i liked learning about the development of scientific and philosophical research of bees and other insects (from ancient to modern hypotheses)
ants have different smells depending on their colony! however, i didnt like the audiobook narrator. that said, this book peaked my interest in science through pop culture. for example, australian wasps being named after ridley scotts aliens and doctor whos zygons.

What a delightful book! Lihoreau segments this book into easy-to-understand, logical sections and keeps the readers abreast of neccesary terms as the text goes on. I love the book's focus on de0mystifying our little pollinator friends. Within the first hour I was disabused of several incorrect notions about bees and given new questions to think about, such as why bees are so feared despite there being literally hundreds of stingless varieties. The language was precise, but simple enough that I recommended it to several science-minded teenagers who are huge pollinator enthusiasts. I think I will likely be re-visiting this book because of how much I enjoyed it, which is rare for nonfiction titles! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exhange for my honest review!

I love nature, plants, and this book's cover, so I thought I would love the book, too! I wanted more pop-sci and less sci, though I appreciated the author's attention to citing research.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! My family keeps bees. Really my husband does, but we’re all involved at different times, so I knew this book would be fascinating for me. It was more academic than I expected, but found much of the information to be interesting. Would a “regular” person find it fascinating? I don’t know, but someone who is studying bees or insects of any kind definitely will enjoy this book.

What Do Bees Think About? by Mathieu Lihoreau is a popular science book on bee cognition. I listened to the audiobook. It goes through some of the author's own findings and that of his colleagues on how bees and other insects (cockroaches, wasps) navigate space, socially organize, recognize members of their groups and more. The author stays at a general audience level of discussing issues in the field and relates bee cognition to human problems such as political structures. It has a memoir element to it as the author relates stories from his career and the implications he hopes people will take from his work. He does not go into cognitive philosophy debates simply claiming bees have mental representations for things like their body size rather than more simplistic perceptual cues. Yet the claim with group level behavior is bees are acting on simple individual actions that group behavior emerges from. I would have liked more discussion of how he reconciles needing a mental representation at one level and not needing it at another.  But that is a more niche topic that is understandable to leave out of a popular science book.

I became a beekeeper because I am in awe of these incredible creatures. When I had a chance to review the audiobook version of What Do Bees Think About? I jumped at it. I enjoyed hearing the science behind how bees are able to locate food and find their way back to their hive. It was interesting to hear how some of what bees do is similar to that of other insects, animals, and even us humans. I was also happy that the author included information on pesticides' detrimental effects on bees.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

What Do Bees Think About? by Mathieu Lihoreau, audiobook version narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick, is currently scheduled for release on May 14 2024.

Have you ever observed a bee up close and wondered what was going on inside its head? Like ours, insects' brains take up most of the space in their heads, but their brains are smaller than a grain of rice, only 0.0002% as large as ours. But what purpose does the insect brain serve, and how does that drive their creativity, morality, and emotions? Bees in particular exhibit unexpected and fascinating cognitive skills. In What Do Bees Think About? animal cognition researcher Mathieu Lihoreau examines a century of research into insect evolution and behavior. He explains recent scientific discoveries, recounts researchers' anecdotes, and reflects on the cognition of these fascinating creatures. Lihoreau's and other scientists' research on insects reinforces the importance of protecting and preserving insects such as bees: after all, our survival on the planet is deeply dependent on theirs. This book provides an eye-opening window into the world of insect cognition and echoes an important ecological message about bees—they are intelligent creatures sharing the same fragile ecosystem as us.

What Do Bees Think About? is an interesting and informative read. I have read quite a few books about bees, but this was the first that focused on their learning and though processes rather than just the basics of beekeeping and behavior. I thought the scientific focus are highly engaging and I learned a lot about the cognition of bees and other insects. I will admit that there were moments when my mind wondered during some of the more technical moments of the book- but that is much more on me than the book. I think this is a great read, or listen, for those interested in the intelligence and learning capabilities of creatures that are so often dismissed as 'just insects'.

This nonfiction audiobook was translated from French by Alison Duncan and narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick. I received a free copy from NetGalley. Taking a deep dive into the lives of bees, this book looks at a bees inner life and thought progress. It was really interesting stuff. I personally am not a fan of bees at all (I like them in general from far away but close up I’m scared of being stung!) and have never given much thought to how bees think. Lihoreau paints a nuanced picture of a bees inner workings. He explores their sense of direction and ability to communicate and share information about locations of nectar and possible new nests.

