Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America's Parents [Hardcover]

Rev. Run (Author), Justine Simmons (Author), Chris Morrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2008

The stars of MTV’s top-rated Run’s House—dubbed “the new Cosby family”—offer a vital rescue manual for modern parenting.

An icon of hip-hop, a father of six, and an ordained minister, Rev Run has developed a parenting style that is in a class by itself. With his wife, Justine, he launched the blockbuster reality series Run’s House on MTV, now filming its fifth season. The show has proven wildly popular in large part due to the way the Simmons family responds to very twenty-first-century issues. Emphasizing firm boundaries, noble values, discipline, and faith in an age marked by shallow materialism and fragmented families, Rev Run now shares the proven principles that have given his children a firm foundation, including:

• Run your family as the COEs: Chief Officers of Everything.
• Understand that you can never correct what you don’t confront.
• Lead by example, not by preaching: Hypocrisy and parenting are a destructive combination.
• Today’s fast-paced world can often make children feel small; your job is to help them feel large.
• Older children need more rules and parental involvement, not less.

Reaching an average weekly audience of 4.1 million viewers, Run’s House speaks to America’s fascination with high-profile parents. Take Back Your Family brings home the behind-the-scenes wisdom of hip-hop’s first family to everyone seeking solid guidance for raising a new generation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Former Run DMC front man turned MTV superstar and father extraordinaire, Rev Run offers his personal insights and those of his wife, Justine, about family life in today's fast-paced and money-driven society. On the surface, the book appears to be the typical TV spin-off memorabilia. But the recording and messages are powerful and offer a raw honesty lacking in most of today's family guidance books. Rev Run is no stranger to the recording studio, and his knack for captivating an audience is on display here. His voice is strong and commanding, yet Run never speaks down to his listeners. Justine also gives a straightforward yet personal reading, and the result is less a recorded audiobook than it is a deeply profound talk among the closest of friends. A Penguin hardcover.(Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Rev Run is a founding member of the chart-topping hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. (over 30 million albums sold).

His wife, Justine Simmons, costars on their blockbuster reality show, Run’s House.

Chris Morrow is the coauthor of Do You! with Russell Simmons, the creator of Def Jam Records, and the older brother of Rev Run.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gotham (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592403816
• ISBN-13: 978-1592403813
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family, Fun and Fashion, October 16, 2008

By 

Shamontiel L. Vaughn "Message from Montie" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America's Parents (Hardcover)

I jumped at the opportunity to check out this read once I saw how Angela, Jo-Jo, Russy, Vanessa, and Diggy pitched a fit about their business being in the book, specifically because I wanted to read why Angela freaked about how her relationship with Bow Wow was mentioned. I had no idea they were a couple and wondered how that relationship worked out, so I picked up a copy quick.

I planned to read that chapter on Bow Wow and return the book, but as soon as I opened the book, I couldn't put it down. My initial hesitation was nothing facetious, but Run is a reverend, and I'm Agnostic. I figured the book would make me uncomfortable reading it considering my views on religion are so different. I respect Run DMC as one of the most phenomenal hip hop icons and "Run's House" is excellent, but I didn't want to be lectured. I was hoping the book wouldn't be preachy but still be positive. And Run did not disappoint. In the beginning of the book, he clarified immediately that this book was not going to be a sermon and talked about people from different walks of life "I know some people tune out when they hear a reverend start talking about prayer," but he also clarified immediately that he definitely honors God and religion "I truly believe that whatever religion you subscribe to (or even if you don't subscribe to one at all, we can all hear the voice of God inside us." I respect him for standing by his beliefs but throughout the book, not shoving them down his reader's throat. That's what kept me reading!

Readers learn how both him and Justine feel about extended families, how Justine deals with being a stepmother, a behind-the-scenes look at Justine's miscarriage, the relationship with Angela and Bow Wow, virginity, hip hop's influence on their children, being on a reality show, and parenthood. It's an easy read, and I found myself nodding and agreeing with many parts, especially the chapter about parents not realizing that even when their child is 18, they still very much want to be accepted and need your support and encouragement as adults. I almost want to copy and pass around that chapter to so many parents that forget that they will always be the "cool kid" to their children.

Although there were some parts that made me raise an eyebrow (ex. needing permission at 21 for Angela to get a tattoo, demanding that their kids not get any money unless they meet Run's expectations, Run saying he's head of the household and Justine saying she'll give him that title if it makes him feel good), I respected it all. It's just cool to see a positive show about hip hop and African American families to prove we're not all dysfunctional and stereotypical. Who's house? Run's House!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!!!, November 4, 2009

By 

Ashley Spencer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America's Parents (Hardcover)

This book has a spiritual underline with a worldly twist! It has so many examples and reactions that I can now use their approaches for my children if those things arise in their lives. I love this book and wold recommend it to anyone!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an Awesome American Story!, September 4, 2008

By 

T. Butler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America's Parents (Hardcover)

It has been both an honor and a pleasure reading this book. Rev. Run and Justine put so much honesty and love into telling their story like no one else could. I truly enjoyed learning the quirks that go behind the scenes and getting a better understanding of their rise to fame. They are truly the American Dream!