Since Steven Rinella and MeatEater have never put one formal recommended reading list, it’s up to us to figure out what might be on such a list based on the discussions they’ve had on the show. It would be impossible to list all the books of The MeatEater Podcast. If you’ve been listening for multiple years like I have, you probably have a running list of books that Steven Rinella and gang have mentioned in the pod that piqued your interest. This post is a list of some of my favorites. As a side note, this post doesn’t include the books written BY Steven Rinella or put out by MeatEater. To check out our recommendations of Steven Rinella’s work, click HERE.
1. Life and Death at the Mouth of the Muscle Shell
If you’ve listened to the pod, you’ve heard Steven Rinella talk about this book multiple times. It’s one of those reads that gives you a first-hand account of a fascinating point in history. The great thing about this book is that you get the original journal with edits from a great historian. So, as opposed to other journals, it’s easy to read in the proper context.
To buy your copy, click HERE.
2. Boone: A Biography by Robert Morgan
This is one of my favorite books of all time. Daniel Boone’s life was beyond belief. This is a lengthy biography, but you will fly through it. It’s inspirational, it’s enthralling, and it’s very well-written. You can see why Steven Rinella loves Boone and why this book is also on Clay Newcomb’s List of Most Impactful Books.
To grab a copy, click HERE.
3. Journal of a Trapper by Osborne Russell
I loved this journal. Osborne Russell was a great writer who recorded his time in the Rocky Mountains from 1834 to 1843 and left us with a great picture of what life was like for a trapper in that era. It’s full of fascinating observations, like the time Russell watched a massive train of deer move through the mountains.
To buy a copy, click HERE.
4. American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains by Dan Flores
If you haven’t already, find one of the podcast episodes with Dan Flores as a guest. He’s a national treasure, and his books are some of my favorites. This book is a short easy-to-read guide to a select list big game animals who once dominated the old west.
Click HERE to pick up a copy.
5. Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America
Another Dan Flores book. Thank me later. This is his newest book, and it should be required reading in every high school history class. At multiple times throughout the book, you’ll be embarrassed at how little you understood the ancient history of North America.
Go ahead and grab a copy by clicking HERE. And while you’re at it, snag a copy of Coyote America to complete your Flores collection.
6. My Life with the Eskimo by Vilhjalmur Steffanson
Get ready to enter a whole new world. This journal provides a first-hand account of life with a people who thrive in one of the harshest environments on Earth. It will challenge you to rethink the life you currently live and view the comforts around you in a whole new way. You’ll also learn about a beautiful depth of culture and tradition.
To grab a copy, click HERE.
7. Alaska’s Wolf Man: The 1915-55 Wilderness Adventures of Frank Glaser by Jim Rearden
This book, and its subject, are difficult to describe without sounding like pure exaggeration. Frank Glaser deserves to be in the same conversation as Daniel Boone when it comes to individuals who were able to go into the wild alone and face down any challenge.
To grab a copy, click HERE.
The book that sparked the fly-fishing lifestyle of countless individuals. This is the book that launched John Gierach’s amazing and enviable career of writing books of fishing tales from his trips into the wild. If you can make it through this book (or any of Gierach’s) without wanting to quit your day job and take up a trout bum lifestyle, you’re stronger than I.
Grab a copy HERE.
9. Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides
This book has received rave reviews for a reason. You’ll read a thrilling retelling of America’s push into the southwest with the fascinating story of Kit Carson woven throughout. You’ll see why Hampton Sides is the best writer on this list.
Grab a copy by clicking HERE.
10. The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke
Michael Punke’s masterpiece that needs no introduction. If you’ve only seen the movie and haven’t read the book, then you don’t know the real story. I can also recommend his book on George Bird Grinnell and the work to save the buffalo as an excellent conservation-minded read.
To buy a copy, click HERE
Honorable Mention: Hunt High by Duncan Gilchrist
This is honorable mention because I’m yet to find a copy. There’s one available online. (click HERE). If you checked that price, you can see why I’m waiting to find a cheaper copy at yard sale or something. Even though I haven’t read it, it makes the list of my favorite books of The MeatEater Podcast because it has been discussed multiple times and always triggers frustration because it sounds like such a fun read. If you have the dough, go ahead and buy a copy – you’ll be in rarified air (pun intended).
As mentioned, the books of The MeatEater Podcast are too numerable to list in this post. This is only a sample that I enjoyed. To find more, check out the pod – which just announced an upcoming book club that promises to be a great experience. And don’t forget to check out the books written by Steven Rinella himself – great reads, all.