Pimp

The Story of My Life

By: Iceberg Slim

Narrated by: Cary Hite

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

A blueprint. A bible. What Sun Tzu’s Art of War was to ancient China, Pimp is to the streets. As real as you can get without jumping in, this is the story of Iceberg Slim’s life as he saw, felt, tasted, and smelled it. It is a trip through hell by the one man who lived to tell the tale—the dangers of jail, addiction, and death that are still all too familiar for today’s Black community. By telling the story of one man’s struggles and triumphs in an underground world, Pimp shows us the game doesn’t change; it just has a different swagger.

Only Slim could tell this story and make the reader feel it. If you thought Hustle & Flow was the true pimp story, this book is where it all began. This is the heyday of the pimp, the hard-won pride and glory, small though it may be; the beginnings of pimp before it was dragged in front of the camera, before pimp juice and pimp style. Though it is a tale of his times, it will remain current and true for as long as there is a race bias, as long as there is a street life, as long as there is exploitation.

©1969, 1987 Iceberg Slim (P)2011 Blackstone Publishing, and Urban Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“Iceberg Slim was the godfather of a genre.” (K’wan, #1 Essence best-selling author)

A Fascinating Cautionary Tale

I wish the glossary of the mid 20th century street lingo was presented first so readers could better understand the book. Besides that the book provides was a fascinating look inside the violent and disturbing world of pimps and whores and their sometimes dueling power dynamic. Above all it serves as a cautionary tale of what usually becomes of those men seeking fortune and fame is the dangerous underworld of pimping.

Compelling story, antiquated language

The story is compelling and the narration is superb. Frequently though it can be a bit hard to parse the 50-60 year old slang that's no longer in use. If you can gloss over that though, this is one fine memoir.

Enthralling

Really unique insight into the underworld during the early to mid 20th century. The narration is lacking at times, only because there are weird pauses and random shifts in tone, likely due to bad editing. In addition to the glitchy narration, there are randomly added sound effects. The sound effects take away from the gravity of the written scene, and are the main reason for the 3-star performance.

Overall, this is an exciting, intriguing, and a, above all, unique book.

PIMP... A Gangsta's handbook for the streets

11 hours went quick ! ! ! This is a very good read; interesting, entertaining, overall a great experience. Well done, Iceberg Slim!

Kendall

excellent well done a must buy will look for more of the same worth it

Sales book of the year!

Pimp is educational and entertaining. The story of iceberg slim is touching, fascinating and funny! You can learn a lot from this book. If you have an open mind, can see through the curtains of society, then you will appreciate and benefit from this book.

Chilling and raw

Chilling (no pun intended) was the first word that came to my mind about this book. It gives a vivid and raw account of a man’s life. This can be a case study on trauma, both in individual and in communities, particularly the black American community.
The guy who read it was excellent.

An interesting insight into the world of post-depression era pimping

While non-fiction, this book portrays a compelling story filled with grime and grit that would rival any fiction of its kind. It’s portrays the author as a person relative moral stature, whilst showing repeatedly that he is not. This antihero/protagonist syndrome effect shows to further satirically prove the point the author is making against the world of pimping. While the nomenclature used is nye impossible to understand from a layman standpoint, the glossary and context clues allow the book to be read with ease given after some getting used to. Overall, this harrowing tale is one that has changed my perspective on the underground world, and, by showing me those dark corners, given me a better appreciation for the “square” world.

Wow!

I'd never even considered the contents of this story. Will leave you with a whole new understanding of the "Pimp Game". Also provides insight as to why the profession exists.

Incredible

This is an incredible story and insight to the history of the worlds oldest profession.