An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

Jim Harrison

15 books referenced

Books by Jim Harrison

Just Before Dark

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Described as Harrison's 'final book of essays' containing hunting and fishing writing combined with food writing and literature essays. Steve specifically mentions it as a collection of Harrison's Sports Illustrated writing from the seventies.

Wolf

Referenced in 2 episodes

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Described as 'a false memoir' about a guy wandering around Michigan's Upper Peninsula trying to catch a glimpse of a wolf. Steve mentions it as one of his favorites and discusses its abrupt, sad ending.

Ep. 043: Seattle, Washington. Steven Rinella discusses stream access laws with Hillary Hutchinson, Ryan Callaghan, Land Tawney, and Janis Putelis of the MeatEater crew.

September 01, 2016

Context:

Immediately following the Desert Solitaire reference, the speaker mentions 'Jim Harrison would have written wolf Right if he hadn't spent a bunch of time in the here on National Force.' This appears to reference a book by Jim Harrison (possibly titled 'Wolf'), used as another example of how outdoor experience influences conservation writing.

Brown Dog

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Mentioned as one of Harrison's Michigan-focused works that Steve and his friends were 'way into' when young.

Legends of the Fall

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Referenced as the greatest point of contact for people unfamiliar with Jim Harrison, and later mentioned as where many readers begin with Harrison and what made him wealthy.

Dolva

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Mentioned as one of Harrison's 'more complex works' and later praised as an example of Harrison writing sensitively in a woman's voice.

The Road Home

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Briefly mentioned as one of Harrison's more complex later works.

The Boy Who Ran to the Woods

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Described as a children's book by Harrison that serves as an origin story about his experience with eye injury and retreating into nature.

Warlock

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Todd mentions doing a deep dive into Harrison's work including going back to Wolf, Warlock, and Farmer.

Farmer

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Mentioned alongside Warlock as one of Harrison's early novels that Todd read when getting into Harrison's work.

Off to the Side

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Mentioned as Harrison's memoir, titled in reference to his feeling of always being 'off to the side' due to his eye disfigurement.

Letters to Yesenin

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

A collection of poetry where Harrison wrote letters to dead Russian poet Sergey Yesenin. Todd explains this book helped pull Harrison out of a deep depression in his thirties.

Dead Man's Float

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

A collection of poems published right before Harrison died. The softcover edition includes the last poem Harrison was writing when he died.

A Woman Who Loved Trees

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

An unfinished novella Harrison began before his death, described as being about his wife Linda.

Women Lit by Fireflies

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 802: The Life And Death of Jim Harrison

December 08, 2025

Context:

Mentioned alongside Dolva as an example of Harrison writing novels in women's voices in a sympathetic way.

Just Before Dawn

Referenced in 1 episode

Ep. 056: Las Vegas, NV. Steven Rinella takes a break from SHOT Show to answer frequently asked listener questions with Ben Obrien from YETI Coolers, Ryan Callaghan from First Lite, and Janis Putelis from the MeatEater crew.

February 24, 2017

Context:

Described as a collection of Jim Harrison's essays on hunting, fishing, literature, and food, covering writings up to a certain point in his career. Mentioned in the context of discussing the First Light brand name and how every good hunting story starts with 'first light' or 'just before dawn.'