Sex Money Kiss (Gene Simmons Family Jewels) [Paperback]

Gene Simmons (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gene Simmons Family Jewels | Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Let's face it, just because I stick out my tongue a lot and spit fire doesn't mean I have any qualifications to advise anyone on relationship, money, or career issues. I don't. Yet I've lived with a beautiful woman for twenty years with never a cross word between us, in a relationship based on honesty and full disclosure. I've amassed a fortune -- and expert business people work for me. And for three decades I've been in KISS -- a band that has scaled the heights and broken every possible record, from album sales to touring to merchandising and licensing. What I have and have always had (thanks in full to my mother's wisdom) is an abiding faith in me. Call it a life philosophy: a philosophy about money (mine!) and happiness (mine again). It works for me. It can work for you!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The legendary lothario of the rock band Kiss believes that the most important things in life are money, sex and more money-and he repeats variations on this theme in this highly entertaining book, which that covers much of the same autobiographical ground as his successful KISS and Make-Up, albeit with a different slant. Simmons readily admits that "just because I stick out my tongue a lot and spit fire doesn't mean I have any qualifications to advise anyone on relationship, money or career issues." What he does have is a highly successful rock band and, apparently, a highly developed ego, and he uses both to present a philosophy of work that is rooted, some would say ironically, in traditional Puritan virtues-work hard, save your money, don't smoke, don't drink, don't get high, equate time with money and know that being rich is better than being poor. His example of a successful man is his equally hard-working Kiss partner Paul Stanley; as in his first book, Simmons trashes the bad habits of his other bandmates. His view of the sexes, however, is Neanderthal: the "power of women is completely based on whether she can attract a man, biologically speaking," while "the power of man is in achieving wealth and `killing things' so we can come back to the cave with a big piece of meat over our shoulder." This belief translates into Simmons's main financial advice: "The worst thing a man can do, financially and biologically speaking, is to get married." His messages are bound to resonate with the book's prime target audience: not-so-young professional guys. 24 pages of color photos; b&w photos throughout.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gene Simmons was born a very poor Chaim Witz in Israel in 1949, and immigrated with his divorced mother to Brooklyn in 1958. Thrilled by comic books, The Ed Sullivan Show, and rock and roll, Simmons ultimately decided that people crave great rock and roll music and a great theatrical show. People crave excitement and escape from their everyday lives. This inspiration led Simmons to create the most enduring sound in rock music history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix Books (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597775029
• ISBN-13: 978-1597775021
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #807,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars P.T. Barnum lives!, May 26, 2003

By 

C. Davis (Shreveport, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex Money Kiss (Hardcover)

As a follow up to his bestseller, Kiss and Makeup, this book offers very little in the way of "new" information. It is mainly typical Gene Simmons reiterating his thoughts on, naturally, sex, money and Kiss. In fact, his views and opinions on women and relationships, though veiled in a pose of pragmatism, reveal a sense of paranoia that is more than a little unbecoming in such an accomplished man. He continues to pat himself on the back for his accomplishments (yawn) and, thankfully, devotes an entire page of text to appreciation for his partner in crime, Paul Stanley, whose accomplishments have often been overlooked admist the din of Simmons' carnival barking. Of his other bandmates, Simmons is often dismissive of their contribution and seems to be making another buck from exploiting their personal choices and mistakes. In these respects, Sex Money Kiss is no different - truly - than his last book. He continues to maximize on his ability to sell anything with the Kiss logo attached and makes no apologies for this, a trait which may or may not be admirable, depending on how often you've heard his dramatic manifesto regarding the importance of money. He willingly subscribes to the notion that there's a sucker born every minute. And in all honesty, when I thumbed through the book, I was not interested in buying a copy at all - even as a Kiss fan - until I found that I was holding a limited edition autographed copy.

Having said all this, I can say that the book has value for anyone seeking to understand a method for maintaining some sense of financial success while reaching for their dream, be it rock stardom, weekend gardener, the acquisition of wealth or whatever. While so much of Simmons' persona is clearly for effect, his opinions on personal finance (and how to maintain it while seeking professional fulfillment) are shockingly conservative, practical and worthy of attention. Indeed, anyone would benefit from his practical advise in this area - and I've already adopted some of his ideas into my own financial situation to good effect. In a world where we are encouraged to spend, Simmons says "SAVE." In a society where we are subjected to every possible dangling carrot, Simmons says "DON'T BUY IT UNLESS YOU NEED IT." And while we all seem to look for that vacation, those days off and any reason NOT to work, Simmons tells us that with every available minute we should find extra work, become more productive and, ultimately, figure out a way to make money doing what we love. Interesting advice because while many would assume that this would mean quitting the day job to invest time and energy to your dream in order to find success, Simmons reccommends keeping that day job AND working on the dream. He succinctly illustrated his own ambitious endeavors throughout his life and is even practical about failures - "They mean nothing. Go on to the next thing." - going so far as to list his own failures as proof.

