The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Turk Pipkin (Author) "Hi. I'm Willie Nelson, and it's a pleasure to meet you..." (more)
Key Phrases: flying too close, Willie Nelson, The Willie Way, Golden Rule (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his third book, American icon Nelson mingles stories, jokes and adages with a collection of "lessons" he has learned "in this life." Loosely basing his book on the philosophical text of the Tao Te Ching, Nelson advocates incorporating into one's life many of the teachings of that ancient work, such as meditation and the belief that all things are interconnected. But while the Tao may inspire this book, Nelson's charming, often humorous tales of his Texas childhood, cowboy lifestyle, and famous and interesting friends make the "mysteries of life" not all that mysterious. Indeed, with chapter titles like "The Golden Rule" and "Don't Think No Negative Thoughts," the book is rooted as much in down-home common sense as it is in mystical philosophy. Nelson also shares his liberal views on subjects like marijuana ("I'll support a war on drugs, but not a war on flowers or herbs"), the environment ("Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions up to eighty percent") and war ("I believe in peace"). Whatever his message, the "Red-Headed Stranger" conveys his thoughts in the same friendly, endearing manner that has made his songs part of the fabric of American life. (On sale May 9)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Novelist, golf writer, and longtime Nelson compadre Pipkin mounts this collection of the grizzled singer's bromides, aphorisms, and observations in an upbeat, warm-and-fuzzy manner designed to comfort as much as to guide readers through life's prickly situations. Recurring snippets of "The Willie Way" alternate with Nelson's views on "The Golden Rule," "The Time of the Preacher," and similar timeless topics. No doubt these are heartfelt expressions of Nelson's worldview, but as advice, they are less provocative than those delivered in, say, Hell's Angel Sonny Barger's similar set of musings, Freedom (2005). Likely to comfort those already in Willie's thrall, and likely useless to others, the little collection still has high circulation potential, given Nelson's standing with the boomer music-lover demographic. Such maxims as "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results" can do no harm, and god knows Willie, avuncular and far removed from his "outlaw" days, can't, either. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Gotham; First Printing edition (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159240197X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592401970
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,054 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What's always on his mind....beyond funny, May 14, 2006

By	L. Power "nlp trainer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was acting like any good Amazon customer, and browsing this in the bookstore, and then hotfooted here to buy it.

This book could have many titles, the wisdom of Willie for example, but it was the Tao that caught my attention.

If you are like me, you might agree that the Tao Te Ching which is 2,500 years old is one of the best books of wisdom ever written. You might also tend to think Willie would not be one of its exponents.

I am not particularly a Willie Nelson fan, though I do respect his output as a singer and songwriter, with songs such as Patsy Cline's classic Crazy.

Yet, I find myself laughing innapropriately out loud in the bookstore, as he relates various adventures, jokes and anecdotes with tieins to the Tao.

Willie is an excellent raconteur and joke teller, an interesting character, and, naturally, a consummate entertainer.

I highly recommend this as an entertaining read. As far as the Tao is concerned, you will need to read that separately, and I think Willie will pique your interest, with his many references, and applications of its principles. If you were to buy the Tao Te Ching,I recommend the Stephen Mitchell version. I wonder if this review was helpful.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A total pleasure to read and so much wisdom, June 7, 2006

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

A few weeks ago I heard Willie Nelson on NPR's Fresh Air show where the book was mentioned. The interview affected me so much I ordered the book from Amazon.com the same day and got it two days later.

Ok, I admit that I wondered as I placed my Amazon.com order whether this book by Willie Nelson would be yet another book by a celebrity with little substance and a goal to simply make the celebrity author more money. Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. So much so that I am buying extra copies for my local library and a couple friends.

Don't overlook the Introduction written by Turk Pipkin, because he shares a lot of insight into this special man named Willie Nelson.


On page 5 the author gives a riddle. What Is It? What is gooder than God? More evil that the devil? The rich need it The poor have it And if you eat it you will die? (The answer is at the end of this review. He then gives an understandable definition of what 'The Tao' is.

