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A Sting in the Tale

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A Sting in the Tale

By: Dave Goulson
Narrated by: Dave Goulson
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of A Sting in the Tale, written and read by Dave Goulson.

A Sunday Times bestseller

Shortlisted for the 2013 Samuel Johnson Prize

Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.

Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee is now extinct in the UK, but still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, descended from a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century. A Sting in the Tale tells the story of Goulson’s passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land and contains groundbreaking research into these curious creatures, history’s relationship with the bumblebee, the disastrous effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.

©2013 Dave Goulson (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks Animals Biological Sciences Outdoors & Nature Science Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. (Michael McCarthy)
Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. (Hannah Rosefield)
A worthy book of the year. (Mary Beard)
Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. (Patrick Barkham)
This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. (Mark Mason)
All stars
Most relevant  
Dave Goulson tells the story of his life and his relationship with bees, which is pretty much the same thing. I learned a great deal about these wonderful creatures without once feeling overwhelmed by facts or bored by too much information. Credit is given to research associates who appear as interesting personalities - as do the bees. Some of the incidents described are laugh out loud funny. I am very pleased to have discovered Professor Goulson.

Enlightening, entertaining and enjoyable

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Fascinating insight into many species of bumblebees and how simple it is for gardeners large and small to help them.

Bumblebee education

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Well read with great stories an humour given the content is very important now and in the future. interesting, informative, funny and serious. I cant wait for the next book to be on audible.

People with toe fetishes my find this book squemish.

Very Interesting

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Really lovely book with so much information packed in. Helped me to understand the vital importance of the bumblebee. A must read especially for gardeners and nature lovers but for anyone really.

Fascinating and insightful

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Fascinating and informative while being easily accessible to a non scientific person like me. Recommended.

Easily accessible

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I enjoyed the book though I had to slow down the narration to x0.9 as the normal speed was just too fast.

Possibly better as a book than an audiobook as I’m sure the book must have plenty of photos and illustrations.

Nevertheless I very much enjoyed listening to the variety of facts and autobiography.

Good mix of science and autobiography

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I loved this book.
As a gardener I've always been interested in wildlife and have wanted to encourage wildlife into the garden.
This book is fascinating and I will listen again.
The narration was too fast for and so. I slowed it down to make it more relaxing.

Brilliant and fascinating

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The great British bee - history, science and what we can do to help - a really interesting, thoughtful and passionate book.

Beautifully and passionately read

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I got this Audible title as soon as it appeared and enjoyed it immensely. The paper book is great, but having the author read it to you is so much better. Dave Goulson tells a lively, amusing and insightful story of a research ecologist, from childhood fascination with nature to professor of biology and his own research group. He weaves his story around research on bumble bees, with some amazing snippets about their behaviour and ecology. He tells of the people he has met, students he has supervised and the ups and downs, twists and turns of scientific research. The language is very accessible, and its a story, not a text book, so don't be put off if you're not a scientist. You will have a good laugh and learn some amazing stuff about bees! However, if you are interested in science, especially considering a scientific career, you really should let Dave Goulson read his book to you and be inspired by bees.

Delightful insight into science & social insects.

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A beautifully idiosyncratic book with a great mix of amusing anecdotes and biological descriptions. Dave has the capacity to inspire

amazing

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