For his advice on relationships, Simmons' posturing is silly and, at times, possibly dangerous considering the influence he commands over a small segment of society. His repeated attacks against Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are tiresome and, by now, in poor taste. But his personal financial advice is spot on perfect, especially considering it comes from a successful rock star (never the type of person one would think capable of managing money) who doesn't let anything - people, drugs, drink, or even fame - get in the way of his financial security.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly thought-provoking, September 1, 2003

By 

Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex Money Kiss (Hardcover)

I must admit to not being a big KISS fan . . . in fact, it would be
safe to say that if you asked me, I don't think I could recall even
one of the group's songs.

That said, for some reason, I picked up SEX MONEY KISS--the
latest book effort by Gene Simmons . . . perhaps it was the
outrageous cover (featuring a long red tongue against a silver
background), but once I got reading, I almost couldn't put it down.

Simmons, of course, was the founder of KISS and the mastermind
behind the group's enduring success . . . here he tells many
of the secrets that have made him so successful.

I found myself laughing in many spots, but also thinking to
myself in others that this guy makes a lot of sense . . . imagine
getting people to pay $100 to attend a one-day convention
about the band . . . even more amazing: how he self-published
KISSTORY and successfully sold that for an amazing
$158.95 (no typo!) . . . then came back with KISSTORY II and
sold still more books for the same price.

How did he do it? The same way that he urges readers to
do; i.e., save your money, don't smoke, don't drink, don't get
high, equate time with money and know that being rich is
better than being poor . . . he also espouses, more than once,
the following bit of advice: "The worst thing a man can do,
financially and biologically speaking, is to get married."

You may well find yourself disagreeing with some of what
he says . . . and regardless, you'll most likely come to the
conclusion that he is sexist in many of his beliefs . . . yet
if you read between the lines, you'll also find many thought-
provoking passages; among them:

* The word "cheap" is a wonderful word! Learn to love it. Be cheap,
just like me. And try this on for size: Less is more. That's right.
If you want more, try having less. The less you spend, the more you
have. That makes sense. We all know that. The less you smoke,
the more you live. Well, that makes sense too, but we don't need
to read it on the side of a cigarette pack. Or do we? We keep
smoking anyway. It will cost you a fortune. And that doesn't take into
account the cost of your future medical bills (remember cancer?) The
less you complain, the happier you are. Perhaps. And tread lightly
on this one: The less you marry, whether it's once of multiple times,
the richer you are and will be. And, of course, the less you eat, the
thinner you are.

* The idea that anybody in their twenties or thirties would ever think
about taking a vacation before they've amassed fame and fortune
is a wonderful idea-for losers. Not everyone can climb Mount Olympus;
somebody's got to wrap fish. Perhaps it's Nature's way of weeding
out the winners from the losers. Those who work harder make more
money-period. Two people who work at the same job and earn the same
salary and have the same relative talent will make the amount of money
if they work the same number of hours per week. However, if one decides
to work on the weekends, he or she will not only make more money,
but usually at double or triple rates . . . and of course your boss will take
note, hint, hint!

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A joke! Fancy Cover with empty words, June 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sex Money Kiss (Hardcover)

Funny how Gene says in his book credit cards are for losers yet he struts around promoting his KISS Visa, of which he receives a nice royalty piece of the action from the ridiculous 19.0% interest rate.
Most of us will never be in a rock band that accelerated in profit like KISS has. Gene says "pay cash for everything". Your home(s), car(s), anything you WANT, save and pay cash.

Well Gene most of us do not have a hundred mil to blow. Most of us make in the 50k range per year. (USATODAY AVG income poll). So saving for a house or car would take forever. This book is for millionares who are perhaps having trouble with their millions. Not the guy trying to make it.

The book also mainly souts Gene's opinion on staying single for eternity and hoard your dough. Whatever. Oh and there are pages of Gene's doodle art as fillers to the book as well as oversized reprinted quotes on the same page as fine print. (another filler)

Some slam dunks on other band members.

I found no REAL PRACTICAL advice form this tongue wagging rock reptile. I am a KISS fan and think I will just do what most of us do. Enjoy the LIVE show.

I can sum up his book for you right here: PAY CASH for everything, work 7 days a week, take zero vacations (only losers do this) do not get married, look out for ME 1st, and do not do drugs. Vague info.

It took a book to say that?

I do not see Gene as a guy who writes to really help people...but simply to hoard in on the $$$$$. Hence his TM money bag.