The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim

by Iceberg Slim

Book Overview

In The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim, the fierce and lyrical icon for criminal reformation describes himself as ill...from America's fake fa├ ade of justice and democracy. For Iceberg Slim, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870674145
• ISBN13: 9780870674143
• Release Date: January 1971
• Publisher: Holloway House Publishing Company
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.

Customer Reviews

ICEBERG EXAMINES THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PANORAMA

Give me any one page of any Iceberg Slim book and I can identify the author. He possessed a singular voice that was so honest, gritty, raw and uniquely his own experiences that it could never be duplicated by anyone. Now to the review at hand: "The Naked Soul Of Iceberg Slim" is a tour de force of street realism, autobiography, and social commentary that leaves one blood-stunned in its vicious and entertaining wake. You will experience nearly every emotion as you run the gamut of tales from page to page. It packs a visceral sledgehammer to the skull and does so without apology. His style is cool pimp dialogue underscored by the fact that he is telling you that this is no way to live. In fact, he tells you that it's quite possibly the worst way to live. These are short stories of his life in the pimp game and he writes with savage realism and surprising degree of perception and introspection. Slim writes about the frustrations of growing up poor and how it may not have happened the way it did had his mother chosen one suitor over another. His palpable rage toward both his mother and biological father can be felt even as he rhetorically apologizes to them and comes to terms with the circumstances of their lives and how it affected his own and his degeneration to the life of a young pimp. Slim also describes just exactly how romantic it is to be in a prison cell and hear the tortured beatings of fellow inmates while living life as an animal behind bars himself. Behind all of the girls, gold, money, and seemingly plush lifestyle he lets you in on just how hard the hustle is and the likelihood of being killed if pimping is to be your chosen vocation in life. He tells of how he mistreated his women and how it relate to the psychology of the pimp and the whore. He gives you an example of how to "turn a square broad into a whore" in vivid detail but this is no instruction manual as he also reveals that behind the pimp's pampered veneer that he is nothing but an insecure whore who has more neuroses and paranoias than one could possibly imagine underneath that cool, unflinching exterior. This is one of the most worthwhile books by one of the sagaciously observant writers to ever put pen to paper and describe any kind of life, not just street life. There are also short vignettes where he explores many complex social and racial issues with a keen perspective that no sociologist could ever learn or explain in any school. This jewel of a book can be obtained cheaply and if you enjoy engrossing and visceral literature that is emotion based and real you can do no better than Robert Beck aka Iceberg Slim's "The Naked Soul Of Iceberg Slim." He delivers on what he promises in the title. Buy this book. Kevin W. Mattingly Harrisburg Times

Iceberg delivers his most personal novel!

Although its not the most memorable of Ice's releases. I mean how could you ever top the rawness of PIMP or the drama of Mama's Black Widow, but if you really read this book you will see the sad and vulnerable side of this 'strong' man. I enjoyed the book, the most touching parts of the book were the letter to his Papa, his rap of the pimp game, and the one that stuck with me the most was the story of his goddess. I had to take a break after reading that one. I felt his pain every brutha has had their heart broken. Powerful stuff!! Also Ice explores the relationship with black males and white women and white males and black women. Ice says the things we are all afraid to say. He definitely invites you into his world and it will forever remain etched in your mind.Great novel. I'm only 16, but after 30+ years I can still relate to this late brutha he was a pure ghetto genius only person that ever came as close to him in ghetto story telling was Tupac.

the truest stuff he ever wrote

i love this novel,slim gets, real in this very personal,who said slim cries too much, the man was just remeniscing over events of his life, especially the life of a black man trapped in the darkworlds of the underworld, berg describes the hell every black man must go through,in his excistence-pure hell, he describes what a pimp must do to stay ahead of the game, i liked how he told that young dude the real deal about pimping, and that he has tremendous odds against him, yes kiddies not anyone can be a pimp, do not let bet,or mtv, fool you learn the real deal before you get shot-like iceberg warned that particular fellow,who learned that a good whore is always in demand as some italian quickly scooped his girl, then the letter slim wrote to his daddy was deep, then we learned about melvin x, the black panthers, who slim called heroes,there's holly one of berg's old associates who became famous and forgot whewre her roots were, what really got me interested was the uncle tom issue, and how whites create this type of character in america he said the word hope is used to control the blacks of america, then i liked the way berg wrote of why white women date black men, we all heard about those old black penis myth-but this is bryond that, and how black women really deal with white johns in the street, who love critizing, and trying to outlaw prostitution, drugs but are the biggest freaks in america i will not say the names of those who puff and not inhale, or claim that they are somebody,but this is reality, the truest black book ever made besides the nigger bible, definetly a must have, then i like the weay berg adressed that young writer, about what kind of writer he wants to be, and even that berg writes he still catches hell.

Iceberg Slim Describes His World

In "The Naked Soul Of Iceberg Slim" Robert Beck (street-named Iceberg Slim) tells stories from his life. Mr. Beck describes his anger and resentment at white society's treatment of black people. He describes his dealings with the Black Panther Party and his admiration for the young Black Panthers.Mr. Beck dedicated this book to a number of black luminaries including Malcolm X. Mr. Beck also mentions Malcolm X. I compared this book to "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (co-author). Mr. Beck discusses white society's racism and writes about revolutionary solutions to racism. Early in his life Malcolm X also sought revolutionary solutions to racism. After his visit to Islamic North Africa, however, Malcolm X proposed a different solution: a strong, black-owned and black-operated economy coexisting peacefully with the rest of society. Mr. Beck does not discuss Malcolm X's later-proposed solution.This is an interesting book. It is clearly-written, and Mr. Beck has led an interesting life.

"Melted Ice"

This book is a warmer side to the pimp saga. The iceberg is melted away and the heart of Robert Beck is revealed. This book in some ways is stronger than his first book "Pimp" but falls short in other areas. I recommend first "Pimp" then "The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim".