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Michael Schacker
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A Spring without Bees: How Colony Collapse Disorder Has Endangered Our Food Supply by Michael Schacker (2008-06-03) Hardcover – Jan. 1 1656

4.3 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
4.0 on Goodreads
158 ratings

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  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FKRWT74
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Jan. 1 1656
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

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Michael Schacker

Michael Schacker

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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from Canada

  • Brian Griffith
    5.0 out of 5 stars A planetary overview of bee population collapse and what any type of property owner can do
    Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2014
    Schacker presents a global view on the experience of farmers and scientists in coping with the modern collapse of bee populations, For example, he details how farmers in France started from the mid-1990s to protest against destruction of bees by new neonictinoid pesticides; how French government studies confirmed the farmers' observations; how the French government issued precautionary bans on use of these pesticides, and how bee populations subsequently recovered. Meanwhile in North America, the Bush administration yielded to chemical company lobbying and raised the Environmental Protection Agency's approved tolerance levels for concentrations of five major classes of pesticides, including neonicotinoids. The following season (2003), cases of bee colony collapse disorder began alarming US farmers. The Environmental Protection Agency said there was no hard evidence that pesticides were a cause, and this was confirmed in 2006 when the EPA suddenly closed its research library in Washington due to "budget pressure."

    Aside from reporting the farmers' efforts to change policy, Schacker provides details of the pest control alternatives used by the USA's 12,000 organic farmers. He offers natural ways for property and pet owners to deal with lawn and household insect pests, and for golf courses to become less toxic. He shows how anybody with a garden can be part of the solution, for example by planting bee-friendly silver linden trees.
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  • A. Collins
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cautionary Conclusion Disorder
    Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2010
    This is a clearly well researched book, not written by a scientist. I certianly feel that non scientists who have taken the time to train themselves in scientific literature have excellent and informed opinions about scientific debates, and often, they may be in a place to educate the public in a broader way then scientists can. Having said that- this guy is making some fairly certain conclusions about uncertain areas.

    The first few chapters of the book are meant to eliminate the various possibilities for what is believed may be causing colony collapse disorder that do not correlate with his hypothesis. As an example of what is not causing the disorder, he referred to the media madness surrounding one study of cordless phone recievers inside bee hives. This stud was done without a beekeepers understanding of bee behaviour, on a limited number of hives. The study concluded that there were some negative effects on the bee's behaviour (e.g. not returning to the hive) caused by the extremly low frequencies emitted by the cordless phone base.

    The media latched onto this and decided that "Cell phones are killing bees!" Not quite what the researchers said, or had in mind, but the media ran with it anyways. No further research on this topic was referred to in the book, just the various critism's of the study in question. Based on this the author states "So it is not the cell phones"

    I am not suggesting that this IS the cause of colony collapse disorder, but one study, a priliminary study mind you, that was mis interpreted by the media to represent something it was not meant to- does not negate the possibility that ELF frequencies might be disrupting bee behaviour. I would conclude that further research is warrented and the effects of this study are interesting, not that "ITS NOT THE CELL PHONES" as the author states. Each of his initial chapters go on this way, choosing to state that it "cannot" be one thing or another for various inconclusive reasons. He also doesnt allow for a multiple cause of the disorder.

    He complains that the media misinterprets scientific data to spurrious conclusions- then goes ahead and does the same thing. Still an interesting book, but the way he leads you to the conclusions without sound scientific thinking is irritating.

    However, very well researched (if slightly misunderstood) account of Colony Collapse disorder with an intriguing suggestion as to its cause. I borrowed this from the library. It was worth the read.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jubal Howe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential facts on how agrochemical industry is killing the bees
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2009
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    As a beekeeper, I believe Michael Shacker lays out an irrefutable case for a direct link between widespread neurotoxin-based pesticides (IMDs) and Colony Collapse Disorder, the sudden, massive die-off of honey bees that is now nearly global - except in France where IMDs were banned and the bees returned. He not only documents and assesses the scientific evidence, but also shows how agro-chem companies like Bayer CropScience and BASF have waged a propoganda war through biased scientific studies, media manipulation, and through the leveraging of compromised university Ag and entymology programs, whose research they fund.

    Shacker explodes the myth of the "mystery" of CCD, and shows how media attention has diverted attention away from pesticide companies by focusing on red herrings such as cell phones and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus - even as researchers in those areas have themselves denied any causal link to CCD. Even the most skeptical reader of Shacker's book (and I was skeptical at the beginning) will find it hard to refute the culpability of Bayer and BASF in the ongoing extinction of apis mellifera.
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  • Barbara Dean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Still the only book that documents the real cause of massive bee die-off
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
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    A Spring Without Bees is still the only book that documents the real root cause of massive bee die-off. We are using tons of neuro-toxic pesticides in chemical farming, gardening, lawn mixes and in wasp spray and flea spray or collars on our pets---all to our peril and the destruction of the environment. GMO crops use the same poisonous class of chemicals and so now it is in our food. The chemicals are so powerful that even small minute amounts damage our nervous system, our brains, our gut, our immune systems. We are headed for tragedy on a world-wide scale unless we turn toward natural methods. Yes, you could say I'm biased--my husband had a massive brain injury in April 2008. He almost didn't live to see his book published. Yet, if you read the book you will see--it's not just me. The evidence is all there. Now, over 5 years later, hundreds of thousands of people are waking up to the truth that we are poisoning ourselves and the earth--but more important that there is another way! If you don't know about this...read this book to find out.
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  • Judith A. Cartisano
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015
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    Very good but loses its focus somewhat toward the end of the book.
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  • J. E. Taylor
    3.0 out of 5 stars Scientific but seems to follow an agenda
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2010
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    Being a formally trained entomologist I would say this book followed the correct course for most of the way through but I stopped reading when it delved into organic lawn care. I'm sorry sir but this isn't Silent Spring and I didn't purchase the book to hear your opinions of the pesticide industry. I value your opinions but not under the context of being a book written about CCD. Other than that, the book is very informative even with a little finger pointing towards the end. Maybe you should learn from Pettis and not draw sweeping conclusions from data that is inconclusive.
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  • AmazonCustomer
    5.0 out of 5 stars well-researched and timely
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2010
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    This is an excellent and well-researched review of the relatively new problem of Colony Collapse Disorder, which is currently decimating hives in this country (and the world). It is a book that needs to be read by as many people as possible. I originally obtained this book from the local library, but have been so impressed with it that I intend to buy one for my niece, who just graduated with a degree in environmental studies. This book not only delves into the ultimate cause of the disorder, but covers the inner corruption of the governmental and educational institutions who have the power to stop it. Without the bees, the world as we know it will end - even Albert Einstein knew this to be true. With the media and the government too strongly influenced by short-sighted business interests, individuals need to educate themselves and draw attention to this devastating problem before it is too late.
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