Clay Newcomb is giving his buddy Steven Rinella a run for his money when it comes to most beloved figure in hunting media. Since he joined the MeatEater gang and launched his own podcast called Bear Grease, Clay has skyrocketed in fame. Part of that fame is due to Clay’s seemingly never-ending wealth of knowledge across a broad range of topics – especially historical hunting. From the discussions that Clay has had on his podcast, it’s apparent that Clay developed this wealth of knowledge – at least in part – through his reading habit. Steven Rinella may have written an impressive stack of books himself, but he doesn’t have Clay Newcomb beat when it comes to who is more well-read. Below is Clay Newcomb’s list of the most impactful books. As you’ll see, they cover a broad range of topics and aren’t all best-sellers from the big publishing houses. Indeed, there are some hidden gems in this stack.
1. A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold
Clay Newcomb’s list of most impactful books starts off with the classic that needs no introduction. This book is on Clay’s list along with most anyone else who cares about conservation to any degree. If nothing else Aldo Leopold will make reevaluate the level to which you observe the natural world around you and have you wishing you lived a life closer to the land.
To pick up a copy, click HERE.
2. Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness – Ian Tattersall
Ian Tattersall is a world-famous paleoanthropologist who has built a stellar career within the field. Tattersall has written dozens of books, but this 1998 bestseller is one of his most well-loved books. It’s still on Amazon’s top-10 bestseller list for a reason. For a dive into our history as a species and lesson on what makes human’s, well, human, borrow this one from Clay’s shelf.
To buy your copy, click HERE.
3. Biophilia – E.O. Wilson
Originally published in 1984, this short read will give you a deeper understanding of your connection with nature. If read in a self-reflective state, you’ll learn about yourself through this book that is described as Wilson’s most personal.
Grab a copy HERE.
4. Against The Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization – Richard Manning
If you read Steven Rinella’s MeatEater, you’ll be familiar with the idea that there is a natural tension between growing food and hunting food. In Against The Grain, Manning takes a provocative stance on today’s agricultural system and the impact it’s having on us. Reminiscent of the idea from the book Sapiens that humans didn’t domesticate wheat so much as wheat domesticated humans, this book isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and make you reconsider the way you view agriculture.
To buy a copy, click HERE.
5. Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol’ Boys Defined a State – Brooks Blevins
If you know anything about Clay Newcomb you know that he is an Arkansan and proud of it. That makes this book, and the nest on the list, an obvious choice for Clay Newcomb’s list of most impactful books. While the title may not be as interesting to those who don’t live in Arkansas, it’s a book focused on Arkansas that can also teach us a lesson about overlooking the rural places of this country.
To grab a copy, click HERE.
6. A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1 – Brooks Blevins
Written by the same author as Arkansas/Arkansaw, this is another clear choice for Clay that can still offer something to anyone. The Ozarks are now a loved vacation destination (and the setting of popular series on Netflix) but the history of the mountains and the history of the people who have inhabited them for thousands of years make for a great read for the historically-inclined.
To grab a copy, click HERE.
7. Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men – Leonard Sax
Something is happening to young men. Sax describes it as an epidemic, and he breaks down the causes of this epidemic in this book. Even if you aren’t currently engaged in the project of raising a young boy, this book is a great step towards understanding a trend that will impact everyone. It takes a village after all.
To buy a copy, click HERE.
8. Atomic Habits: An Easy Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones – James Clear
This book is a smashing success for a reason. James Clear did the dirty work for us by studying the mountain of literature on habits and distilling the information down into one easy-to-read book. OF the books in this list, this is one I recommend the most. Everyone has a bad habit they want to kick or a good habit they want to develop. This book is the blueprint. Buy it HERE. If you like it, you may also enjoy The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
9. Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter – Steven Rinella
No surprise this is on Clay Newcomb’s list of most impactful books. Rinella has written a stack of great books. If you haven’t read them and want to know where to start, check out this article. Spoiler Alert, this book is at the top of the list. To learn more about why, click HERE.
To buy it, click HERE.
10. The Account of Cabeza de Vaca: A Literal Translation with Analysis and Commentary
I’ll be the first to admit that I went an embracingly long time before reading about Cabeza De Vaca’s trip through the west in antiquity. If you’re in the same boat, start with this book and then read A Trip So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza De Vaca. It was a strange trip indeed and one almost too remarkable to believe. It’s on the list of books to read to understand the history of the west for a reason.
Buy it HERE.
11. Wild Sports in The Far West – Frederick Gerstaeker
If you’re a fan of the podcast, you know about Gerstacker’s book. If not, check out The Bear Grease Podcast Episode 4 then check out this book. It’s a classic historical account of time in America’s wild places before the heavy hand of civilization took its toll.
Pick up a copy of this classic text HERE.
12. My Father, Daniel Boone: The Draper Interviews with Nathan Boone – Neal Hammon
When you get finished listening to the episode on Gerstaecker, check out Newcomb’s series on Daniel Boone (Episodes 14 – 18). In it, you’ll hear enough to make you want to read this book as well as the next on the list. In this book, you’ll read about Boone from one of those who could best tell his story – his son.
To buy a copy, click HERE.
13. Boone: A Biography – Robert Morgan
If Steven Rinella made a list of the books that most impacted him, I would venture to guess that this book would be on his as well. It’s THE biography on the great American long hunter. It’s inspired countless others to break away from pack, take risks, and spend more time in wild places.
To grab your copy, click HERE.
14. The Life of Elijah – A.W. Pink
Clay Newcomb is a man who makes his faith clear to anyone who listens to his pod or watches him hunt. This book starts a series of faith-based books that have impacted him the most. But even those who don’t consider themselves Christian will find the epic of Elijah festinating.
Click HERE to buy a copy.
15. God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? – John C. Lennox
In this book, Lennox makes the case that Christianity and science aren’t at war. In fact, they aren’t even mutually exclusive. Lennox provides a strong argument that you CAN be an intelligent and well-read Christian who is pro-science.
Click HERE to grab your copy.
16. Seven Days That Divided The World – John C. Lennox
Written by the same author as God’s Undertake, this book focuses on the creation story in the bible and explains how it in-fact fits perfectly within the confines of our scientific understanding of our origin.
Click HERE to grab a copy.
17. Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed – Douglas Axe
If you enjoyed Seven Days That Divided The World, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s along the same lines as Lennox’s books and will equip you with a better understanding of the relationship between faith and science.
Click HERE to buy a copy.
As you can see, Clay Newcomb’s library is loaded with great options. These are but a few. To glean more great choices, be sure to listen to Clay’s podcast, Bear Grease, or catch him on the occasional episode of MeatEater.
