Bee a Good Human

A project filled with death and heartwarming inspiration.

~Josh Zoerner

Ali comes up with the kind of jokes that make you say, 'I wish I had thought of that!'

~Adam the Bee Guy

There's an intimacy to Ali's work—and I'm not just talking about when she posts pics of her bug-censored breasts on Instagram. No, there's a sense of serenity and transparency to pen on paper that adds texture and depth to Ali's relatable quips and bits of wisdom. The dead bugs, juxtaposed with pen strokes, are a simple and quirky reminder of our perplexing place in this complex and fleeting universe.

~Peter Oren

To discover someone's breath of creativity is usually unexpected. It takes time. Over the past two years I've discovered Ali has a big, very big imagination. She creates social awareness through drawing, writing, and shaping important daily sayings. As a lover of insects, flies, butterflies, and bees, she creates mini dramas daily that are always personal and uplifting. I look forward to each day (yes Ali posts a creative poetic image every day and sometimes more) to see her fascinating, uplifting, and private view of life. Art is always private, then becomes public. Thank you, Ali.

~Barry Gealt

Do you like books, funny jokes, and insects? Well bee prepared to be amothed . . . amazed! The art is creative, the jokes timeless, and the insects are dead (they were found that way). There is a Mean Girls reference in this book that especially tickled my funny bone. This book belongs on your shelf, table, or in your hands this minute!

~Spark Tabor

I spend all my time around comedians, so in looking for 'other' types of Instagram accounts, I came across Ali's SoFlyTaxidermy. At first, I didn't even know she was in Bloomington! With over 100k followers, I just assumed she was from somewhere else. What's interesting is in looking to get away from comedians in my social media scrolling, Ali has made me laugh as much as any comedian.

~Jared Thompson

A beautiful look inside the modern mind of entomology.

~Kendall Long

Ali's work reminds us that mortality is absolutely inevitable, but perhaps if we're lucky, someone might come along and use our rigid dead bodies to spread joy.

~Tyler Thrasher

I can bee whoever I want 2.

~Taylor Bennett

A collection of death to bring warmth to your life.

~Jodie Langford

You've probably never considered how much you have in common with an insect—that bees like the flowers on your windowsill as much (or more!) than you, or that butterflies aren't the only ones who go through metamorphosis (hello middle school awkward phase). Ali Beckman created a guide book for better living starring these insects themselves to show us that the little pollinators are more powerful than you think. Beckman's delightfully humorous and thoughtful work will remind you to treat yourself and all Earth's creatures with kindness, and as all flies would agree, sometimes 'going through shit' isn't all that bad.

~Lily & Madeleine

Each page gives you a wry smile, a shot of joy, and an appreciation for the little ones flying and crawling around us. Ali's humor and wit pair perfectly with a cup of coffee in the morning.

~Phil Torres

Ali's artwork is beautifully minimal & witty with a refreshing feminist twist. It's the perfect addition to any coffee table. Bee-ware this book may inspire you to start collecting dead bugs . . .

~The Orbit Room

Dead bugs are the new life coaches.

~Mat Alano-Martin

Ali Beckman is a true artist, a lover of nature, a keen eye, and a creative genius. As an advocate and keeper of bees—the planet's most helpful pollinators—Ali's book, Bee a Good Human, has completely won my heart; her incredible ability to compose the deceased insects of the world into the most glorious, uplifting, and hilarious conversations makes this book truly unique. Long live the Earth's most underrated creatures, and may Ali bring them to life in the most remarkable ways for volumes to come. Bee a Good Human is the perfect book for anyone who has ever wondered about the secret life of animals and found joy in imagining their existence to be equally as fraught, complicated, and wondrous as our own.

~Ben Moore

An adorable new perspective on death.

~Phoebe Bridgers

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!

~Mimi Koehler, Nerd Daily

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.

~Washington Gardener Magazine

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!

~Elise Kulik, Nerdophiles

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.

~Joey Held, Good People, Cool Things Podcast

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.

~Nerd Girl Official

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

~Susan Bethany, Midwest Book Review

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.

~Pretty Progressive

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.

~Midwest Living

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.

~Rita Kohn, NUVO

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.

~Elisha Jachetti, YA Books Central