How to Hustle and Win, Part One: A Survival Guide for the Ghetto [Paperback]

Supreme Understanding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2008

Likened to a 48 Laws of Power for young Black men, this book presents Black biographies, history, and current events in a language that the Hip-Hop generation will understand and relate to. Each story or essay is framed within the context of a life lesson, each one being of vital importance to the survival, redemption, and ultimate success of our dying Black generation. Both the positive and negative sides of the Black experience are explored in detail, from the lives of infamous drug dealers and pimps to the exploits of Black revolutionaries and activists. In addition, several How To sections outline simple strategies for self-development. Packed with useful information, from the best way to handle confrontations with police, to the continuing relevance of the 1919 race riots, this book has been compared to an urban Encyclopedia Africana. Others have called it a Blueprint for Black Power for a generation struggling with materialism and short attention spans. This book is guaranteed to change the world by changing the way millions of people think and live. In How to Hustle and Win, author Supreme Understanding tells, in often graphic detail, stories like that of the infamous Philadelphia Black Mafia, Harlem's heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, and former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams. In between and throughout these tales, he weaves life lessons and guidance, turning sordid stories of crime and urban despair into an educational experience. Whereas Robert Greene's bestselling 48 Laws of Power used iconic figures from classical history to illustrate the guidelines for personal success, How to Hustle and Win is filled with the exploits of rappers, gangsters, radicals, and revolutionaries. This is a new kind of Black history book, and its intent is the motivation and achievement of a new kind of reader. Although today's literary market has seen an influx of self-help books attending to a variety of issues, few books have attempted to address the concerns of young Black men, struggling to find direction. It is this group that author Supreme Understanding names as one of most troubled demographics in American society today. On the book's website, the author comments: "Unfortunately, few authors actively target this audience, and those who do are either not speaking their language, or not interested in pushing for change. This is why How to Hustle and Win was written. This book will change the minds of millions of young men of color, and by doing this, it will ultimately change the world." Revolutionary aspirations aside, How to Hustle and Win's groundbreaking concept results in a truly appealing work. Its essays are delivered in short bursts, none of them over four pages long, making it ideal for struggling readers and those with shorter attention spans. At the same time, the book is filled with a wealth of information that would enlighten educated readers equally. In fact, the author juxtaposes his own personal tales of early delinquency and misdirection with his later years of professional success, including obtaining a doctorate in education at the age of 26.

Editorial Reviews

Review

How to Hustle and Win is a powerful book that every hustler, male or female, should pick up and read. Not only is the book inspirational, but it will also enlighten the minds of our trapped and confused youth. --The Real "Freeway" Rick Ross

Supreme Understanding leaves no stones unturned and keeps it real, 100 percent. Ain't no faking it. If you want the real deal, and you want to learn something that will help you in life, then read this book. How to Hustle and Win will answer every question and provide all the direction you need to start winning this game of life in words you can understand and relate to. So put down that new Triple Crown book and pick up How to Hustle and Win. --The Urban Book Source

ow to Hustle and Win is a no-nonsense, practical book that is like having a loving but strict parent, a super-honest coach, a street-wise mentor, a honest homey, and a positive thugged-out drill seargant, all in one. It kicks you in the ass with love and knowledge on how to motivate yourself and get your goals accomplished. If Supreme Understanding didn't write this book, I was about to! I absolutely love it for its swagger, depth, originality, ULTRA practicality and I personally recommend it to all the homeys out there who feel like the world owes them something...get up, get out and get this book --Stic.man, of rap group dead prez

After absorbing the wisdom of Supreme, it s clear to me that hustling and winning are possible as long as we use our common sense and follow some simple rules. If we do that, we ll pull through this crisis. --Colorlines Magazine, January 2009

The author reaches well beyond discussion. He provides resources for the reader and encourages their use in order to successfully navigate the hood and life. Supreme Understanding is a champion for young brothers...He has put together something that is easy to read and can be understood by anyone looking for a message. I recommend How to Hustle and Win to all men, young and old, who wish to surpass hood life and achieve something greater. --APOOO Book Reviews

About the Author

Supreme Understanding is a community activist and expert on the struggle. A lifelong resident of America's ghettos, the author has been involved in the rap game. the drug game, the street hustle game, the pimping game, and the real estate game, among many others. Through a combination of book knowledge (represented by several academic degrees) and street intelligence, the author arrived at a set of guidelines any man of color could use for achieving true success in a dirty game that normally rewards no one. How to Hustle and Win represents the guide to these principles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Supreme Design Publishing (June 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098161700X
• ISBN-13: 978-0981617008
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pick this up, and do the Knowledge, August 19, 2008

