Pimp

Pimp is the type of book that totally overtakes you. It took me longer than normal to finish. I thought it was interesting, raw, insightful, but also overwhelming and brutal.

Some things you should know going in: it takes place in the 1930’s - 1950’s. It is mostly autobiographical, with some elements fabricated. Very vernacular heavy (money is always scratch, etc, etc.). And women are treated very poorly, to put it mildly. Like, treated liked animals, or products. It makes it tough to read. If I wasn’t ready for it, it was tough to bring myself to read it. But it’s also part of the story, I guess. It was a tough life. This book wouldn’t have felt real without it. That was his mindset at the time. Still, something to know.

Pimp is the story of Iceberg Slim’s life - how he grew up, and how he grew up in the pimp world. He started that life when he was just 19. Over the course of the book, he tells how he started in the game, who he meets, who mentors him, and what jail was like (and how he escaped!). It goes into what he was thinking at the time, why he did certain things, and provides insight into that kind of life.

Obviously, things he did were bad - he admits as much in the beginning of the book. Still, it’s hard to read or listen to at times. I would still recommend it. It’s the reason why books exist - to learn the truth about someone or something else. It doesn’t pull any punches, which I respect. It’s not sanitized in any way, which works to its benefit. Though that caution still remains. If you’re squeamish or don’t want to read about that kind of life, stay away.

PS: I listened to the audiobook, and think the narrator did a great job with it, just fyi.