Review Detail

Bee a Good Human: A Pollinator’s Guide to a Better Life is a compilation of artwork from Ali Beckman, or better known on Instagram as @SoFlyTaxidermy. Beckman uses dead bugs— that are either sent to her, found, or purchased— to insert into popular sayings she writes out on visual settings. Her final creations are inventive, funny, and educational. In a way, she is giving the bugs a life postmortem and entertaining us in the process. She has certainly struck a chord with people, indicative of her nearly 200k following, which is especially important during a time when there has been so much talk about the dying bee population and how that could negatively impact our environment.

What I particularly love about this book is what it has taught me. I had no idea that there are more pollinating species than bees. In fact, it’s helped me recognize that flies are more than just the annoying bugs flitting around my house in the summer. They too play an important role in our eco-system. I also was thrilled to learn about ways I can help prevent pollinator extinction. Activities as simple as planting flowers and not using any pesticides or chemicals on the garden are not only great for us as humans, but great for the pollinators too. Everyone wins when we’re just a bit more conscious, and in fact, it really doesn’t take that much effort, which is a relief since most of us are living pretty busy lives.

Aside from that, this book is so clever. I immediately wanted to share it with my friends. For that reason, it’s a great gift for all different occasions, especially for people who need a good laugh or those who care about the environment. I have to be honest. I am NOT a bug lover, but this little book did help shift my perspective on how much we need each other. Because of that, it’s a great coffee table book as it’s bound to start a conversation.

Overall, Bee a Good Human: A Pollinator’s Guide to a Better Life is a testament to the power of art, invention, and do-it-yourself power.