Taylor Sheridan is opting to add even more to his already jam-packed plate.
Simply put, the Yellowstone creator is one of the busiest people on the planet. Sheridan evidently knows no down time, and it seems like every waking moment is taken up writing. Heck, it would even surprise me to find out that Taylor Sheridan has mastered the art of writing in his sleep.
And with all that he’s got going on, there’s a possibility that’s actually his big secret.
It was just yesterday that publisher Simon & Shuster revealed they will be releasing Sheridan’s debut book, which is interestingly titled How to Not Die in Prison. I wonder if that’ll be found in the “self help” section of the book store and library? The publisher describes the book as a “no bulls***, darkly funny survival guide to life in a maximum-security prison.”
In case you were wondering, Sheridan hasn’t ever been to prison… but Tom Nelson – the book’s co-author – has. Sheridan and the ex-con will release the book together on June 23, 2026, and the book’s description reads as follows:
“There is no book of rules for life in prison — until now. ‘How to Not Die in Prison’ teaches readers everything they need to know to make it out alive, from how to survive a prison riot, a lockdown, a stabbing, a hit, and solitary confinement to how to get a job, not go insane, make prison ramen, give a prison tat, and (allegedly) make a shiv.”
All very useful things to be knowledgeable on if you do plan on finding yourself behind bars at any point in the future.
The book’s introduction includes a tidbit from Taylor Sheridan on why he chose to write the book with Tom Nelson, and once again clarified that he’s never been to prison… but he’s always been interested by the life that people lead while they are locked up:
“You might wonder what in the world gives me the knowledge or wisdom to write a survival guide to prison. Well, I’ll tell you — absolutely nothing. I’ve never been to prison. But, like every man, I’ve certainly wondered how I would survive if circumstances ever put me there.
That morbid curiosity sent me on a journey to understand the politics and dangers of prison. When researching for Mayor of Kingstown, I learned very quickly it’s way better to avoid going to prison than figuring out how to survive one.”
Yeah, up until this book project, the closest Sheridan ever got to being in prison is his writing and research for the wildly underrated series Mayor of Kingstown (which is set to come to a close after next season).
One other aspect of the forthcoming book that’s gotten some attention? The publisher, Simon & Shuster, used to be owned by Paramount. They sold the publishing company three or so years ago, and now Sheridan – whose deal with Paramount will soon be expiring as he’ll head to NBCUniversal – is working with the publisher formerly owned by the company that will soon be losing him as well. That’s probably got to sting a little bit for the Paramount executives, eh?
