Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All by Russell Simmons (2010)
197 pages
Goodreads Summary: Russell Simmons knows firsthand that wealth is rooted in much more than the stock market. True wealth has more to do with what’s in your heart than what’s in your wallet. Using this knowledge, Simmons became one of America’s shrewdest entrepreneurs, achieving a level of success that most investors only dream about. No matter how much material gain he accumulated, he never stopped lending a hand to those less fortunate. In Super Rich, Simmons uses his rare blend of spiritual savvy and street-smart wisdom to offer a new definition of wealth-and share timeless principles for developing an unshakable sense of self that can weather any financial storm. As Simmons says, “Happy can make you money, but money can’t make you happy.”
In straight-talking inspiring chapters, Simmons provides unforgettable true stories from his own road to riches, delving into the principles and practices that have kept him energized and focused. Whether we’re in the boardroom or on a yoga mat, Simmons says, we have to be able to listen to our inner voices. Finding our unique potential, we can make the right moves, ruled not by money but by the joy of conscientious living and giving. With these philosophies and more, Simmons brings us a stimulus package of consciousness that will never run dry, backed by the power of the higher self.
I’d had this book on my radar for a bit after I heard a few people mention it as being a spiritual book. Then when I was at the library I saw it on the shelf right next to one of Eckhart Tolle’s books and grabbed it. The title does seem a bit misleading but Simmons clarifies it in the beginning of the book, saying to be truly rich is to have happiness and peace in your life which money can’t buy. Still, he admits that a book with a boring title about meditation and spirituality might not sell, so that’s why he called the book Super Rich.
But don’t let the misleading title throw you off. This book is packed with advice on how to achieve true and lasting success in life, not just get rich quick. He gives advice that I’ve read in many other places and seems to be agreed upon by most successful and happy people. Basically, find your passion, start at the bottom, and treat even the “lowly” jobs with respect, as well as treating other people with kindness.
He shares a lot of stories from his own background in hip hop in addition to some stories about famous people he knows or has worked with and how they worked hard for years and put in the time before they “made it” as superstars. He also discusses meditation and yoga and how it has helped him become calmer, happier, and more at peace.
Reading this book made me realize once again the importance of meditation and inspired me to expand my own meditation practice. I used to meditate for 5 minutes in the morning but now I’m doing 20 minutes, which is the minimum he recommends. Of course he does trancendental meditation which I haven’t learned, but it’s all related.
I also realized the importance of treating everything and everyone in a positive manner. This really hit home for me regarding jobs that I wouldn’t describe as my dream job but might need to be done in order to work my way up or even pay the bills in order to pursue a dream. In the past I might have resented having to do something boring or repetitive when I felt like I had more in me to give and wanted to do something bigger. But the message I got was that we can control our attitude toward what we do and not make it into something we dread doing.
So I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested either in spirituality, meditation, or yoga. It’d also make an interesting read for someone looking for their dream job or passion, trying to build a business, or just interested in Russell Simmons and the hip hop industry. It’s a short little book but packed with a lot of information and was an easy and compelling read. I learned a lot and it changed my perspective on several things so, for me, it was a powerful book.
My Rating: ★★★★★
I’ve always liked Russell; he comes across as just a nice guy (I couldn’t stand his ex-wife Kimora in the reality show, though) and has beautiful daughters. Thanks for the review because I never would have picked it up due to the title, but I’ll be on the lookout for it now. I used to be very much into meditation and want to start again + yoga + eating healthier, so any book with tips on that is most welcome.
But yikes, 20 min each morning… I’m not a morning person at all, but it would be a nice way to start the day. I’d alway meditate when I got back from school/work.
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Haha, I never saw the show but I did read Kimora’s book and he had nothing but nice things to say about her in the book.
And I hear you about the morning meditation. I never used to be a morning person either and I think meditation can be done anytime and still be effective.
Looks like a good book. He seems like such a reasonable man but then I remember that he married Kimora and wonder at his sanity
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Well I don’t know much about Kimora but he seems to have a good relationship with her even though they’re no longer together. And he’s so successful professionally so maybe he struggles in his personal life. I think he’s definitely been searching for more balance and this comes through in this book.