"Common is a 360-degree human being, and I don't say that about many people。 He never needed to "pimp the hood" to achieve his deserved success。 He is an eloquent and honorable role model and his memoir is a perfect example of his depth as a human being。 In addition, reading about his childhood and upbringing in Chicago is really a trip - because we went through so many of the same experiences albeit decades apart。 Chicago is still the roughest and primary "Institution of Hard Knocks," and if you can make it there, you can truly make it anywhere!