Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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

Well, okay, maybe nobody would characterize Willie Nelson as an angel. In his youth, he was a rebellious, roughneck, "dirt-eating kid". As he grew up, he became pretty familiar with the currents on the Whiskey River.

He's lived an eventful, not-always-easy life. Still, he found success, and as he says: "some would call it happiness, but I like to think what I found is me."

In this little gem of a book, the wisdom of age shines through, as does a warm sense of humor and a great outlook on life.

Willie has mellowed, it seems, and when you read The Tao of Willie, you may feel more mellow yourself, and ready to accept the happiness in your heart.

I feel that I am probably as close to being the perfect person to review this book as you're going to find. I'm not bragging. I'm just telling it the way it is. In 1997 I suffered a nervous breakdown, and was diagnosed as clinically depressed. I was off work for a year, went back to attempt to save my job, then had a second breakdown, and went into depression again. My circumstances were caused mainly due to the stress of my job.

With that said, I will tell you that I have been seeing psychiatrists and therapists for 9 years now. I'm attempting to live my life the best I know how, and have taken in alot of wise things said to me by my doctors and therapists.

I have been a fan of Willie nelson's for nearly 35 years now, and I've heard every criticism about his long hair and people who don't really care for his music. That's their loss. I've had the honor of meeting the great man on 5 different occasions. He's one of the kindest, most gentle people you'd ever want to meet. But, that's not why I'm writing this review. If you are having any emotional problems at all concerning your life in genearal, or if you have, or are, going through some of what I have gone through, I highly recommend this book to you. You will learn so much about ways at looking at your everyday life and your future on this earth that we all share than you will learn from a hundred so-called professionals in the field of psychology. The great thing too about this book, is that Willie breaks up each and every chapter with some of the funniest jokes you've ever heard. So, what he does is, he tells you how he looks at things that we all go through, and makes you laugh at the same time. So, if you are paying a Doctor maybe 85 or 90 dollars an hour to listen to what your problems are(and, don't get me wrong, they do serve you well), buy this book for $20.00, or check it out at your local library. It will be the best medicine that you've recieved yet. Thanks for listening.

I deployed to Afghanistan in May 2006. The morning of my departure, I received a phone call from both of the authors of this book. Willie and Turk wished me luck and a safe return on my journey. It was a memory that has been with me ever since. Just this past week, I had the fortune of getting to see Willie Nelson in concert (The Last of Breed Tour) for the first time in my 33 years. It was an amazing show and I also had the pleasure of meeting him backstage as he proceeded to the stage to perform with Merle Haggard and Ray Price. What an experience!
While on deployment I was able to read this book. There is little happiness in Afghanistan these days. But every night prior to lights out, I could always count on a smile and a reflection of my life through the words in this book. It was a pleasure to read.
To Willie and Turk...Thank you!

I am a university professor and read many books, but I have not enjoyed a book this much for quite some time. It is a laugh out loud, down to earth book that brings one back to reality while having fun doing it. I put this book on my "read once a year" shelf, and sent copies to others. A quick read, and well worth it! Thanks for the good time, Willie.

I have pledged allegiance to Willie's flag for well over thirty years. That will continue, but never more so than the way I felt after reading his book. This book is categorized in the Self-Help section of any bookstore and here on Amazon.I have personally read as many self help books as I could get my hands on over the past 18 years not only to find myself but discover a new way to relate to this crazy world we live in. They have all made a difference in my life to live as one with every human on the planet. And to love each and every person I come in contact with. Never has this theory been more clear than in Willie's book. You don't have to be a fan of his, but my question has always been, why not? There has never been a musician alive that has given so much of his heart to people through his music and through his contact with everyone he meets more than Willie. I remember 28 years ago a died in the wool Baptist boss I had asked me if I believed in God. At that time it was still a question in my mind so I answered him in this way. "No, but I believe in Willie Nelson and it's all the same thing." Now I know that those were some of the truest words I have ever spoken. Like Willie I've studied every religion and culture known to man and found the same belief he has. We are all one. Our bodies die but our spirit lives on and we always get a chance in the next life. I have known in my heart for many years that Willie is the gentle spirit and has the open heart God has always wanted us all to be. God loves each of us the same, but it's up to us to "show up" in this life and share the same love that Willie shares with us all.Do I highly recommend this book? Absoloutely. It is a ten star book and one that will change your life or confirm what us lucky ones have known for so long.

This is a nice, easy read that helped me to put my life in perspective and forget my worries for a while.

Not being a country and western fan, I really don't remember when I discovered Willie...Saw him at the Austin Opry House back in the 70's and and been to several more concerts...He always comes across as an authenic being, who does not pretend to be more than he is...When I stumbled across this book, I immedicately knew I had to read it...The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu perfectly compliments the "way" of Willie's life and he expresses it simply and humorously in this gem of a book. I had to stop reading frequently to either comtemplate the truth of what he's written or, just as frequently, to laugh at his jokes...This book will warm your heart and soul...We're all the better for having Willie in our lives...