PHOTOS

: Russell Simmons is a lover of books. Not only did he recently release <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Super-Rich-Guide-Having-All/dp/0142428329" target="_blank">Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All</a>, but the mogul (who is featured in the February 2011 issue of Black Enterprise) keeps his bookshelves jam packed with interesting reads. I took a peek while waiting for the crew to get the lights set for our <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2010/12/20/the-spiritual-side-of-the-godfather-of-hip-hop-russell-simmons/">Power Player interview</a> with Simmons for the <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/01/27/business-report-pastrys-vanessa-and-angela-simmons/">Black Enterprise Business Report</a> and took note of what was there. Along with three Buddha statues, an ’80s hip-hop bobble head (complete with pseudo-Kangol and Adidas), a photo of his daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, with <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/01/03/oprah-gets-her-own/">Oprah</a>, and a bonsai tree that’s seen better days, Simmons’ office shelves offers a window into his soul—and his favorite reads. Here are 10 great books on Russell Simmons’ shelf. Tastemaker that he is, if Simmons loves it, it’s almost guaranteed to please!–Caroline Clarke

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Half-Past-Autumn-Gordon-Parks/dp/0821222988" target="_blank">Half Past Autumn: A Retrospective</a> by Gordon Parks

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Nation-Dark-All-American/dp/0060938455" target="_blank">Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal</a> by Eric Schlosser

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-War-Blood-Cheney-Bush-Junta/dp/1560255021" target="_blank">Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Cheney-Bush Junta</a> by Gore Vidal

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Bush-George-leads-America/dp/0670032735" target="_blank">The Book on Bush: How George W. (Mis)leads America</a> by Eric Alterman

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Yogi-Paramahansa-Yogananda/dp/0876120796" target="_blank">Autobiography of a Yogi</a> by Paramahansa Yogananda

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Cutter-Buddha-Managing-Business/dp/0385497911" target="_blank">The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Life</a> by Michael Roach

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fabulosity-What-Kimora-Lee-Simmons/dp/006084339X" target="_blank">Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It</a> by Kimora Lee Simmons

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Negrophilia-Pedestal-Americas-Racial-Obsession/dp/1935071823" target="_blank">Negro-phi-li-a: From Slave Block to Pedestal – America’s Racial Obsession</a> by Erik Rush

: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Words-Wisdom-Daily-Affirmations-Faith/dp/0061144878" target="_blank">Words of Wisdom: Daily Affirmations of Faith</a> by Rev. Run

: A bunch of books by <a href="http://www.chopra.com/" target="_blank">Deepak Chopra</a>. <li>Read more:</li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2010/11/17/40-next-young-leaders-book-picks-for-success/">40 Young Leaders Pick Their Books for Success</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2010/12/02/what-you-can-learn-from-%E2%80%A6-simmons-sisters%E2%80%99-sweet-success/">WATCH: Angela and Vanessa Simmons school us on their Pastry clothing line</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/01/25/watch-the-high-life-ne-yo-talks-about-his-new-ventures-and-his-partnership-with-black-enterprise/">WATCH: Ne-Yo talks about his new ventures and his budding partnership with Black Enterprise</a></li>