By 

Robery "Robert" (Inland Empire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Hustle and Win, Part One: A Survival Guide for the Ghetto (Paperback)

First off, I'd like to thank my barber Keith for throwing this one my way, I was just going in for a haircut, and I think we started talking about books, and I must say, I was a skeptic at first. For one, heads is always trying to hustle somethin' in the barbershop, most of the time-from my experience at least-it aint no good. I been through too many barbers trying to run a hustle on me. I'd be the loyal customer for years, and dudes would try and rise prices outta nowhere, not be persistent with the cuts and all that nonsense, but this dude was different. How was he different? For one, he sold me this book, and he's persistent in his cuts, same price all the time.
Lol, anyways I took this book home, and thought I'd skim around and see what it was about, and I was sucked right in. I was reading "Click" a book on networking, but had to put that down for a minute, and I was just 50 pgs. shy of finishing that. The knowledge, contained in this book I'd say is equivalent to 2 years (possibly more) worth of groceries, but not for your stomach but food for the brain. Maybe that was a bad way to put it, but this book definitely will kick some knowledge your way, on just about anything, from healthy foods, to women, to the pimp game, the rap game, communicating effectively, to religion, to how the crips were formed and what their original mission was, to the black panthers, Cointelpro, the real story of slavery, the drug game...etc. I go to Cal Poly, Pomona, and recently took a course on the black diaspora and we didn't dwelve this deep into some the subjects this book goes through, which took a whole quarter and this book a few pages.
What I like about this book to is that it sometimes asks you questions and makes you read and think critically, and brings you to go out and do the knowledge yourself. I recommend this book for personal purchase as it's not one of those that you'd go to the library for read it through once and get what you want from it, 'though that's fine too, it just seems more of a personal, lifetime companion with timeless information that you may use more than once at any time in your life, it even gives you advice on what to do when the police stop you, your rights and tings of the sort.
In one sentence, it condenses a lot of those philosophical pieces of literature into one. Actually got me typing a damn review, which I've never done and may rarely do again. Make sure to pick it up

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons in the Game, October 26, 2008

By 

OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: How to Hustle and Win, Part One: A Survival Guide for the Ghetto (Paperback)

What makes Supreme Understanding qualified to write a book entitled "How to Hustle and Win"? He has robbed people, bought, sold and used drugs, been arrested and gone to jail. He's been a rapper, a spoken word artist, owned a million dollars worth of real estate by age 24. He graduated from college with honors and got his doctorate by age 26. These are just a few things that make him qualified; he knows first hand "the streets" and he only bettered himself to get away from them.

"How to Hustle and Win" touches upon everything and anything. The key to reading this book is that you can read it in any order. It has so much information, from famous people, to movies to see, to quizzes, to cleaning up dirty money, to legit hustles and hustling skills and so much more. Supreme Understanding will have you laughing at times with his bluntness and realism and on the next page will have you really thinking about things. "If you're looking for answers - to almost any question - you will find them here. The mind is the world's most powerful weapon - and this is all the ammunition you need."

In reading this book, it does seem a little intimidating with how much the author touches upon. If you just pick up the book and look at the table of contents, you will see how much information is given in this book. Just pick a spot and start reading, I guarantee you will be pulled in by the knowledge and words that come off the pages. This is a very informative read that everyone should read. You can tell that the author did his research and sharing of his personal experiences.

Reviewed by: LeonaR

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not an Option, August 18, 2008

By 

Devotion "Doing the Knowledge" (Every Ghetto, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Hustle and Win, Part One: A Survival Guide for the Ghetto (Paperback)

I would like to thank this author for reminding me of all of the things that I had forgotten and giving me the added spark that was needed for me to reach and teach the youth! This book is for anyone young and old who has any interactions with the young. Although many may think that this book is for young males alone, I have found that there are things in this book that have no gender barriers. This book should be on every bookshelf in Urban America!!! It should be used as a learning tool in schools and it should be given as holiday gifts instead of the typical gift. This book is more valuable than any diamond, any pair of Nikes or any Game System. This is a REAL JEWEL. Youth, know that there are people who have been where you are and have Hustled to Win to get where they are now. Learn the rules to the game and never lose again.
Peace,
Devotion