Hey hey, it’s your resident bee nerd buzzing in with some extra context on the honey bee food convo! 🐝
So, here's the buzz (sorry, can’t help myself): it's not the honey bees that are struggling. It's all the thousands of other kinds of bees: the wild, free-spirited ones that aren't forming an orderly factory to make honey for us humans. They're not declining because they're lazy, but because they’re being outcompeted.
With the rise of perfect supplement foods, honey bee colonies are thriving. They’re growing bigger, stronger, and faster...but because they’re thriving, they’re basically dominating the buffet, leaving wild bees with slim pickings.
So the bee food is only really great news for beekeepers though...because more honey bees = more honey =💰
I was so excited by the title of your newsletter, and when I got to the part about how you’d read this book…I was surprised to see Monica Guzman’s name, and excited.
She and I used to share a city, and she ran a newsletter for Seattle called The Evergrey which was an incredible hyper-local aggregator of content and things to do.
We often exchanged emails back and forth on wondrous events in the city, and even had the opportunity to have breakfast together and talk about life.
It has been fascinating to watch as she has taken on the giant task of helping people to have hard conversations.
…and now her book is here in your newsletter, and it’s wild how small the world really is when you’re part of the group of people trying all over the world to bring kindness, curiosity and sew the opposite of discontent.
Thank you for highlighting her work.
I’m grateful to you for your writing, enthusiasm and use of words like ‘amazing’ in a context that makes so much sense to my brain.
I hope your day is beautiful. Thank you for adding to the kindness and curiosity of the world.
Our etymology source of preference suggests 'amazing' first appeared in the early 15th century meaning 'stupefactive' and 'foolish'. Which is sort of fitting in its modern derivative.
I've been intending to read this book for awhile and this looks like an excellent incentive to move it up the list.
About five years ago I intentionally and consciously made curiosity my byword. (As a naturalist and tracker, curiosity is necessary to some of the work I do.) It's been working out pretty well so far!
Preach! The heart of liberalism is the recognition that people have different values and desires and society should accommodate those as much as it practicable. Knowing what those values and desires are really helps.
What a great idea for a shared read, Mike! I remember when this book came out and what a brilliant idea it seemed.
I learn so much about these hard conversations from the people around me. As a liberal person in an area of Montana so conservative it leans pretty right-wing, I couldn't avoid them if I wanted to. But it's still easier for me to sit with my own thoughts, since I work from home. Most of the people I know don't have that option, so it's lesson after lesson, every week ... and it's people having those conversations that gives me some hope.
I just ordered Guzmán’s book and would love to participate in this round of the Big Amazing Read. I believe that curiosity without judgment is an unsung super power - one the world sorely needs right now. Looking forward to exploring the book together!
I read I Never Thought of it That Way when it came out and it's awesome!! I've met Monica a few times too, since we're in the same line of work, and she's the sweetest.
Hey hey, it’s your resident bee nerd buzzing in with some extra context on the honey bee food convo! 🐝
So, here's the buzz (sorry, can’t help myself): it's not the honey bees that are struggling. It's all the thousands of other kinds of bees: the wild, free-spirited ones that aren't forming an orderly factory to make honey for us humans. They're not declining because they're lazy, but because they’re being outcompeted.
With the rise of perfect supplement foods, honey bee colonies are thriving. They’re growing bigger, stronger, and faster...but because they’re thriving, they’re basically dominating the buffet, leaving wild bees with slim pickings.
So the bee food is only really great news for beekeepers though...because more honey bees = more honey =💰
Oh wow! Thanks Jessica, that's context I really needed here.
I was so excited by the title of your newsletter, and when I got to the part about how you’d read this book…I was surprised to see Monica Guzman’s name, and excited.
She and I used to share a city, and she ran a newsletter for Seattle called The Evergrey which was an incredible hyper-local aggregator of content and things to do.
We often exchanged emails back and forth on wondrous events in the city, and even had the opportunity to have breakfast together and talk about life.
It has been fascinating to watch as she has taken on the giant task of helping people to have hard conversations.
…and now her book is here in your newsletter, and it’s wild how small the world really is when you’re part of the group of people trying all over the world to bring kindness, curiosity and sew the opposite of discontent.
Thank you for highlighting her work.
I’m grateful to you for your writing, enthusiasm and use of words like ‘amazing’ in a context that makes so much sense to my brain.
I hope your day is beautiful. Thank you for adding to the kindness and curiosity of the world.
Our etymology source of preference suggests 'amazing' first appeared in the early 15th century meaning 'stupefactive' and 'foolish'. Which is sort of fitting in its modern derivative.
Guzmán’s book is now on my Kindle. Sounds great!
I do love to return to bees.
I've been intending to read this book for awhile and this looks like an excellent incentive to move it up the list.
About five years ago I intentionally and consciously made curiosity my byword. (As a naturalist and tracker, curiosity is necessary to some of the work I do.) It's been working out pretty well so far!
Preach! The heart of liberalism is the recognition that people have different values and desires and society should accommodate those as much as it practicable. Knowing what those values and desires are really helps.
What a great idea for a shared read, Mike! I remember when this book came out and what a brilliant idea it seemed.
I learn so much about these hard conversations from the people around me. As a liberal person in an area of Montana so conservative it leans pretty right-wing, I couldn't avoid them if I wanted to. But it's still easier for me to sit with my own thoughts, since I work from home. Most of the people I know don't have that option, so it's lesson after lesson, every week ... and it's people having those conversations that gives me some hope.
Love the news of that memory breakthrough.
So Laura learned some important things about Darren. I wonder what Darren learned about Laura that shifted his perspective.
Guess I’ll have to read the book…
Great book! Really resonated with me when I read it a while back. https://joshbrake.substack.com/p/how-curious-conversation-can-build
I just ordered Guzmán’s book and would love to participate in this round of the Big Amazing Read. I believe that curiosity without judgment is an unsung super power - one the world sorely needs right now. Looking forward to exploring the book together!
Mike - have you or anyone else here read LIVES OF A CELL ( Lewis Thomas, mid 70s ? Thomas put forth some interesting ideas into the ETHER.
I read I Never Thought of it That Way when it came out and it's awesome!! I've met Monica a few times too, since we're in the same line of work, and she's the sweetest.