Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Tao of Willie  By  cover art

The Tao of Willie

By: Willie Nelson, Turk Pipkin
Narrated by: Willie Nelson, Turk Pipkin, Tom Stechschulte
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $12.60

Buy for $12.60

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

National icon Willie Nelson has evolved over the years from country music outlaw swimming against a whiskey river to a Zen-like figure of wisdom and contentment. In this autobiographical collection of life advice, The Tao of Willie, one of America's truest hearts reveals the spiritual and practical lessons learned from decades of hard knocks and good bounces.

This inspiring and entertaining collection of "Willie wisdom" takes us from his days as a young boy in Texas where he learns to respect his elders, to his roadhouse days when he united redneck rockers, long-haired hippies, and straight-laced country music fans, to the mega-sized benefit concerts and environmentalism that define his boundless heart. And there are plenty of his favorite jokes along the way.

With stories that will both make you laugh out loud and look deep inside yourself, he shows us how the Willie way, and the way of the Tao, can also be your way. Let Willie's common sense approach to life awaken you to the happiness that already exists in your own heart. With Willie as your guide, join the river of life and you'll be carried on an amazing journey.

©2006 Willie Nelson (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved. Penguin Audio is a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

"[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)

What listeners say about The Tao of Willie

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    162
  • 4 Stars
    41
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    118
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    123
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Willie!

Heart-warming, funny, wise, fun, and full of spirit! This audiobook is a treat for the ears and a gift for living.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Truth

Love this book from beginning to end.!
Willie is a sage for the modern day. There something in it for everyone whether you're a fan of Willie or not.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love Willie!

I laughed out loud in some parts. This book is just like his music...pure Willie❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

still

i thought this was the atheists guide to christmas but i was happy just the same.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Refreshing insight!

Great story telling and a great chance to get inside the head of one of my personal favorite people on the planet. Thanks Willie for being you and not trying to be someone you're not, that's what makes us adore you!
Good job on the narration too. I can't wait for the new book tomorrow, I have it on preorder!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

more Willie

I loved it! would have loved to have heard a little more of Willies voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sound teaching

Funny, thought provoking and heart warming. Love to Willie, forever and ever, from this life to the next. I'm proud to have heard his words and take them with me always.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved the book...

I would recommend it to most anyone. It is disappointing however that it misleads, the first name on the list of who it is narrated by is Willie himself which got me jazzed, however he only reads the introduction and a bit at the end. I own the hard copy of the book and thought it would be nice to listen to Willie read his book (even though I generally dislike most authors reading their own material I make exceptions for professional performers), it is very amusing after all, but I would not have wasted the money had I known he had such a small role in its narration.

Great book, disappointing misrepresentation however!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awakening

The Real lessons from Willie. Some you know. The ones you didn't know will wake you up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen and read!!

Definitely learn something new about Willie. I will definitely apply these teachings. Thank you! I hop to pass this on to my son!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!