Pimp: The Story Of My Life (Canons)

Great Read. Iceberg Slim is a legend. Beautifully written. Well paced and filled with life lessons.

If you don’t understand some of the words phrases used in the book, there’s a section at the back of the book the has translations. Great read and really got me into reading again!

The stories within are incredible. At times, you'll feel compassion due to the author's problematic upbringing. Then you'll feel anger, due to the completely unjustified horror and cruelty he imposed on these women. It's a rollercoaster, really, and I think that, horrible as Slim was, he's not the worst of the bunch in the book, by far! The only problem i had was with the language... it is so filled with slangs and neologisms that i had to go his provided dictionary 3 or 4 times in order to understand a single sentence! So it becomes tiring really fast.. but definitely recommended!!

90s gangsta rappers owe a lot to Iceberg Slim, who published this first hand account of pimping way back in 1967. There is zero compromise in Slim's writing: He makes the reader understand the glamour and appeal of the pimp lifestyle, whilst also detailing its brutality and danger. He also makes it clear why it held a particular appeal for certain young black men in 1940s America. He does so with a language that is both street and poetic. Open to any page, and you'll find descriptions cracking with wit and gusto. This book is not for the faint-hearted. It contains horrifying accounts of violence against women that would make even the most vehement misogynist wince. In some ways, this is their story as much as Slim's: By the end of the book, you won't just understand why someone would choose to be a pimp, you'll also understand why someone would allow themselves to be pimped. It's a grim portrait, but there are certainly lessons from history worth learning here.

Just an amazing read from start to finish. Like nothing you've read before. Really interesting. Some of the parts of it you'd swear weren't real but they were. A truly original book, and all true. It's like nothing you've read before.

His style of prose is clearly unique for the time and furthermore influential, but I felt myself drifting in and out of the story. If this is based more on fact than fiction then this really is a warts and all documentary on that kind of like from a first person perspective, adding onto a very tough childhood. Maybe I was hoping for a rays of light to emerge here as, despite reading the entire Irvine Welsh collection on the other hand, I'm still brought up on traditional storytelling. It's gritty, does not pull any punches and occasionally humourous. Along with the style of prose, I can see why Irvine Welsh was influenced by this, as there are no clear protagonists or antagonists. Just huge grey areas of morality within the context of that world and it's down to the reader to determine what is right and wrong, although Slim's actions aren't all that surprising considering where he came from. Not a book based specifically on morality or even mere survival, but about a guy who just wants to be somebody, despite having been dealt a bad hand in life.

The unofficial Autobiography of Robert Beck aka Iceberg Slim. He takes you through his thoughts and his life as one of the most well known Pimps of his area and his time. It was a great read and if you like work like Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting then you will love this book. The intention behind this book was not to glamorise being a pimp, but quite the opposite. He tries to show you the life as it was with the good, the bad and the ugly. His honesty throughout was a pleasure to read and enjoy. Hope this helps.

Great book! Had to get a second copy as friends took my other one.

A level of literacy that leaves everybody other than Jane Austen and George Orwell flummoxed, Pimp overflows with original and colourful prose and an amazing view of American life and management in general. a great guide to anyone wanting to lead and achieve success.

Great book.

Well, buckle up, folks, because Iceberg Slim's 'Pimp: The Story of My Life' is not your average self-help book, but let me tell you, it sure broadened my horizons. Forget about those feel-good, sunshine-and-rainbows reads; Iceberg Slim took me on a wild ride through the underbelly of a world I never knew existed – and I kind of loved it. This book is like the Rosetta Stone for decoding the language of the streets. Suddenly, I find myself peppering my conversations with phrases like "turning tricks" and "making that paper," much to the confusion of my grandma during Sunday dinner. Iceberg Slim's storytelling is so vivid and compelling that I feel like I've earned an honorary degree in the School of Street Smarts. Move over, Shakespeare; Slim's prose is the real poetry, describing the mean streets with a poetic flair that's almost enough to make you forget that you're reading about a world of pimps and hustlers. And let's not forget the fashion tips – who knew that a wardrobe consisting entirely of glittering fur coats could be so aspirational? I've started a trend in my suburban neighborhood, and now the local grocery store feels like a runway for my newfound pimp-inspired fashion sense. Iceberg Slim didn't just broaden my horizons; he turned me into a trendsetter. But in all seriousness, 'Pimp' is more than just a glimpse into a gritty underworld. It's a raw, unfiltered memoir that forces you to confront the harsh realities of life. Iceberg Slim's journey from the streets to the pages of his own life story is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of storytelling. So, if you're looking for a book that broadens your horizons and gives you a crash course in street slang and fur coat appreciation, 'Pimp' is the unexpected guidebook you never knew you needed. Just be prepared to explain to your friends why you suddenly have a penchant for rhinestone-studded canes and a newfound swagger in your step.

Fabulous gripping well told story. Confronting truth about street workers and their handlers. Why do they do it remains a mystery.

good book with a somewhat different but pleasant style of writing, makes time fly when you read, gives you a deep insight into the dark life of pimping and prostitution and how a chain of events will change someones moral compass ans thus how they live their life. can't complain.