Long White Con

by Iceberg Slim

"White Folks," a light-skinned, blue-eyed black con man, plans his most ambitious caper.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, African American, Race, Thriller, Urban

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Iceberg Slim, also known as Robert Beck, was born as Robert Lee Maupin. Novelist and poet whose most famous novel, Pimp, is semi-autobiographical.

Reviews

[Eboni]

I love all Iceberg Slim books

[Alonzo Smith]

Shot sequel to Trick Baby. It was a decent read but despite a colorful new cast of characters and the introduction of a new series of cons it never quite captures the spirit of the original. It also doesn't have a true ending which is a bit jarring.

[Tosh]

The classic narrative of White Folks, the ultimate con-artist who is Black but can pass himself as white. The sequal to iceberg's "Trick Baby" this is another sample of the Ice's genius and his ability to take us into a 'surreal' world of ghetto life.

And once again I am kind of shocked that iceberg Slim is not better known in the mainstream literary world. Essential writer at a time where the ghetto life was totally underground.

[Matt Jadro]

Without knowing this to be the sequel of Trick Baby (which I’ll listen to next), this still felt a bit lacking in plot setup, character impact, and general engagement. Not to mention this book basically has no ending and is a confusing follow from the jump. Will still give other books a shot as I loved Pimp.

I’ll also listen to anything that Cary Hite narrates, his story telling abilities here are as good as ever.

[Zacc]

The King of the Confidence Game

[Zach]

Not as good as "Pimp", but still highly enjoyable.

[Jaire]

the origins of street novels! much better than today street novels!!

[Rob]

Every Iceberg Slim novel has this moment, I guess you'd call it the climax, where the protagonist descends into hell.

For Pimp, it was when Iceberg Slim realized his pimping required him to pack up and leave Chicago. He did this on a whiff, remorselessly, for his survival.

White Folks moment comes when Christina (his ex-fiance and deep seated lover) calls him up after sending back his ring. He knows her call, despite her superficial remorse for her actions, is really a set-up for revenge. The book ends with his final analysis of the realization that Trevor (Christina's brother) had been long conning him the entire time. The long con was long conned.

Everything he knew and loved, died. Live by the sword (conning), die by the sword (conning).

[Mattster73]

Inauthentic

This was not written by Iceberg Slim. It's a pale imitation, filled with direct cuts from 'Trick Baby' that appear as 2-3 page 'reminiscences. Having purchased this book, I feel like the mark! It just doesn't have that Iceberg insight into the true feelings and motivations of the characters. The prose is purple as hell. Really, really disappointing.

[Jules]

I wouldn’t want every book I read to be like this one but the melodrama and purple prose combined with the gritty setting and grifter hijinks made for a thoroughly entertaining read which felt refreshing after all the history nonfiction I’ve been reading lately

[Marilyn Sue Michel]

An entertaining, informative book to read during election season.

[Dione Brown]

The scams these dudes pulled.. Wow

[Andrea]

One of the best preface Beck wrote and a strong first part...but the novel become more confusing as the story progresses...

[Carrie Campbell-jones]

Just So So. This story was just so so. Nothing to write home about this.

[Adrain]

Good follow up to Trick Baby. There were peaks and valleys in the story and it's development.

[MizZes Jones]

I love Iceberg Slim

[Marilyn Sue Michel]

The mark must be slightly greedy to fall for the con.

[Luís Garcia]

(read in Beijing, China)

[Riss Bee]

This is one of the worst books he’s written.

[Ashti]

In "Trick Baby", Robert Beck (street-named Iceberg Slim) told the story of Johnny O'Brien (street-named White Folks) and his early days running the short con -- a confidence game designed to cheat the mark (victim) out of small amounts of money. Johnny O'Brien's story continues in "Long White Con".

[Kentoine Johnson]

Before I read this I had no idea what a long con was lol

[Bliss]

I will get back to this one.

[Lukas Evan]

Pimp-tastic.

[RK Byers]

this one was uneven.