Sex Money Kiss

As a physician, I'm going to tell you why I count this as a very influential health book. First a few stats from a study released in September of 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (please bear with me...I promise these numbers relate to this book): ************* In 2001, 34,833 (yes, that's thirty four thousand eight hundred and thirty three) people in the US died from cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, and other diseases linked to drinking too much beer, wine, and spirits. Another 40,933 died from car crashes and other mishaps caused by excessive alcohol use (this number doesn't include those permanently paralyzed). Those under 20 made up 6% (a little more than 1 out of 20) of the death toll. Alcohol related car crashes alone have killed more people in the US than all of our wars combined including the Civil war. ************************************************************ In case you don't have a calculator handy... that's an average of 207 people (we are talking about real people) per day who die in the US from alcohol. The average person killed has their life shortened by 30 years. Alright, thank you for your patience...back to this book...pages 89 through 91 may be one of the best arguments I've seen written about why not to drink. Several characteristics of Mr. Simmons' argument make it especially forceful. 1. He doesn't mention death. Of course alcohol will kill a family member of 1 in 4 US citizens, but none of us really think much about death and are seldom influenced by arguments that talk about death. 2. Mr. Simmons has made a fortune in an industry that has this motto, "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll." Yet, he uses his unique position of a Rock Superstar to say to young adults (he also makes the college lecture circuit) that this slogan is absolute garbage. In fact, Mr. Simmons says he has never been drunk in his life, doesn't do drugs, never has done drugs, and doesn't tolerate people in his life who participate in these activities (even the groupies who came to his room were not allowed to drink in his room). He says, "I've never been drunk in my life. I have never been high, except in a dentist's chair." 3. Mr. Simmons ties his financial success strongly to staying sober and even ties his success with women to staying sober. He says, "I haven't sat down and done the arithmitic, but I would imagine I've saved a small fortune simply by not drinking." Later he says, "I chose a certain lifestyle: hard work, no drugs or booze..." I for one will have my sons read Mr. Simmons' book because his strong statement of no drugs or alcohol coming from him makes his statement much stronger. The book also makes some strong points about thrift. Mr. Simmons didn't buy a car until he was 35 years old and claims still to have not taken a real vacation in his life but chose to work in such a way that he could enjoy every day. There are also some outrageously funny parts to the book (the man taking a shower

Gene Simmons is many things--celebrity, entertainer, singer,songwriter, bass player, producer, actor and owner of a 7 inch tongue, yet since the 90's Gene Simmons has certainly showed his muscles as a great business man and a hands-on person who will take the bull by the horns to get the job down and fulfill his american dreams. All on his own, he's published his 1st book KISSTORY & did official KISS conventions all on his own, worked out the red tape with Ace & Peter to do the KISS reunion, and many other marketing avenues like 100's of KISS collectibles, his own magazine TONGUE, cartoon show MY DAD THE ROCKSTAR and put out a new solo cd...Basicly, this is the sister book to KISS & MAKE-UP...where K & MU was an autobiography, SEX, $, KISS is his story of how he lives by his own rules--wheather it's dealing with his relationships with women, his do-it-yourself additude to make money and fulfill his dreams and how he turned KISS (again!) into a multimillion corporation by managing the Band himself since the early 1990's. I like how Gene is so self motivating...in this book, he explains how he rolls up his sleeves, researches how to produce, market & distribute many things like books, conventions, band member contracts and the such and how it can pay off in the end and how by reading the book, can utilize his advice to reach your goals for as much $$$ you can get out of a job or product..nice touches in the book are his sample drawings of works in process that have succeeded like his magazine, selling his own line of bass guitars and comic books and some that haven't--or haven't yet--like KISS sneakers and,yes, KISS toilet paper!!...the part about his views on woman & marriage is blunt, yet truthful in some instances and is very entertaining and humorous... Some things in this book hit home and other things you can take with a grain of salt..Gene has great charisma, and I love hearing him talk in interviews and, now, in books--Gene is NOT a stupid rockstar--he is an extremely smart & savy business man who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to reach his goals---he calls distributors, adding a personal touch with the poeple he works with to create & distribute his merchandise and ideas, researches, manufacturers and is into the design and concept of many of his goods & products---from KISS arena tours to movies to comics, action figures--and even a KISS wreastler--Gene's THE MAN and a great role model for any businessman--weather you try to work at being a rockstar to having the most popular fruit stand on a street corner, Gene's delivery in these pages can offer you clarity, guidance and an esteem booster!!!..Thru music or literature, Gene sure makes you think and can give you a kick in the pants to get up and live and do your best to reach happiness & fortune. This book was great and reccommend it to both KISS and non-KISS fans!!

There's something almost heroic about Gene's single-minded ability to gouge as much money from his fans as possible.But the results don't lie. Gene gives solid advice and tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to.I can't wait for his lectures to be put on dvd. Man, he's got me buying more Kiss Krap!

I must admit to not being a big KISS fan . . . in fact, it would besafe to say that if you asked me, I don't think I could recall evenone of the group's songs.That said, for some reason, I picked up SEX MONEY KISS--thelatest book effort by Gene Simmons . . . perhaps it was theoutrageous cover (featuring a long red tongue against a silverbackground), but once I got reading, I almost couldn't put it down.Simmons, of course, was the founder of KISS and the mastermindbehind the group's enduring success . . . here he tells manyof 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 . . . imaginegetting people to pay $100 to attend a one-day conventionabout the band . . . even more amazing: how he self-publishedKISSTORY 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 todo; i.e., save your money, don't smoke, don't drink, don't gethigh, equate time with money and know that being rich isbetter 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 whathe says . . . and regardless, you'll most likely come to the conclusion that he is sexist in many of his beliefs . . . yetif 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 thinkabout taking a vacation before they've amassed fame and fortuneis a wonderful idea-for losers. Not everyone can climb Mount Olympus;somebody's got to wrap fish. Perhaps it's Nature's way of weedingout the winners from the losers. Those who work harder make moremoney-period. Two people who work at the same job and earn the samesalary and have the same relative talent will make the amount of moneyif they work the same number of hours per week. However, if one decidesto work on the weekends, he or she will not only make more money,but usually at double or triple rates . . .

Once again...Gene hits the jackpot. Now granted I am not a die-hard KISS fan, but the second I picked this book up (at fist to admire the unique cover design) and I couldn't put it down. From the first to last page I was laughing, rocking out, frustrated, shocked, and at times teary eyed. Gene is so brutally honest, offensive honest, but nonetheless it's a great book and I learned a lot...Gene is a money master mind. And his advice on one's financial situations is true and worth while. I reccomend this book to EVERYONE!!! You don't even have to be a FAN to enjoy this wonderfully written book!!! rock on!