Why We Need to Be Wild

One Woman's Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Problems

By: Jessica Carew Kraft

Narrated by: Jessica Carew Kraft

A bold examination of how Paleolithic wisdom could solve our 21st century problems

Jessica Carew Kraft, an urban wife and mom of two, was firmly rooted in the modern world, complete with a high-powered career in tech and the sneaking suspicion that her lifestyle was preventing her and her family from truly thriving. Determined to find a better way, Jessica quit her job and set out to learn about "rewilding" from people who reject the comforts and convenience of civilization by using ancient tools and skills to survive. Along the way, she learned how to turn sticks into fire, stones into axes, and bones into tools for harvesting wild food—and found an entire community walking the path back from our technology-focused, anxiety-ridden way of life to a simpler, more human experience.

Weaving deep research and reportage with her own personal journey, Jessica tells the remarkable story of the potential benefits rewilding has for us and our planet, and questions what it truly means to be a human in today's world. For fans of A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century and Hunt, Gather, Parent, Why We Need to Be Wild is a thought-provoking, unforgettable narrative that illuminates how we survived in the past, how we live now, and how each of us can choose to thrive in the years ahead.

©2023 Jessica Carew Kraft (P)2023 Recorded Books

Rediscovering Our Wild: How Ancient Wisdom Can Heal Modern Lives

Jessica Carew Kraft’s Why We Need to Be Wild is an inspiring and thought-provoking work that blends personal narrative, immersive journalism, and anthropology to advocate for a return to our primal roots. With a successful tech career and a modern urban life, Kraft felt increasingly disconnected and yearned for a more authentic way of being. She sets out on a transformative journey, learning skills like fire-making and foraging from rewilding communities who embrace Paleolithic wisdom, ultimately finding deeper truths about human nature and resilience.

Kraft’s writing is compelling, pulling readers into her experiences as she questions the price of civilization’s comforts. She challenges our assumptions about progress, suggesting that reclaiming lost ancestral practices might not only be vital for personal health but could also help address larger ecological and societal crises. With echoes of Braiding Sweetgrass and Hunt, Gather, Parent, Kraft’s book urges readers to embrace the wisdom of our ancestors as a remedy for 21st-century challenges.

A deeply human exploration, Why We Need to Be Wild invites us to reconsider what it means to thrive. It isn’t about abandoning technology or romanticizing the past—it’s about reclaiming our capacity for self-reliance, resilience, and harmony with the natural world. Rich in research and poignant reflections, Kraft’s journey serves as a guide for anyone seeking a wilder, more grounded existence amidst the chaos of modern

Fantastic Read!

What an amazing rewinding journey! I’m inspired in many ways. Thank you for sharing your story and efforts to help us all remember the importance of our human heritage and what we can do to Rewild in our own ways.

Fantastic!

I really enjoyed this book - the personal stories and adventures, the ups and downs of the adventures, how Jessica shares the adventures that went sideways (and how things turn out afterwards)… to me it sounds like a fun, if slightly crazy, adventure that carries a lot of life lessons along the way - in addition to stories of the past and hopes for the future.

Jessica also does a great job narrating her own story. I feel this adds another level of personal touch. (I find I personally prefer it when authors read their own story - there’s something special and more personal about it when they do - when they have the skills to pull it off. And in my opinion Jessica does!)

Get it and enjoy. And if you do, write a review and/or pass along a copy to a friend, as I will be doing. Cheers =)

An average anarchist

At parts this was entertaining but for the most part it’s just another leftist that has a hard time saving/investing so they call anything other than spending their (and others’) money “hoarding of resources”, then blames every problem on earth to this. It’s lazy, and for a self proclaimed anarchist even lazier.

I loved this book!

This book has so much in it — a grand wilderness adventure and midlife-crisis, family dynamics, ecology, history, archaeology and most importantly lots of anthropology. Jessica makes the point that the public needs to know and understand where humans came from, how we evolved, and how we have deviated from our evolutionary path if we are to feel at home on this planet and stop destroying it. A great read that made me want to book a camping trip right away.