The bobber won’t bounce if it ain’t in the water. This homespun adage and more like it were birthed in the hills of Tennessee, the lake country of West Virginia, and the backwoods of a place near you. Bestselling author Steve Chapman shares more than 70 of his favorite and distinctive quips, including:

Sometimes you have to let your feet do the talkin’ for your heart. Bad friends help you sow, but you do the reaping. Don’t mistake love for stupidity.

Garnered during his years as a traveling musician with a band and, later, with his family, each entertaining proverb is followed by a true story that reveals the down-home wisdom in action. Clever, insightful, and entertaining, these maxims will make you smile…and think a bit.