Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter

Initially, I was the first person to give this book a one-star review. And I didn't understand why the NRA member and hunter from Michigan who reviewed the book and rightly pointed out all the criminal offenses committed by Steven, his Dad, and his brothers gave it TWO stars. I figured Steven Rinella got an extra star b/c they once shared the same state as home--one Michigander being (overly) generous to another. I think I titled my review, "This book should be called Meat Head, not Meat Eater."Well, I wrote my initial review after reading only seven chapters. I was already irritated by his entire family's general willingness to ignore fish and game regulations as well as his early days of market trapping to supply rich women with fur coats (and I hadn't even got to the later chapter where he describes setting illegal snares near popular hiking trails in National Forests). But it was after reading the chapter, "Playing With Food," that I became so incensed that I put the book down and took Steven to task for his low opinion of catch-and-release fly fishing (and b/c he kept and ate a protected bonefish from a game reserve in Mexico).Where I live and fish (in Colorado), catch-and-release regulations are absolutely necessary in some areas to maintain populations of wild trout (one of which happens to be an endangered species) and because of fishing pressure on our world famous tailwaters. Why did Steven not understand this? Why did he have to insinuate (wrongly) that catch-and-release fly fishermen are merely effete contemplatives who are too squeamish to gut a fish and fry it up in a pan? And further, if you're going to eat recreationally caught fish to sustain yourself, what about contamination by methyl mercury? Steven Rinella doesn't even address this concern-and for anybody that eats fish (wild caught or otherwise), it should be a VERY legitimate concern. "Man, what's up this guy?," is what I kept thinking to myself. Steven Rinella was literally making me angry.BUT, I kept reading. I'd read some and then I'd have to stop and complain to my wife about what an idiot this guy is. About how he just doesn't get it. About how he shouldn't have skipped school so much as a kid and should have spent more time paying attention in the ecology section of his ninth grade physical science class. I'd complain about how stupid trophy hunting is and how I agreed with critics that mountain lions shouldn't be hunted with dogs. Steven Rinella shouldn't have killed that river otter for its pelt. He shouldn't be so snarky and dismissive of "progressive politics" for fear that these forces would conspire to take his hunting rifles away and prevent him from doing what it is he wants to do-kill wild game for food (and occasionally stick their head on the wall). I think at one point I called him, "just another right wing gun nut."BUT, finally, I finished the book. And you know that scene in the movie "Dumb and Dumber" where Harry's walking alone down some nowhere road in Nebraska after giving up on making it to Aspen, exhausted and broken, and Lloyd pulls up on that tiny gas powered scooter to pick him up and head back toward the Rockies, and Harry goes, "Just when I think you couldn't be any dumber, you go and do something like this. AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!!!" Well, for me, that's the final chapter of this book. Almost.I still think Rinella needs to reconsider his position on catch-and-release fly fishing but otherwise I'd totally recommend you read Meat Eater. Maybe read the last chapter twice.

Meat Eater does something simple, but amazing: it presents hunting, fishing, and trapping for what they really are: a primal connection to wild creatures through using their bodies to fulfill our most basic needs.Steven Rinella skipped the contorted, snobbish, and apologetic philosophical hogwash that has characterized generations of hunting literature. He skipped the self-indulgent glamor of hunting trophy kill tales. This is not hunting pornography; it's real stories about a real hunter pursuing animals for all the reasons that people actually do that.The book is composed of stories that illustrate these various motivations to hunt. As a child, it was because his dad and brothers did. In college, because he needed food. He went crazy for steelhead and bonefish fishing because it was so damn exciting. He hunted for adventure in the Missouri Breaks, and Dall sheep for the challenge. And always, it was for every one of those reasons--and to satisfy a deep, primal, desire that needs to explanation or apology. And yeah, to get meat.There's another thing about these stories--they're awesome. Really well-written, and full of subtle insight. I read the whole thing within 20 hours of getting the book in my hand. As an avid hunter who spends many winter nights reading about it, I felt, "finally, someone who thinks about hunting like I do."Rinella doesn't shy away from the moral and ethical questions that surround hunting, fishing, and trapping (hereafter I'll refer to them all as "hunting, because they are). He explores them not in an abstract sense, but from the more credible point of view of his own personal experiences. He doesn't cowardly justify trapping with imaginary ecology (saying that the animals are overpopulated); he speaks of the youthful fantasies of fronteir life that fueled his passion to live as a trapper. He isn't afraid to challenge some hunting practices, or to describe death in its real and vivid detail. He isn't afraid of the emotion that electrifies the hunting experiences; he taps into it and makes the reader remember and relive (if it's a hunter) or understand (for non-hunters) how real it is.That is the book's power: it's the first true hunter/non-hunter crossover book, that speaks intelligently to both sides and tackles the questions that both sides grapple with. But after all that is said, he stays grounded in the most basic fact: hunting is about food. In that sense, it is as morally unassailable as gardening and gathering.My only problem with the entire book was a factual one, in which Rinella mentions that Africa and the Americas were overrun by Europeans because they were populated by hunter-gatherers. Actually, sub-saharan Africa was not overrun (the people there still have dark skin) precisely because that continent was fully agricultural way before European colonialism--the takeover of forager territory by agriculturalists in Africa had occurred thousands of years earlier by other people from within Africa.That notwithstanding, this is the best narrative or philosophical hunting book I've ever read, and the first I'd recommend to anybody.

I ordered this as a Christmas gift and was hoping it would not be damaged as I have had previous books damaged during shipping. It came in perfect condition. My boyfriend is so excited to read this as he loves Steven Rinella and we have watched every episode that is out on Meat Eaters.

An absolutely amazing book

I don't read books. I have a short attention span and short term memory. And this is the Best book I've read in years. Once into it I couldn't put it down.I live in Ireland and hunt Deer, mainly Fallow (no bag limits here). I love to eat what I shoot and so I have an understanding of what Steven is writing about. I have watched all his 'Meat Eater' shows on Netflicks and can recommend you to see them too.Each chapter is an experience in hunting and cooking the kill.Buy the book even if you don't go hunting.

After watching Meat Eater the TV program, pretty much binging the entire thing, I thought I would see whether he writes as well as he presents and honestly I would say he is even better. Read the book in 2 sittings and did not want to put it down. If you love the series you will absolutely love the book.

As a keen UK hunter and gamekeeper I found this book very interesting. SR comes across as an accomplished, experienced and ethical hunter. Just have to try some of his camp cooking ideas!

Very interesting book. If you like his series or are interested in hunting and the outdoors then this will be a good read for you.

Good book