Bee a Good Human: A Pollinators' Guide to a Better Life

Combining inspiration, humor, and entomology, Instagram artist Ali Beckman (@SoFlyTaxidermy) is the internet's go-to gal for bug-related content that makes you a happier human.

Beckman's witty comics, which use actual insects in everyday situations, illustrate the importance of pollinators as well as body positivity and mental health awareness. Using creatures that are donated, purchased, or found dead to create amusing cartoons, Bee a Good Human highlights the integral role of insects in our environment while also demonstrating we all have a part to play in this world. Beyond bugs, Beckman's art speaks to the value of self-love as she shares a narrative of growth and finding confidence within.

Bee a Good Human features the best of Beckman's @SoFlyTaxidermy Instagram art. With 106 color illustrations, many of which have never appeared online, this gift of a book will make you consider the bigger picture-and laugh a little too.

Foreword
Gallery
Author bio

Ali Beckman is the creator of @SoFlyTaxidermy on Instagram. In 2016, she came home one day to find two dead flies lying next to each other. She couldn't get over the image of the two flies having a conversation before they died. So, she grabbed a piece of paper, picked up the flies, got her pen out, and started drawing. Ali lives in Bloomington, Indiana, with her dog, Georgie, and works as a hairstylist at DO Salon and as a yoga teacher at Vibe Yoga Studio. She enjoys hiking, learning about insects, and eating hot dogs at Orbit Room.

Whether you're in the market for an unconventional yet highly entertaining read or a long-time follower of the author's uplifting Instagram, Bee A Good Human: A Pollinator's Guide to a Better Life is sure to make you crack a smile or two!

This charming little book is illustrated with photos of actual insects (deceased from natural causes) and full of witty humor. The perfect gift for the pollinator lover in your life or anyone who needs a fresh perspective on life.

This cute book breaks the macabre stereotypes of taxidermy to bring light and humor to your coffee table. Created by Ali Beckman, of @SoFlyTaxidermy Instagram fame, each page has posed taxidermied insect(s) and doodles accompanied by a funny or motivational line. This quick, entomological romp is designed to make you smile. . . . Beyond the content, the book itself is gorgeous: the binding pops in pollinator-yellow and the photo-paper pages feel glossy and luxe. It's a great eye-catcher for any bookshelf or coffee table. Bee a Good Human is adorable and witty and brought a smile to my face. And you can enjoy it guilt-free, because no insects were harmed in the making of the book- all the insects were found or sent to Beckman! Check it out to see what all the buzz is about!

Ali uses creatures that are donated, purchased, or found dead to create amusing cartoons and highlight the key roles insects play in our environment. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes — for example, a tiny midge pollinates chocolate while beetles can pollinate certain flowers — and Ali showcases them with her work and shares how they keep our ecosystem thriving. Her art also highlights the importance of loving yourself and finding confidence to say that, yes, you can do anything you put your mind to. That's a pretty cool thing.

I'm someone who is fascinated but also very frightened of insects but this book gave me a good giggle. Going into this, I thought it was just a little picture book with images of bees but I was honestly happily mistaken. The first few pages such as the forward and the acknowledgments shed light on the sad truth about how we see bees and certain insects, showing that television and film truly demonize them, when in reality they do more for the planet than we do. This sweet book written by Ali Beckman is a different and creative way of showing that each page is dedicated to the little helpers around us it definitely gives you a different outlook on those little guys that were so demonized within the world. I never thought I'd catch myself smiling and finding bugs adorable but here I am! I give this book 4 1/2 stars and I most definitely recommend "Bee a Good Human" if you're looking for a smile.

Original, fun, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, Bee a Good Human: A Pollinators' Guide to a Better Life is highly recommended.

In her debut book, Beckman illustrates the importance of pollinators along with a healthy dose of body positivity and mental health awareness through her witty comics that feature actual insects in everyday situations. Through the cartoons, Beckman shares a narrative of self-growth and finding confidence within, all while making people laugh. The genius behind her work is that the insects many people fear reflect back our own insecurities and hopes, allowing us all to see our significance in the world.

Like bees to a blossom, 180,000 followers have found @soflytaxidermy, the quirky-cute Instagram account of Indiana artist Ali Beckman. For each post, she poses dead insects like bees, flies or butterflies in meme-y settings with inspirational, witty (and occasionally potty-mouthed) captions. Her new book, Bee a Good Human, is a giftable collection of her work.

Bee a Good Human just might be the entry for dis-believers to come to terms with the real power of the tiniest to be mightier than the so-called mighty. Insects are doing their best to save humans from self-destruction. Yes, read science-based essays in a swath of media; watch informative television shows; etc etcbut for the sheer joy of bringing everyone together as a caring community in all its manifestations, share a copy of Bee a Good Human.

What I particularly love about this book is what it has taught me. . . . 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.