Enjoy some lighthearted cowboy humor in this easy-to-read volume.

“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by.” — Quote from John Wayne in Cowboy Wisdom: Over 200 Quotes About the Old West

The quote by actor John Wayne on the back cover of this book sets the tone for its content.

Gerd De Ley has compiled quotes that embody the West. In his introduction, he writes of the cowboy that he is “a symbol of a life lived according to one’s principles, facing the best and worst of what each day had to offer head-on, they represent the quintessential American image of adventure and exceptionalism.”

The book is divided into seven chapters: What Makes A Man A Cowboy, Wild West Wisdoms, The Cowboy’s Little Lexicon, From the Horse’s Mouth, Wild West Wisecracks, Cowboys at the Movies and Cowpoke Proverbs.

From the first quote (“A cowboy is a man who requires the help of a horse to outsmart a cow. —Peter Darbo) to the last, the book offers a selection of humor and sage advice. It features quotes from such well-known names as Baxter Black, Will Rogers and John Wayne. One of Rogers’ pieces of advice: “If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.”

There’s nothing about this book that requires deep thought or concentration; just a willingness to laugh and be entertained.