with openness, and I can see how they might resonate deeply with some readers. For me, however, this framing, especially in the sections that leaned most heavily into these themes, created a bit of distance. There were moments where the tone of the book bordered on overly self-assured or even self-righteous, particularly when asserting broad spiritual or ecological claims without sufficient grounding. This made it difficult for me to stay engaged, as I often felt like I was being guided toward a very specific worldview rather than invited into a reflective conversation.

I also found myself reflecting on how these traditions were being presented. At times, I felt unsettled by how the book incorporated various spiritual and cultural traditions without clearly naming or crediting their origins. This left me wondering whether the authors were fully acknowledging the depth, complexity, or histories behind the practices they were drawing from. Without that accountability, the book’s calls for healing and justice felt somewhat hollow, especially given its critiques of colonialism and extraction.

That said, I did enjoy the sections of this book that focused on the bees themselves. I learned more about their behaviors, relationships, and role within ecosystems. However, I often found myself feeling as though the broader framing of the book was somewhat disjointed. While I agree with many of the foundational premises: the need for collective care, dismantling of systems of oppression, and the importance of rethinking how we live in community with one another, and can see how the authors are using bees as an entry point into these conversations, the more nuanced examples and arguments presented, and in particular how they relate to bees, often felt underdeveloped or at least underexplained. Some of the claims felt quite outrageous, while a few crossed a line for me and felt damaging.

Stylistically, the writing was repetitive at times and frequently interrupted by “priming” statements like “we’ll return to this later” or “this will be explored more in chapter X.” Later on, this became “as mentioned in chapter X,” which disrupted the narrative flow. Additionally, the consistent overuse of buzzwords/phrases without clear definitions or follow-through sometimes left the text feeling more performative than substantive.

One contradiction that stood out to me was the framing early in the book (and repeated at the end) that perhaps “the bees are here to save us,” rather than us saving them. This is later extended to coral reefs, the sun, and the moon being here to save us, all while the authors critique how humans center themselves in Earth’s systems. That framing felt a bit circular or self-defeating, as it seemed to re-center the human experience, which is at odds with the book’s own critique of human-centered thinking. I was also struck by the repeated references to retreats and workshops, including some held in places like Hawai‘i, without any acknowledgment of the privilege, settler colonialism, or extractive practices often underlying such wellness retreats. This omission felt especially jarring given the book’s occasional anti-capitalist messages.

What I struggled with most, I think, was a lingering sense that the book wanted to be transformative, but didn’t always do the work to earn the reader’s trust. It sometimes felt like I was being asked to suspend critical thinking in favor of belief, and that made it hard for me to feel truly connected to the text, even when I appreciated its intentions.

Overall, I think this book may be a meaningful and affirming read for those who are drawn to spiritually centered work that blends nature, mindfulness, community, and social justice. I appreciated several of the reflection questions offered throughout, which could be useful prompts for deeper engagement, and enjoyed some sections (the one on ‘sweetness’ comes to mind). Ultimately, though, it wasn’t quite the right fit for my reading style.

1.75 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True Audiobooks for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What a powerful reminder that we heal together. This book is so relevant for the times that we are currently living in. When I first saw this book, I didn't think I would gain much from it. I thought to myself, "A book about bees? Why not?" I thought that at the most I would learn more about bees and how they live. Boy was I wrong! All throughout this beautiful story, the beehive was used as a metaphor.

The Wisdom of the Hive is one of those rare books that meets you exactly where you are, then gently pushes you to grow. The authors write with such honesty, warmth, and clarity that it feels like you’re sitting down with a wise and trusted friend. They talk about big, important things—like collective healing, social justice, and how we relate to one another—but in a way that’s deeply human and easy to connect with.

Using the hive as a metaphor, Johnson and Burtaine remind us that we are all connected and that none of us can heal or create change alone. This idea is powerful, especially in a world that often tells us to go it alone or "fix ourselves" in isolation. In a current world that is extremely divided, the authors show us what could be if we worked together as one unit. They make it clear that healing is something we do together, in relationship—with our communities, with nature, and with ourselves.

What I loved most is how practical the book feels. It’s not just theory or abstract ideas; it’s full of reflections, practices, and real-life wisdom that you can actually apply. Whether you’re a community leader, educator, activist, or just someone trying to live with more awareness and compassion, this book offers something meaningful. This was such a beautiful book that I highly recommend! Such a pleasant surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

As a beekeeper, I was excited to receive a review copy of the audiobook The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing by Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine. There were a few interesting facts about the interconnectedness of bees within their colonies and their vital impact on our communities, but overall, this book was waaaay too out there for me. I feel like that's saying a lot for me! For example, the authors talked about bees purposefully stinging people on certain parts of their bodies as a wake-up call to change particular behaviors. If you gossip or say mean things, a sting to the lips may be just what you need. I strongly disagree that a bee would give its life to teach one human a lesson. That's just one example of the wishy-washy nonsense that overflows from this book. I love bees, and I love nature, but I also love science and logical thinking. This one was not a hit for me.

Thanks to Sounds True Audiobooks and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

Thank you Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Amy Burtaine, Sounds True Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mindfulness and meditation exercises in the audiobook were wonderful and exactly what I needed. I learned so much about bees. I'm a therapist and my practice is centered around bees. This book gave me so many metaphors for clients and exercises. I will definitely recommend to them as well.

You should definitely listen to this on audiobook to be submerged into a meditative state between the exercises and the authors voices. You can feel the love in this book between the two friends, the bees, and the collective. The book will have you buzzing with a sense of calm. It was an honor to listen to these authors and to see their passion for bees.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced audio copy of The Wisdom of the Hive!

As a beekeeper, I was thrilled to be approved for this one—and Michelle and Amy did not disappoint.

The book opens with the thought-provoking question: “What if the bees are here to save us?”—a powerful invitation that sets the tone for the rest of the journey. I was captivated by the blend of information, personal stories, and spiritual insight. The authors offer a beautiful shift in perspective, inviting us to see bees not just as insects, but as mystical beings that move between worlds.

I enjoyed the audiobook so much that I’ll be picking up a hard copy to sit more intentionally with the practices and reflections. Thank you, Michelle and Amy, for sharing your wisdom and reverence for these extraordinary creatures!

Part memoir, part education, part meditation practice.
This book is full of hope but also care, toward bees and nature but also towards humanity.
It helps us connect with the living and refocus on what really matters.
It's a real tribute to biodiversity !