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The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart Paperback – May 10, 2007

by Willie Nelson (Author), Turk Pipkin (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 500 ratings
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Born in small-town Texas during the Great Depression, Willie Nelson was raised to believe in helping his neighbors and living without pretense. After many hardscrabble years as a poorly paid songwriter (often watching his work become a gold mine for other performers), Willie finally found his own voice—the gentle but unmistakably honest sound that has made him an American icon. Now the master of harmonization has created a guide to finding harmony in everyday life. Featuring vignettes from each chapter of his seventy-plus years (along with plenty of his favorite jokes), The Tao of Willie captures his views on money, love, war, religion, cowboys, and other essential Willie topics.

Loosely based on the principles of the Chinese philosophy of the Tao Te Cheng, which Willie has admired and followed for much of his adult life, this inspiring and entertaining collection of "Willie wisdom" takes us from his roadhouse days, when he united redneck rockers with straitlaced country music fans, to the mega-sized benefit concerts and environmentalism that define his boundless heart. In the spirit of his fellow Texan Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, Willie's timeless insights sparkle with clarity: It's like having a one-on-one conversation with the sage himself.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Avery
  4. Publication date
    May 10, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.56 x 7.93 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1592402879
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1592402878
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[T]he book is a wily tour through Nelson's obsessions. . . ." (The New Times Book Review)

"Seriously fun guide offers readers the full Nelson. . . . [a] whimsical yet serious guide to happiness. . . . The Willie philosophy is simple, a blending of 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' and 'don't sweat the small stuff.'" (Boston, Sunday Herald)

About the Author

A longtime friend and golfing buddy of Willie’s, writer, director and actor Turk Pipkin has appeared in numerous feature films and played a recurring character on The Sopranos. A contributing editor to Texas Monthly, he has also written for television and is the author of eight previous books.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avery (May 10, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592402879
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592402878
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.56 x 7.93 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 500 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Willie Nelson

    Willie Nelson

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  2. Turk Pipkin

    Turk Pipkin

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    Writer and filmmaker Turk Pipkin is the co-founder of the education nonprofit The Nobelity Project and the director of three feature documentaries about global problems and solutions. His latest film, Building Hope, tells the story of The Nobelity Project’s partnership with a rural Kenyan community to build the area's first high school.

    Turk is also the author of ten books including the NY Times bestseller, THE TAO OF WILLIE, coauthored with American music legend, Willie Nelson. His novel When Angels Sing (Algonquin Books) will be released as a feature film in 2013 and stars Harry Connick, Jr., Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett andConnie Britton. Turk’s golf books include the classic Texas novel, FAST GREENS, and THE OLD MAN AND THE TEE, which chronicles his year with some of the best teachers in the game.

    Films directed by Turk include Nobelity, One Peace at a Time and Building Hope.

    As an actor, Turk played a recurring role as Janice’s narcoleptic boyfriend Aaron Arkaway in HBO's The Sopranos, and in numerous feature films including Waiting for Guffman, The Alamo, Friday Night Lights and Rick Linklater’s Scanner Darkly. He also plays a role in the new film adaptation of his novel When Angels Sing.

    Turk is also the co-founder of Nobelity Project (at www.nobelity.org), a global education nonprofit that works with Nobel laureates and other leaders to advocate basic rights for children everywhere.

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
500 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Charles E. Rehberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
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One night read. Funny and just an enjoyable read.
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Iggy
5.0 out of 5 stars A Soulful Humorous Confession of a People's Champion
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2015
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The book "The Tao of Wilie" is quite an easy read - I finished it in a few days. It is full of mundane wisdom, that would be expected from such an everyday guy as Willie Nelson - a people's entertainer. And yet, there is something there that rises above the mundane, a sort of deeper understanding that transcends Willie's own character, or shall we call it a "stage persona", that of a traveling cowboy, outcast, pot-smoker and free roamer. That understanding, is what Willie calls simply "love". And that is something accessible to everyone alive. One doesn't have to spend years in a cave, detached from the societal affairs in order to understand that wisdom. Live by love, and you shall receive it in return. Easier said then done sometimes, but not impossible.

Willie himself can be considered a pretty successful individual. He has a ton of property, a large family, and a fan base that is more akin to the Grateful Dead following. He is a good businessman, asking his reader to check out his website, and is humble in introducing himself as a traveling singer, reminding those of us who don't have a detailed knowledge of his musical carrier about his more well known songs, as well as some of his albums that made an impact. I liked the fact that he is not bragging about the multitude of his musical accomplishments but kind of eases the reader into his world, that has been around for several decades. That is a good thing for a newcomer such as myself.

All in all, Willie is a heartfelt individual that has reached a respected age that deserves a book such as this one here. He has a lot to share, and it is ironic that all of that can be fit into such an easy and accommodating read. I think it can be counted as another one of Mr. Nelson's many accomplishments.
19 people found this helpful
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H. B. Funk
5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Spirit, Open Heart
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2006
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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.
12 people found this helpful
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Linda Van Hook
5.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly my type of book
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
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Some of the content is not my beliefs
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T. Pipkin
5.0 out of 5 stars A note from Turk (and Willie)
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2006
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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
81 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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momshop
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2021
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Absolutely LOVE this book!
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robert thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars A breezy, light-hearted meandering book about life, love, and music
Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Willie Nelson is an American icon. This book is divided into chapters, but it's really just a collection of meandering musings from Willie and his 60+ decades of performing. It's a fun read with some good laugh-out-loud moments. Perfect summer reading.
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Begeisterte Leserin
5.0 out of 5 stars Willie schreibt, wie er singt
Reviewed in Germany on February 8, 2013
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Wenn Willie Nelson singt, hat man den Eindruck, als nähere er sich dem richtigen Ton von unten und von oben, eher schwingend als glasklar. Genau so schreibt er auch. The Tao of Willie nähert sich dem Thema von verschiedenen Seiten und ohne dass man es richtig merkt, befindet man sich auf einmal mitten im Thema. Willie Nelson setzt sich mit dem Tao nicht in abstrakter Weise auseinander, gibt keine Ratschläge und spielt sich nicht als Lehrmeister auf, sondern er erzählt auf sehr humorvolle und sensible Weise aus seinem Leben. Man erfährt viel über seine Biographie und den Menschen Willie Nelson. The Tao of Willie zeigt Willie Nelson als ausgesprochen humorvollen Menschen. Er liebt Witze und erzählt in seinem Buch viele davon. Kennen Sie schon den vom Holzfäller, der noch nie in seinem Leben einen Elefanten gesehen hat ... Ein wunderbares Buch, dass ich nur weiter empfehlen kann!
One person found this helpful
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AAkara
5.0 out of 5 stars Much Enjoyed
Reviewed in Canada on June 17, 2019
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Willie is remarkable, good price.
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Andrew Fuller
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good old boy.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2019
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Very entertaining whilst reading it.
One person found this helpful
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