Anthropologist. Author.
Hunter. Rewilding Advocate.
James Van Lanen is an anthropologist, author, and bushcraft instructor who has spent nearly two decades with indigenous hunter-gatherers on three continents.
“This is a passionate manifesto in defense of rewilding against those who criticize it while promoting techno-industrial civilization. It is an invigorating and inspiring read.”
Human Rewilding in the 21st Century
An Anthropologist's Guide to the End of Civilization
Responding to recent critics from academia and the progressive Left who have attempted to undermine the case for rewilding and a return to our evolutionary heritage, Human Rewilding in the 21st Century draws on the author's nearly two decades of experience as a professional anthropologist working with indigenous hunter-gatherers on three continents to make the case that rewilding — both personal and political — is not only desirable but necessary in the face of civilizational collapse and ecological catastrophe. This is not a self-help book about "reconnecting with nature." It is an unflinching look at what anthropology actually tells us about how humans are supposed to live, and what we must do to get back there.
Wilderness Skills Classes
From flintknapping to hide-tanning to backcountry big game hunting — I teach specialized classes in traditional bushcraft and wilderness skills to individuals, groups, and at organized gatherings across the western USA.
View All ClassesSpeaking & Media
James is available for podcast interviews, speaking engagements, and event appearances. With nearly two decades of fieldwork with indigenous hunter-gatherers on three continents, he brings a rare combination of academic rigor and real-world experience to every conversation.
Writing
Academic publications, essays, and articles on hunter-gatherer studies, rewilding philosophy, and subsistence lifeways. From peer-reviewed research to accessible essays on living closer to the land.
Free Ebook
Free
Feral Prescriptions & Pathways
Field Notes, Linked with the Ethnographic Record
A practical guide to shedding domestication — from community self-reliance and wild food sovereignty to hunting, primitive skills, and the rejection of technological dependency. Drawn from nearly two decades of fieldwork and on-the-ground rewilding practice, this essay maps the pathways back to a feral existence.
Originally published in Black & Green Review #4. Now available as a free download.
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