To Bee or Not to Bee: A Book for Beeings Who Feel There's More to Life Than Just Making Honey

easy reading, inspiring, rich and touching tale! a perfect gift for anyone seeking for inspiration and grow in their spirituality

This is a cute book...more for children...

A friend got me this book because I love honey bees. It was cute, but bothered me because of all the factual errors about honey bees. It had a nice message but I feel like it would have been more effective if the metaphor wasn't forced into the message sized box they wanted it to be, and instead tweaked the details of the story to be more in line with the facts.(Bee smart and bee honest.)

Great book on identity!

Buzz Bee is having a great day! That is, he's having a great day until he starts thinking! Why do we have to do the same old work the same old way? Is there a better way? Why do we all have to be the same? Are we really better than those small ants and how do you know they're not as good as we are? Why does anyone have to be "better?" On and on, Buzz's questions go and others are beginning to see him as not only different but just plain weird?What is Buzz to do or not do? Just as he seems at the very lowest point of despair, he meets an older bee, Bert. Their conversations and ruminations about love, work, death, God, religion, sameness, difference and just "being" pepper these 140 pages with a fascinating dialogue that's bound to touch every reader's mind, heart and spirit!For Buzz is about to really enter a spiritual journey that he could never have imagined before meeting Bert. Attracted to and repelled by what he hears, he can neither conform to or ignore what he hears from this older bee who is his greatest friend.He must go on his own journey to find out the truth or whatever else just "is!"Sound familiar? This is a simple yet profound story effectively told and accompanied by lovely drawings that parallel the story to deeply affect the reader. To Bee or Not to Bee is a quick, lovely, powerful and unforgettable read!Highly recommended for readers of all ages!Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 5, 2008

If we learn best by stories, this book "Too Bee or Not to Bee, is filled with great reminders and many learnings. As I struggle with the difficult and fragile place of our planet, I am grateful for the comfort of this book. This book reminds me that life is complex and horrible and wonderful and terrible.At the most basic level this is the story of Buzz, a worker bee who does what bees do, he does his part to collect honey for his hive. Along the way he looks for pollen and God. Many of his emotions are evoked. He feels anger, he witnesses the dying of many of his fellow bees and he finds contentment. And, that is the power of this book. Buzz's life is ours. So, how do we find contentment? We realize that we can choose to see the beauty in the daily acts of living. We realize that we are a part of a complex and interdependent hive.Share this book with a teenager who is just coming to grips with the big issues of life, someone whose life is in struggle or as I will do, with members of my book club. Savor this book with an appreciative heart and a warm cup of tea.This book is well written and the illustrations make the lessons of the book come alive.

Blah

This book is a very clever commentary that works on many conceptional levels. At the most basic level, it is an inspirational book for kids +/-9-10 years old. These kids will realize that one can follow ones own path, and that hard work provides its own return. For teenagers, the book is inspirational during those confused times when one is not sure about social acceptance. For adults, the book points to rewards of stepping out of mainstream material paths, etc. The book reminds me a bit like Jonathan Livinston Seagull, a little bit like Candide, a bit like Frost's The Road Not Taken, and a little bit like the Acuna Mitata theme from Lion King. Things seem to work out if you do what is in your heart. All in all, I highly recommend this book. It is a good read, and it's very good to stimulate family discussions.