It's Like That: A Spiritual Memoir
After the rape trial ended, Run was down to his last $1,000. The church asked him to donate all of it to them -- after some initial skepticism, he donated the money, a test of faith. A few days later, he received an unexpected royalty check. Spirituality didn't help him overnight, but he kept going to church and heeding the scriptures. The experience taught him that if people lack something, they can have faith that more will come; negative thinking causes stagnation. He advocates generosity, more so when people can't afford it.
His brother Russell, founder of Def Jam Records and CEO of the Phat Farm clothing line, wrote the book's forward. Its title is from Run-D.M.C.'s first hit It's Like That (1983). Fellow band-mate Darryl McDaniels' biography King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-D.M.C. will be published by St. Martin's Press in 2001.
Summaries at the end of each of It's Like That's 13 chapters, called "Run's House Rules," contain quotes from each chapter, and related bible passages fulfilling his purpose to teach readers "how to stage a comeback from hard times and restore your vision and vitality."
Simmons is careful not to offer his solution as the only one to people's problems. He stresses that faith was the path he found successful in helping him restore his riches. If readers are willing, he suggests turning to God. Mental attitude indicates whether a person is a success or a failure. A comeback requires a "wealth mentality." He believes "self-awareness is the key to life" rather than luck. He suggests people reexamine their childhoods to discover what made them who they are today, to "put your personal demons to rest" before you can awaken from "spiritual amnesia." "Stop trying to twist God's arm to get Him to move for you. Ask not what God can do for you but what you can do to be the most God-like person you can be."
When he had faith God would help him change his life, he could move forward. He advises people to "live your dreams" and have faith that God will help change your life. Simmons emphasizes that you don't have to be at the "lowest point in your life" to effect this change. He leaves the path up to the reader.
Simmons carries the well-meaning theme that failure doesn't have to lead to depression; through optimism or faith in God people can overcome struggles to become successful. It's a familiar mantra from many self-help books. His personal experiences as a wealthy man and a poor man bring
Latest Articles