Pimp: The Story of My Life

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.

This is an amazing read and exposes a rarely seen side to America from a pure genius in terms of writing and story telling and bringing the reader along for the experience few will ever see or necessarily want to, except through this format. Extreme violence is continually paired with what creates it; systemic injustice. It is as much an expose on the horrid realities of African American Life, due to systemic racism and a lack of accountability for the unspoken truths about implicit racism that reinforce it, as it is about the horrors of being guilty of being both in poverty and a woman, treated like a horse in a stable. The choices left black men and women in poverty during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights Eras (and today) are fully on the table for all to see and experience from a voice that cares not for how the message is received as much as what it explains. Iceberg Slim is neither the protagonist, nor the antagonist. He is neither defending nor condemning his behavior; only sharing it. One need only contrast the culture in a neighboring "wealthy, whites only" neighborhood in the book to see the dichotomy of judgment inherent in our culture, and how the biggest, baddest pimp might earn the right to live in it. The manipulation of attitudes and defeated positions of the sex trade leaves little to the imagination, human sex trafficking and drug dealing being central subjects that are fleshed out in the book in the most stark terms and in a language the reader must learn to understand. The reader is left to acknowledge how the system in America allows whites to find safety, security, and success without major hurdles, while their black brothers and sisters in America do not receive the same benefits and have to hurdle walls others never had to (or want to) see only to be pushed back down if successful. In short, the book shows what white privilege truly is by demonstrating what white privilege never sees nor still wants to see. We all have choices to make and everyone is accountable for their own choices, but when the choices provided to one do not mirror that of another in society (equity and justice), the system itself must change or take full responsibility for the scenario it has created. We all share that responsibility.

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.

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.

If you think this book tells about the life of a cassanova, it also comes with a warning about such life, and eventually where it leads to. Mentioned by Cyprian (Vin) Armani while speaking about Andrew Tate and that he himself read it.