An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

Ep. 796: Heart of the Jaguar

November 24, 2025

Description

Steven Rinella talks with James Campbell, Randall Williams, Brody Henderson, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.  Topics discussed: James' latest book, "Heart of The Jaguar"; how much Steve loves...
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Books Referenced

The Final Frontiersman

Author: James Campbell

Context:

Steve Rinella introduces guest James Campbell and mentions this as one of his books, describing it as a book listeners would be interested in.

The Ghost Mountain Boys

Author: James Campbell

Context:

Steve mentions he just finished reading this book by James Campbell nights ago. The book is about the WWII campaign in Papua New Guinea.

The Battle for Manila

Author: Richard Connaughton

Context:

Steve mentions reading this academic book about the Battle of Manila in the Pacific Theater during WWII, which got him interested in the topic.

Candid Creatures

Author: Roland Kays

Context:

Steve references this book about influential trail cam photos, mentioning it contains a photo of a jaguar in snow in the Wachuka Mountains of Arizona.

Jaguar

Author: Alan Rabinowitz

Context:

James Campbell discusses reading this book (published around 1986) which was Alan Rabinowitz's first book about his experience in Belize collaring jaguars in the rainforest.

Chasing the Dragon's Tail

Author: Alan Rabinowitz

Context:

James Campbell mentions this book by Alan Rabinowitz about trying to find the elusive clouded leopard in Formosa.

Life in the Valley of Death

Author: Alan Rabinowitz

Context:

James Campbell lists this as one of Alan Rabinowitz's books about Burma.

Beyond the Last Village

Author: Alan Rabinowitz

Context:

James Campbell mentions this as another of Alan Rabinowitz's books about Burma.

Flags of Our Fathers

Author: James Bradley

Context:

James Campbell quotes from this book, saying James Bradley wrote that WWII veterans 'came home and they got on with living' without talking about their experiences.

Cloak and Jaguar

Author: Janey Brunn

Context:

James Campbell mentions this book written by whistleblower Janey Brunn about the controversial Macho B jaguar capture incident, noting it was 'actually a pretty good book.'

American Serengeti

Author: Dan Flores

Context:

James Campbell references this book by Dan Floris (whom Steve has had on the podcast) about what was done to predators in Colonial America, including jaguars.

Heart of the Jaguar

Author: James Campbell

Context:

Steve concludes the interview by promoting James Campbell's latest book with the full title 'A Heart of the Jaguar: the extraordinary conservation effort to save the America's legendary cat.'