If you loved
Eager
Ben Goldfarb · Book · 2018
What hooked you in Eager was the way it reframed our complex, often messy, and deeply consequential relationships with wild animals.
Films on the same thread
Okja
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with Eager: Environmentalism.
Just as Eager explores the intersection of human industry and rodent ecology, this film examines the ethical tension between corporate interests and the survival of a unique, massive creature.
Twisters
Lee Isaac Chung · Film · 2024
Explores: Climate Change, Man vs. Nature, Redemption.
If the ecological restoration focus of Eager fascinated you, you will appreciate how this film treats the climate crisis as a tangible, terrifying force requiring human intervention and understanding.
Gold
Stephen Gaghan · Film · 2016
Explores: Greed, Obsession, Risk vs. Reward.
The obsessive pursuit of natural resources depicted here echoes the human drive to exploit the environment, a central conflict that Ben Goldfarb dissects throughout the pages of Eager.
The Revenant
Alejandro González Iñárritu · Film · 2015
Explores: Survival against the odds, Revenge, Man vs. Nature.
The visceral, life-or-death encounter with a bear in this story provides a stark, brutal contrast to the more collaborative human-animal interactions documented in the pages of Eager.
Series on the same thread
Our Planet
Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Eager: Environmentalism.
This documentary series serves as the visual companion to the environmental advocacy found in Eager, illustrating the urgent need to protect biodiversity in an age of rapid climate change.
Tiger King
Eric Goode · Series · 2020
Explores: Eccentric Characters, Animal Exploitation, Obsession.
While Eager celebrates healthy ecological stewardship, this series exposes the dark, exploitative underbelly of animal captivity, highlighting the consequences of viewing wildlife as a commodity rather than a neighbor.
Tracker
Ben H. Winters · Series · 2024
Explores: estranged family, itinerant lifestyle, survivalism.
The survivalist expertise of Colter Shaw reflects the deep connection to the land and wilderness that Ben Goldfarb champions in Eager as a means of better understanding our world.
The Bear
Christopher Storer · Series · 2022
Explores: Grief, Family Business, Working Class.
Though grounded in a kitchen, the themes of restoration and transformation mirrors the core message of Eager, where rebuilding broken systems requires patience, grit, and a shift in perspective.
Podcasts on the same thread
The MeatEater Podcast
MeatEater · Podcast · 2026
Explores: self-reliance, ethical hunting, environmental stewardship.
This podcast mirrors the conservation journalism style of Eager, offering an in-depth look at how ethical hunting and outdoor engagement can foster a more profound respect for natural ecosystems.
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human-wildlife conflict, Apex predators, Biological survival.
Written by a wildlife biologist, this podcast explores human-wildlife conflict with the same scientific rigor and fascination for animal behavior that made Eager such an engaging and educational read.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Eager considered a highly acclaimed work of science writing?
Yes, Eager is a highly acclaimed book. It won the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award and was named a favorite science book of 2018 by Science News and a top ten science and technology book by Booklist.
What is the primary subject matter discussed in Eager?
Eager focuses on the science of semi-aquatic rodents. The book provides a detailed and humorous look at the natural world, specifically examining the role and biology of beavers as described by author Ben Goldfarb.
How was Eager received by major publications?
Eager received significant critical praise, including being recognized as one of the Washington Post's 50 notable works of nonfiction. Critics have described the book as a marvelously humor-laced page-turner and a masterpiece of a treatise on the natural world.
Who is the author of Eager?
The author of Eager is Ben Goldfarb. In addition to writing this award-winning book about semi-aquatic rodents, Goldfarb is also the author of the New York Times 2023 notable book titled Crossings.