Super Rich by Russell Simmons - Book Review by Reginald Delaney

Super Rich by Russell Simmons – Book Review

By Reginald Delaney

Introduction

I just finished reading the book entitled, Super Rich, by Russell Simmons. I must say that I was surprised by what the book was really about when I first started reading it. Initially, I thought, “This book is not at all what I expected” and I placed it back on the store shelf. However, before I could walk out of the store, I found myself going back to the book, taking it from the shelf, and proceeding to the cashier to purchase the book. I knew I had a two hour flight ahead of me and decided not to spend those two hours working on my next business plan. I decided that I would read “Uncle Russ’” book instead. So that is what I did.

What Compelled Me to Continue to Read?

As I continued to read Mr. Simmons’ book, I was surprised by some of the language that I found in the book. I understand the desire to “keep it real”, but I do believe we must be ever conscious of the power that words possess and we must be cautious of the lasting adverse impact that they can foster. Nonetheless, I will not go into the passages in the book that caused this angst, but I’m certain that others may be taken aback slightly by some of the language, as well. Nevertheless, I decided to read on and not let this concern detract from me receiving the message that was intended for me to receive. I know I was meant to receive a message, because I would have not returned to the shelf to purchase the book.

As I continued to read, I began to realize why I was meant to read this book. Although I picked up the book expecting a simple blueprint on how to become wealthy, and it being basically a rehashing of all the information that I had seen before, it turned out to be much more than that. I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Mr. Simmons’ approach towards acquiring wealth. The message was basically this: “The wealth will come when you become the person that wealth is attracted to. The wealth will come when you realize that you currently possess all the traits of the wealthy person that you desire to be. The wealth will come when your focus is no longer purely on acquiring wealth.” Then where should your focus be? According to Mr. Simmons’, the focus should be on service to others, and this is where the book gets interesting.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Mr. Simmons stated that his greatest moments of joy in life occurred when he brought joy to others. He stated that “living in the moment” of the creative process when he was developing projects like the hit song, “Sucker MCs” by Run-DMC and anticipating the reaction the song would get from the public was greater than any compensation that he could have ever received from such projects. Although the money eventually came, it was not the prime motivator. I, Reginald Delaney, was once told that when you are making money doing something that you would enjoy doing for free that is when you have “truly arrived”.

Another interesting bit of advice that Mr. Simmons passed along in the book is to approach everything you do in life with a grateful and positive attitude. Attack every task and job with passion and a smile. Do your best at whatever you are doing and always treat the people you encounter with love and respect. This does not mean that you must try to impose your “goodness” on them if they do not reciprocate your actions, but it does mean that you should give everyone the benefit of the doubt that he or she is indeed a good person. If they prove themselves otherwise, you can then distance yourself from them. It is important to realize that the source of your help for achieving your ultimate goal may not always be “cut and dry”. You may receive help from the unlikeliest of places. Therefore, it is important to live every moment as if it is the most important moment of your life. We do this by truly living “in the moment”. How do we live “in the moment”? That is the subject of our next paragraph.

What Does Meditation Have to Do With Becoming Rich?

Although I had heard a lot of discussion about meditation and yoga and how they could be important tools in any self-help regimen, I never took the time to really explore how I would incorporate them on my journey to fulfillment. I had seen a number of books and videos on the subject but never was “moved” to pick one up and say, “This is for me”. However, when I saw the endorsement coming from Russell Simmons (which I deemed to be an unlikely source), I decided to pursue it a bit further. As I continued to read about Mr. Simmons’ experience with meditation and the impact it had on his life and the life of those around him, I became more receptive to giving it a try. Since the practice of meditation in no way conflicted with my religious beliefs, I moved forward. A conflict between meditation and my religious beliefs would have been a deal breaker for me. As a matter of fact I see the value of incorporating meditation techniques in my study of the “Word”.

I must say that after engaging in my first meditation session, I understand the purpose of meditation and the meaning of “living in the moment”. The whole process allows us to get better in tune with ourselves and by doing so we can get better in tune with others and the things around us. It goes beyond just changing your words and actions. You have to change your being. You must become a builder and not a destroyer. You must become one who provides benefit to the world without expecting anything in return for that benefit which you provide. You must do what makes you happy, and it can never be at the expense of others. Meditating can help you get in tune with who you are at your very core. There is magic in the “stillness” of meditation.

Was “Super Rich” Worth the Read?

I will say that Super Rich was not the greatest self-help book that I’ve ever read, but I will say that it was definitely worth the read. Had I not read the book yesterday, I can assure you that I would not have had my first meditation session today. That was a very peaceful 20 minute session. I found my mind racing at times, but I always brought it back to the mantra that Mr. Simmons suggested that novice practitioners of meditation use. I will definitely continue to have my “stillness” sessions because of the positive energy I felt during my first session. As I went “deeper” the minute sounds that I normally would not have noticed suddenly became very noticeable. I noticed a great sense of calm coming over me as I sat there trying to focus on absolutely nothing but my mantra. It was a different experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will recommend that others read Super Rich, but not as a step-by-step guide to becoming wealthy. If that is what you are seeking, this is not the book for you. However, this book does tell you how to incorporate the universal laws of attraction to get the things that you desire. It basically states that you will attract the things and people you desire to you by becoming the person to which these things and people are attracted to.