Meat Eater is the story of Steven Rinella, an avid outdoorsman and hunter who draws on his years of experience in the field to provide a rare glimpse into today’s hunting lifestyle. From horseback excursions for elk in Montana to sea duck hunts in Texas, from spearfishing expeditions for wild boar in Florida to weekend camp-outs chasing deer through Michigan’s thumb, Rinella takes readers along on unforgettable hunting trips that are as rich with cultural insights as they are with heart-pounding adventure. Whether detailing a tender moment spent spotting bears over coffee early one morning or recalling the heartache of losing two good dogs late in life, Meat Eater is rife with Steve’s signature humor and passion for the natural world–a beautifully written ode to nature and its many gifts.
For who is this book for ?
Meat Eater will appeal to hunters and non-hunters alike who have a deep respect for the outdoors, along with those fascinated by our relationship with wild game. Rinella’s writing is captivating and heartfelt, offing an insider’s glimpse into modern hunting culture while also celebrating America’s natural heritage.
Pros :
- The author’s passion for the outdoors and hunting is evident on every page.
- Rinella provides great insights into the cultural aspects of hunting trips.
- The book is rich with stories and anecdotes that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.
Cons :
- Rinella can be graphic and violent when describing his kills
- Some readers may not appreciate the author’s glamorization of hunting
- The book is a little long and some sections could be trimmed
Learn more about the author
Steven Rinella is the author of Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter and The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine. A frequent contributor to magazines such as Outside, Field & Stream, and Rifle Hunting, he has also been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, MSNBC, America Live with Megyn Kelly, ESPN2 Sportfishing with Pete Gray ,and CBS Sunday Morning . He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Reader Reviews
“Meat Eater is a masterpiece of nature writing, reflecting ardent passion for wilderness and wildlife as well as deep knowledge. A rare hunting book that rises above blood lust to see the hunt through complex eyes; it’s also one of the most thoughtful books about food I’ve ever read.”
“Meat Eater is an extraordinary work, a journey deep into America’s hunting culture that is both rich in humor and heartache, brimming with the spirit of adventure and steeped in the history and traditions of our country’s hunters.”
“A stirring, picaresque tribute to hunting and the outdoors . . . Rinella’s chatty first-person narrative whisks readers along on a breathless tour of North America’s wildest places as he chases deer through Michigan scrublands, bags elk in Montana mountain ranges, and hunts for geese in Texas marshes.”
“In Meat Eater, Steven Rinella takes us on a wild ride from his childhood obsession with tying flies to fishing for trout in the coldest creeks of Montana to stalking elk across the vast Bighorn basin. Along the way he provides thoughtful insights into a life dedicated to hunting and observes as only an insider can what changes – and doesn’t change – when humans try to bend nature gently to their will.”
