Taylor Sheridan, the acclaimed screenplay writer and co-creator of Yellowstone, is releasing a new book that dives into the harsh realities of prison survival. Despite having never experienced incarceration himself, Sheridan has crafted a guide aimed at navigating the dangers of maximum-security prisons, scheduled for release on June 23 by Simon & Schuster. This move marks a distinct departure from his usual focus on crime and violence in film and television.
Creating a Survival Guide Without Prison Experience
In the introduction of How to Not Die in Prison, Sheridan addresses readers’ possible doubts about his qualifications to write such a guide, acknowledging his lack of direct experience behind bars. He writes,
“You might wonder what in the world gives me the knowledge or wisdom to write a survival guide to prison,”
Sheridan states.
“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.”
This curiosity propelled him to research the complex and often brutal world of prison life from multiple perspectives.
Collaboration with a Co-Author Who Lived the Experience
To ground his work in authenticity, Sheridan teamed up with Tom Nelson, who spent over ten years in medium and maximum-security prisons. Nelson brings a firsthand viewpoint that complements Sheridan’s storytelling. Nelson said,
“Hey, one of us has written hit TV shows and Academy Award-nominated movies, and the other has spent much of his adult life behind bars in medium and maximum-security prisons,”
adding,
“If that’s what makes for good wisdom and entertainment, I’ll take it.”
Sheridan’s Broad Career and Upcoming Projects
Taylor Sheridan is known for his involvement in critically acclaimed projects such as the 2016 crime drama Hell or High Water, for which he earned an Oscar nomination. He has also created popular TV series including Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown. His other film work includes writing and directing the thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead, starring Angelina Jolie, and the Western-thriller Wind River, featuring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Recently, Sheridan and collaborator Peter Berg have been reported to be adapting the widely successful video game franchise Call of Duty for film with Paramount and Activision.
Significance of Sheridan’s Prison Survival Guide
By combining his narrative skills with Nelson’s lived experience, Sheridan aims to offer a darkly humorous yet informative manual on enduring prison life, addressing a subject many fear to confront. The book’s release comes as a rare exploration of prison culture from a storyteller known primarily for crafting crime dramas rather than firsthand accounts. How How to Not Die in Prison will be received remains to be seen, but it stands to contribute meaningful insight into the complexities of incarceration through the lens of someone who has long examined the margins of violence and survival.
