An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List
Top 10 Referenced Books
A Sand County Almanac
Aldo Leopold
Arctic Dreams
Barry Lopez
The Tenth Legion
Tom Kelly
Annals of the Former World
John McPhee
Journal of a Trapper
Osborne Russell
Undaunted Courage
Stephen Ambrose
Hunt High
Duncan Gilchrist
No Country for Old Men
Cormac McCarthy
The Hog Book
Jesse Griffiths
Wild New World
Dan Flores
Top 10 Referenced Authors
Most Book-Dense Episodes
Ep. 436: Getting Revenge with Jack Carr
Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison
Ep. 250: Doin' it Your Own Way with Whiskey Myers
Ep. 432: Hit 'Em Where They Ain't with Ian Frazier
Ep. 796: Heart of the Jaguar
Ep. 064: Bozeman. Steven Rinella talks with Kevin Murphy, the world's greatest small game hunter, along with Helen Cho, Brittany Brothers, Michelle Jorgensen, and Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew.
Ep. 395: When Things Go South Up North
Ep. 092: John Gierach
Ep. 708: A Near Death Experience with Sebastian Junger
Ep. 119: Walking the Edge
Highly Praised Books
Books described as "brilliant," "best," "recommend," and other praise words
Home Ground
Barry Lopez
"Steve Rinella recommends this book to Kevin, describing it as 'a glossary of landscape terminology' compiled by Barry Lopez. The book contains passages from literature explaining various landscape terms like 'hollow,' 'coulee,' 'draw,' and 'gut.' Rinella mentions it while discussing regional terms for drainages and geographical features during their squirrel hunting conversation."
Ep. 029Sport Fish of the Gulf Coast
Vic Dunaway
"Mentioned during discussion about mercury in fish. Speaker describes Vic Dunaway as a favorite fish writer who does great books with pictures of fish and information for anglers going fishing in different locations. The books include concise food quality assessments. Speaker specifically mentions Dunaway's comment about great white shark being 'don't even ask' regarding food quality."
Ep. 373: Shirker Bucks, Baubellum, and BinturongsLight in the Forest
Conrad Richter
"Steve recommends this as one of several books parents should read to their kids, mentioned in the context of teaching children and countering anti-hunting bias in children's literature."
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them TooHatchet
Gary Paulsen
"Recommended as a children's book to read to kids, listed alongside other outdoor/survival themed books as alternatives to media with anti-hunting bias."
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them TooMy Side of the Mountain
Jean Craighead George
"Mentioned as another children's book recommendation for parents to read to their kids, part of a list of outdoor-themed literature."
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them TooThe Land Breakers
John Ehle
"Steve Rinella strongly recommends this book from 1964, describing it as historically accurate fiction about settlers around 1780 breaking new land. He praises the author's knowledge of trees, plants, and historical details, saying 'It is unbelievable.'"
Ep. 667: The Prairie Preacher and a Rant By SteveOne Man's Wilderness
Dick Proenneke
"Buck Bowden mentions this as one of his favorite books from childhood. He read it while living in Nome, Alaska. The book was about Dick Proenneke who went out to Twin Lakes and built a cabin by hand and lived there by himself. Buck says Proenneke was somewhat his inspiration for his own lifestyle choices."
Ep. 133: You're a cool dude, Buck.The Perfect Storm
Sebastian Junger
"Steve mentions Sebastian's huge international bestseller about a commercial sword fishing boat that never returned, which was later made into a film with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg."
Ep. 708: A Near Death Experience with Sebastian JungerThe Old Man and the Boys
Robert Ruark
"Mentioned as one of Ruark's best books during a discussion about literature and hunting/outdoor writing."
Ep. 060: Guyana. Steven Rinella talks with Makushi guide and fisherman Rovin Alvin, along with Garret Smith, Rick Smith, Korey Kaczmarek, and Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew.A Sand County Almanac
Aldo Leopold
"Carl discusses Leopold's seminal work, describing it as poetry that was collected and published after Leopold's death. The book was written at Leopold's property in Wisconsin and is described as essential reading for hunters, anglers, and conservationists. Multiple references throughout the conversation discuss specific essays from this book, including one titled 'Escudilla.'"
Ep. 072: American Wilderness| Book | Author | Praise | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Ground | Barry Lopez |
"Steve Rinella recommends this book to Kevin, describing it as 'a glossary of landscape terminology' compiled by Barry Lopez. The book contains passages from literature explaining various landscape terms like 'hollow,' 'coulee,' 'draw,' and 'gut.' Rinella mentions it while discussing regional terms for drainages and geographical features during their squirrel hunting conversation." |
Ep. 029 |
| Sport Fish of the Gulf Coast | Vic Dunaway |
"Mentioned during discussion about mercury in fish. Speaker describes Vic Dunaway as a favorite fish writer who does great books with pictures of fish and information for anglers going fishing in different locations. The books include concise food quality assessments. Speaker specifically mentions Dunaway's comment about great white shark being 'don't even ask' regarding food quality." |
Ep. 373: Shirker Bucks, Baubellum, and Binturongs |
| Light in the Forest | Conrad Richter |
"Steve recommends this as one of several books parents should read to their kids, mentioned in the context of teaching children and countering anti-hunting bias in children's literature." |
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them Too |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen |
"Recommended as a children's book to read to kids, listed alongside other outdoor/survival themed books as alternatives to media with anti-hunting bias." |
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them Too |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George |
"Mentioned as another children's book recommendation for parents to read to their kids, part of a list of outdoor-themed literature." |
Ep. 175: If Cabbages Had Legs I’d Hunt Them Too |
| The Land Breakers | John Ehle |
"Steve Rinella strongly recommends this book from 1964, describing it as historically accurate fiction about settlers around 1780 breaking new land. He praises the author's knowledge of trees, plants, and historical details, saying 'It is unbelievable.'" |
Ep. 667: The Prairie Preacher and a Rant By Steve |
| One Man's Wilderness | Dick Proenneke |
"Buck Bowden mentions this as one of his favorite books from childhood. He read it while living in Nome, Alaska. The book was about Dick Proenneke who went out to Twin Lakes and built a cabin by hand and lived there by himself. Buck says Proenneke was somewhat his inspiration for his own lifestyle choices." |
Ep. 133: You're a cool dude, Buck. |
| The Perfect Storm | Sebastian Junger |
"Steve mentions Sebastian's huge international bestseller about a commercial sword fishing boat that never returned, which was later made into a film with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg." |
Ep. 708: A Near Death Experience with Sebastian Junger |
| The Old Man and the Boys | Robert Ruark |
"Mentioned as one of Ruark's best books during a discussion about literature and hunting/outdoor writing." |
Ep. 060: Guyana. Steven Rinella talks with Makushi guide and fisherman Rovin Alvin, along with Garret Smith, Rick Smith, Korey Kaczmarek, and Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew. |
| A Sand County Almanac | Aldo Leopold |
"Carl discusses Leopold's seminal work, describing it as poetry that was collected and published after Leopold's death. The book was written at Leopold's property in Wisconsin and is described as essential reading for hunters, anglers, and conservationists. Multiple references throughout the conversation discuss specific essays from this book, including one titled 'Escudilla.'" |
Ep. 072: American Wilderness |