Old School Love: And Why It Works

by Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Justine Simmons, Amy Ferris Narrated by Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Justine Simmons

Overview

Run DMC's iconic rapper Joseph ""Reverend Run"" Simmons and his wife, Justine, share their secrets to lasting love and the guiding principles that have kept them together for more than twenty years. Written with Amy Ferris.

This is a book about love.
The kind of love that will keep you warm at night-that will keep you feeling safe and sound.
The kind of love that will get you through some dark times; get you through some hard and yes, some tough times.
The kind of love that will make you laugh, that will make you smile, that will make you nod knowingly.
The kind of love that is nurtured and watered and grows-from a seedling to a flower. The kind of love that is desperately needed in the world right now, shared and sprinkled everywhere.

Old School Love is a book to help you find the kind of soul-filling love you desire, written by a couple who has built a strong and joyful relationship amid the pressures, pitfalls, and temptations of the entertainment industry. Rev Run and his wife, Justine, have been blessed with a devoted partnership that has inspired other famous long-term marriages, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith. In this homage to classic courtship, Rev and Justine reveal the secrets to their marriage's longevity and happiness.

Each chapter of Old School Love offers stories, anecdotes, and memories of the Rev and Justine's marriage, their family, their experiences, their passion, and their deep faith and belief in God. Some will make you laugh, some will make you think, and some will make you cry. Yet all will make you wiser-more beautiful for the wear-and encourage you to be a kinder, more generous, and better human. Their reflections are bookended by a verse or line from scripture, a saying, or a favorite quote and a sampling of personal wisdom they call ""Justine's Recipe"" and ""Rev's Rules.""

Over two decades strong, Rev and Justine's partnership is an inspiration. With Old School Love they are spreading their message of positivity, and creating a legacy for all of us to embrace and share. Powerful and life-changing, this little gem of a book is about magic, and miracles and, yes, the irrefutable power of love.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, former member of the hip-hop group Run DMC, and his wife, Justine Simmons, deliver an inspiring audiobook about true love and marriage that follow the Christian tradition. Rev Run, as he’s better known, does not shy away from describing the time in his life when his behavior was less than Christian, but he’s quick to point out how God helped him find a better path. Justine Simmons’s delivery is enjoyable and fun, even as she describes the more difficult phases of her relationship with her husband. The team narration sounds more like a conversation between a couple with a long marriage than an audiobook. The result is an enjoyable discussion on the importance of Christ in a lasting marriage. V.B. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

10/14/2019

Joseph Simmons (aka Rev Run from Run-DMC) and his wife, Justine, who have been married for 25 years, offer advice for a lasting union in this sincere and heartfelt collaboration. The couple—known for their reality show, Run’s House—trade chapters on what makes their “Old School” style of marriage successful. Joseph, who was previously married and a father of three, began dating Justine when he was in his 20s; they remained celibate for two years until they married in 1994 and had three children together, one of whom they adopted. Their relationship, they explain, is based upon love for each other and love of God; many chapters begin with biblical quotes (Rev Run is an ordained Pentecostal minister), and the authors acknowledge that not every reader will be a “believer.” The couple share amusing anecdotes (Rev tells of forcing himself to go to Hooters to satisfy his pregnant wife’s chicken wing craving), but their declarations of mutual admiration can be overly sentimental (Justine includes a treacly love poem to Rev). The traditional values the authors espouse will appeal to young couples working to remain true to their wedding vows. (Jan.)

From the Publisher

Old School Love is the kind of love that makes you wanna wear matching shell-toe sneakers and dance in the living room. Rev Run and Justine personify black love and family. Their commitment to God is the foundation of their union. God is love. Old School Love is ‘like that, and that’s the way it is.’” — Nia Long

“Bless up; Rev Run and his Queen Justine are a true example of love. The way that Rev upholds his queen and the way Justine supports her king serve as an inspiration for what unconditional love should look like. Rev and Justine share the same values as my queen and I, that God is the foundation of our love.” — DJ Khaled, Asahd's father

“With all of the external pressures coming at us, we gotta love, forgive, and love some more. Don’t confuse stupidity with love. Intelligent love is the only way our people can survive. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Simmons.” — LL Cool J

“Justine and Rev Run Simmons represent a level of integrity, heart, and spirituality like nothing that’s ever been seen in our generation. Their marriage has created a vibration in my life that was never there before I met them. My wife and I are honored to know Rev and Justine, and to have seen firsthand the magic and integrity that their marriage represents.” — Tyrese

“The traditional values the authors espouse will appeal to young couples working to remain true to their wedding vows.” — Publishers Weekly

"I’ve read many celebrity-authored books, and rarely do I feel compelled to recommend a book, but this one I’m going to recommend." — Ebony

Ebony

"I’ve read many celebrity-authored books, and rarely do I feel compelled to recommend a book, but this one I’m going to recommend."

Nia Long

Old School Love is the kind of love that makes you wanna wear matching shell-toe sneakers and dance in the living room. Rev Run and Justine personify black love and family. Their commitment to God is the foundation of their union. God is love. Old School Love is ‘like that, and that’s the way it is.’

Tyrese

Justine and Rev Run Simmons represent a level of integrity, heart, and spirituality like nothing that’s ever been seen in our generation. Their marriage has created a vibration in my life that was never there before I met them. My wife and I are honored to know Rev and Justine, and to have seen firsthand the magic and integrity that their marriage represents.

DJ Khaled

Bless up; Rev Run and his Queen Justine are a true example of love. The way that Rev upholds his queen and the way Justine supports her king serve as an inspiration for what unconditional love should look like. Rev and Justine share the same values as my queen and I, that God is the foundation of our love.

LL Cool J

With all of the external pressures coming at us, we gotta love, forgive, and love some more. Don’t confuse stupidity with love. Intelligent love is the only way our people can survive. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Simmons.

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, former member of the hip-hop group Run DMC, and his wife, Justine Simmons, deliver an inspiring audiobook about true love and marriage that follow the Christian tradition. Rev Run, as he’s better known, does not shy away from describing the time in his life when his behavior was less than Christian, but he’s quick to point out how God helped him find a better path. Justine Simmons’s delivery is enjoyable and fun, even as she describes the more difficult phases of her relationship with her husband. The team narration sounds more like a conversation between a couple with a long marriage than an audiobook. The result is an enjoyable discussion on the importance of Christ in a lasting marriage. V.B. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173838971
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/28/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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