I thought this was a great listen. I really enjoyed the authors sense of humor and style. This could have been a very dry topic but he interspersed personal anecdote and gave great detail about bee topics he covered, making it a really fun listen. The narrator kept a great pace and brought life to the words. I feel like after finishing the book I do know more about bee in general, and what they think about think and communicate about. One of the ways that they communicate is by dancing a waggle dance. How cute is that! At less than 7 hours listening time, this is a great book to put on to learn a little something, and occupy your mind with something new and interesting.

What do bees think about? What do their days look like? Are they creative and innovative? In this remarkable book, Mathieu Lihoreau discusses all of these questions and more.
Taking the reader on a journey through years of insect studies, as well as his own research and experiences, the author provides an in depth look at the lives of bees to better understand how they navigate the world around them.
While this book is based on research, the author has done a fantastic job at communicating the studies and findings in a way that is easy to digest at any level of scientific understanding. As someone who works in agricultural science, I found this book to be a light but incredibly informative read that I would easily recommend to anyone with even a small interest in bees.

The narrator for the audiobook, Elliot Fitzpatrick, gives a wonderful performance as well. The narration is easy to follow and moments of humor or excitement come across very clearly while listening.

It is also beautifully translated by Alison Duncan.

*Many thanks to Mathieu Lihoreau, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook for review.*

Thank you to Netgalley and Mathieu Lihoreau for sending me this audiobook!

I really enjoyed this book, before getting into it, I've been actively trying to get more involved in bee things going so far as to join the Bee Vet Student Club at my school. Bees are exceptional creatures, and this book just further proved it. I had never considered myself very interested in bugs, but this book piqued my interest as it mentioned others such as cockroaches, drosophila, and ants among others. To realize how complex their way of communicating and living is just astounding.

I look forward to listening to more books about ichthyology, and learning how it can provide further insight to the way humans think as well.

I picked this book up purely because it struck my interest, and it was indeed a compelling read. Mathieu Lihoreau presents many scientific observations about insect behavior that contribute to our understanding of their cognition. I feel a greater sense of awe for bees, especially, and their vital and precious role in the global ecosystem. The translator and audiobook narrator did a great job presenting the original author's work in a way that was very accessible, engaging, and informative.

Thank you to RB Media (Tantor Audio) for gifting me with an ALC to review!

As our understanding of non-human animal behavior improves, there are more and more studies showing how similar they are to us. Insects, however, remain unexplored and considered pests. In this fascinating book, Mathieu Lihoreau applies the science of ethology to these tiny creatures and shows how much of an inner life and intelligence they possess. Despite the title, this book is not only about bees, but also about many other insects, including ants and even cockroaches. It’s amazing to read how many experiments are being adapted from vertebrates to understand how insects think and how they may even be self-aware. Knowing how wonderful cockroaches are has not helped with my irrational phobia of them, but it is still very interesting to learn of their habits. Elliot Fitzpatrick aces his narration, sounding like a learned professor and really finding the humor in the text. Some parts are scary in that they show how we are destroying these creatures, but there is also hope. The author proposes considering bees the apes of the insect world and, after reading this, I agree.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Tantor Audio.

it was very interesting and fascinating, the explanations were clear and understandable
I'm also, kind of, less "afraid" of them

thanks to net galley for the advanced copy

Mathieu Lihoreau's audiobook on “What Do Bees Think About?” can be easily labeled as a captivating exploration of the intricate world of insect cognition. Having a passion for the subject evident in every word, Mathieu Lihoreau effortlessly draws listeners into the fascinating realm of bees and their surprising cognitive abilities. From the complexities of their tiny brains to the implications for our shared ecosystem, Mathieu Lihoreau navigates the topic with ease, making it accessible to both enthusiasts and students of natural sciences alike.

Through anecdotes and scientific discoveries, the author sheds light on the profound importance of understanding and protecting these intelligent creatures. “What Do Bees Think About?” not only provides a glimpse into the captivating world of bees, but also underscores the crucial ecological message of our interconnectedness with these remarkable insects. It's an engaging and informative audiobook that will leave listeners with a newfound appreciation for the world of insect cognition. Credit for this amazing work is shared with Elliot Fitzpatrick, the audiobook narator, and Alison Duncan, book translator.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #WhatDoBeesThinkAbout #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning