Steven Rinella, renowned writer and TV host of MeatEater, shares his deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. He discusses the joy of rockhounding and family adventures, sparking wonder in children. Rinella delves into Stoicism, connecting ancient wisdom to modern creativity, emphasizing the importance of process over perfection. He reflects on how personal experiences shape understanding and creativity, and champions the need to foster a love for nature in kids, highlighting its role in building essential life skills.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Rockhounding and Childhood
Steven Rinella discusses rockhounding and his childhood in Michigan.
He mentions a lack of interesting rocks in his area growing up, contrasting with his adult life in the Rocky Mountains.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ochre Discovery
Rinella's children discovered ochre and intuitively used it as face paint.
This reminded him of the historical use of ochre by Native Americans.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Projectile Point Discovery
Rinella's kids found a projectile point while using a metal detector.
They insisted the detector found it, despite his explanations.
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Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars is a comprehensive guide for kids aged eight and up, filled with fun outdoor projects and skills such as building bug hotels, tracking animals, and making survival shelters. The book aims to inspire wonder and excitement about the natural world, encouraging kids to explore and learn through hands-on activities.
Outdoor Kids in an Inside World
Steven Rinella
The obstacle is the way
Ryan Holiday
In 'The Obstacle Is the Way', Ryan Holiday presents a framework for turning obstacles into successes. Drawing from the philosophy of Stoicism and the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Holiday outlines three disciplines: perception, action, and will. He illustrates these principles with historical anecdotes from figures such as John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs. The book emphasizes the importance of perception in shaping one's response to obstacles, the need for intentional and creative action, and the cultivation of will to persist through challenges. Holiday argues that by adopting these Stoic principles, individuals can transform their obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
American buffalo
In Search of a Lost Icon
Steven Rinella
In 'American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon', Steven Rinella takes readers across the continent to explore the buffalo’s past, present, and future. The book visits sites such as the Bering Land Bridge, buffalo jumps used by Native Americans, and the Detroit Carbon works, a plant that processed buffalo bones into various products. Rinella’s storytelling combines outdoor adventure with historical, biological, and environmental observations, highlighting the significant role the buffalo has played in shaping American identity.
Walden
Henry David Thoreau
Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance[2][4][5].
Steve Rinella, from his books to his groundbreaking show MeatEater, has made hunting and nose-to-tail wild game gourmet cooking popular from New York City to Hollywood. Thanks in large part to Steve’s humor and extensive historical and anatomical knowledge, MeatEater is one of the top “reality” shows not just in outdoor media, but arguably across all media combined. As a writer, TV host, and now podcaster Steve and the MeatEater crew are as trail blazing as they come. We carry one of Steve’s books, American Buffalo, here at the Painted Porch Bookshop. His most recent book, Outdoor Kids in an Inside World, offers practical advice for getting kids radically engaged with nature in a muddy, thrilling, hands-on way, with the ultimate goal of helping them see their own place within the natural ecosystem.
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