So appealing is how he speaks of his sister Bobbie, his eccentric parents Ira and Myrtle, and his beloved grandparents Mama and Daddy Nelson who raised the two kids in Abbott, Texas where the author notes he still owns a home. The one the doctor who delivered him lived in.

And the jokes that the author includes in most chapters are side busting funny and I share one with someone at least daily. The author is so correct when he speaks of the value of humor in the Tao of life. Even his nick name from when he was a kid 'Booger Red' makes me laugh.

On page 11 he writes 'Using your religion and faith as a guide to your actions will do more for other people than if you just talk about it'. Cannot help but think of former President and First Lady Jimmy and Roselyn Carter and how they walk their talk and are devout Christians.

Also love that he writes on pages 28-29 about who isn't a friend of his. People who pollute, people who mistreat those who are smaller or weaker than you. People who think that people whose skin is a different colour is beneath them. Or on page 39 'And I learned: If you forgive your enemies, it messes up their heads'. And 'The lesson I've learned is, don't give up if you know what you're doing is good'.

On page 25 he also admits that he's human and while he admired the non violent message Gandhi taught he also adheres to the 'Golden Rule' which can be found in most belief systems. Thus he notes 'After all, I am only a man, and doubt that my belief in nonviolence would restrain my human reaction if you mess with my family.' I agree.

On page 165 he starts to share his views on war a peace, which is a must read. Although I doubt those who should read what he has to share, probably wont read the book. Which is sad.

On page 174 he writes 'I grew up a Protestant, and knew a lot about Baptists and Methodists and Catholics, but when I was sixteen or seventeen years old, I started realizing there might be more that I had been taught, or thought I knew. But there were clues' 'Wondering what the rest of the world believed about these kind of ideas, I went to the library and began to read. And I learned that many Eastern religions are a little easier on the rating your progress on earth. Perfection is the goal, but you get many lifetimes to get there'. 'To me, it seems like the only way we can achieve the perfection that Jesus wanted for us is to keep at it'.

This is the value of the book Willie Nelson has written. Keep trying with each new day to be and do better than yesterday. And the value of remembering that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we would listen twice as much as we talk. I especially appreciate this since I am not much of a talker.

ANSWER; Nothing

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A note from Turk (and Willie), May 27, 2006

By	T. Pipkin (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Turk Pipkin here, Willie's co-author on The Tao of Willie, so it's no surprise that I'm giving the book 5 stars. I noticed Willie was being criticized for being honest on the Daily Show and saying the book was my idea. He could easily say otherwise, but that wouldn't be Wiliie and it wouldn't be Tao. For almost 30 years I've been proud to call Willie my friend, and to have had frequent oportunities to write about him. But this was my first chance to sit down with Wilie and sift through his amazing life for the stories and his approach to life that have brought so much happines to his fans, his family, to me, and to Willie himself. Coming up with an idea for a book is not the same as writing it, and I think most readers will agree, The Tao of Willie is 100% Willie Nelson.

"I don't know if the things I write here will change your life," Willie says in the book, "But they sure changed mine."

I've published ten books of fiction and nonfiction, most of them personal in nature, but the Tao of Willie stands out as one of those rare books that turned out so much better than we ever dreamed. The book starts with Willie saying it took him a long time to learn the value of the things he was taught as a boy back in Abbott, Texas - a firm handshake, look people in the eye, speak truthfully, and respect your elders - and it ends with Willie saysing, I do not fear death, because there is no death." That's quite an arc of learning.

Throw in a few of Willie's favorite jokes, a little bit of politicking about bio-diesel and America the Beautiful, the simple philosophies that keep him healthy and living in the present moment, lessons learned in a lifetime of making great music, a few million friends and a loving family, and you get a pretty good measure of the man. I think we also get a little insight into the kind of people we can be with a little more love in our hearts.

You can choose to listen to cynicism in this world, but I've made my choice to listen to Willie's advice instead, the same advice he says he gives himself over and over.

"Open your heart, Willie, and give love a try. You'll be amazed at what happens."

Thanks, Willie, for all that I've learned from you, and for letting me be a small part of this lovely little book.

(I asked Willie if he wanted to add a note here, and he said to say to everyone, "See you out on the road.")

turk pipkin, May, 206