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Rediscovering Our Wild: How Ancient Wisdom Can Heal Modern Lives

Reviewed: 10-09-24

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

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