How to Not Die in Prison: A Survival Guide

by Taylor Sheridan, Tom Nelson

The debut book from Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, creator of Landman and cocreator of Yellowstone—a no-bullsh*t, darkly funny survival guide to life inside a maximum-security prison, cowritten with prison-hardened ex-con Tom Nelson.

So, you f*cked up. Can't talk your way out of it, buy your way out of it, or beg your way out of it.

You are going to prison. You will be living under a set of rules made up by men who have demonstrated to society that they need a big ol' time out. There is no book of these rules. Nobody will tell them to you. But when you break one—boy, will you know it. For the newbie, the fish, the fresh meat—this book is your survival guide. How to mind your business without becoming a target. When to walk away. When to stand your ground.

This is how you don't die. Follow the advice in this book, and you just might make it out alive.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

Taylor Sheridan is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, Emmy-nominated producer, and the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of multiple record-breaking series including Yellowstone, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, 1883, 1923, Lioness, and The Madison. His acclaimed screenplays include Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River, which he also directed, earning him Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival. Sheridan owns and operates two Texas ranches including the legendary Four Sixes (6666) Ranch and Bosque Ranch.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6 - Information I will (hopefully) never need :)

[Milly]

Picked this up out of curiosity. Read half of it in one day. Taylor Sheridan wrote about 10% of this and his (ex-convict) friend Tom Nelson wrote the rest. Both are extremely voice-y writers. Makes for quite an interesting read !

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent information delivered in a no-nonsense manner.

[Kerry Crabbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned where and how to hide things, how to make a shiv, how to do prison tattoos, and how to make some recipes.

[Kaz Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have no plans of ever going to prison or committing serious crimes, I’ve always wondered what I would do if I found myself in prison. This book answered so many of those more specific questions and gave practical advice in a way that was very digestible and conversational. The level of detail also reinforces that which we all already know (but can always use a reminder of when someone cuts us off on the road), which is that the best strategy is to avoid prison at all costs, because it sounds even worse than I had previously imagined. Very interesting read! Thank you for sharing this niche knowledge with the world.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Strong 4.75/5!
Only Taylor Sheridan could write a book on life in USA men's maximum security prisons and turn it into a travel style guide! This book is exceptionally brilliant and readable!!!
If you're someone headed to prison or you know someone that is I recommend you buy them this book cuz it may change their life if you're someone who has no intention of ever committing a crime of any nature that you're curious on the human nature within the person's systems this book will become a favorite quickly!
Sheridan proves again and again he truly has a gift for hard hitting entertaining writing!!

[Cara Sensing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a serious tell all of advice on what life is like for a convict. I developed interest after hearing a Podcast interview of Taylor Sheridan. Being a huge fan of Taylor’s impressive shows, I knew this book was a must read. It didn’t disappoint. The creative writing style, real life experiences, and just the brutal honesty of how broken our I department of corrections is. Even if you don’t have plans on going to jail, and I promise you it isn’t at the top of my list either, I still think this quick read is informative and entertaining.

[Oli Turner]

#howtonotdieinprison by #taylorsheridan and #tomnelson published in 2026. A survival guide from a former inmate. Almost a companion piece to Sheridan’s #mayorofkingstown features some interesting and terrifying anecdotes. It’s not a scholarly analysis of the prison system but provides practical advice from the perspective of the incarcerated. A quirky/novel idea - like a travel guide to prison. Not somewhere I would want to visit.

[Chris M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you get this book, I would recommend the audible version because the narration is excellent. The book itself was very entertaining and to the point about distinguishing fact from fiction about prisons in the U.S. There was also some interesting commentary about the prison industrial complex and how prisons continue to grow yet funding and resources remain poor which defeats the purpose of rehabilitation.

[Amy Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a book tells you what it's about, that's what it's about. My thinking that it being written (in part) by Taylor Sheridan would mean it was anything other than a guidebook for how to prepare for and survive a prison sentence was, well, naive, because that's what this book was. If you're going to -- or anticipate going to - prison, this might be helpful for you. If not? Maybe skip it?

[Cody Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book on prison system and do and don’t and great narrative authors and actually really funny and entertaining I really recommend this book for people with a interest in prisons and systems or if you work at a prison or if your about to go to prison lol news flash stay out of prison

[John Schorg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A how to guide for something you hope will never happen. There are times when you might think this is a parody... a prison version of "How to Survive a Horror Movie"... but this is a legitimate look at the experience of being behind bars. Easy to read, but that's about it.

[Darryl Sons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

I read this after I saw Taylor on Joe Rogan talking about it, I found it very interesting and even though I never plan to go to prison I’m definitely more prepared if that happened.

[Mike Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Not to Die in Prison by Taylor Sheridan is a fun, interesting read—just probably not something you want to pick up if you are actually on your way to prison. If that's the case, definitely skip it.

[TigerLily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, engaging listening. This is an actual “how to” book that everyone should read…it can only benefit you. It’s an easy read, which is perfect. It’s not a book that pretends to be more than it is, so refreshing!

P.S. This could be a series…a women’s prison version seems a natural progression

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this audio and finished it within one day! It is cowritten by the actor who was in sons of anarchy and Yellowstone!

[Brett Thurbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening advice

[Matthew Aujla]

Subordinate companion to Mayor of Kingstown.

[Idollia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this. I learned how to make a syringe from a pipette 😂😂

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, just in case.

[Bikerider99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read.

[Brett Ownbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, hard pass on going to prison.

[Taylor Ellis-Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Not for me and not what I expected.