The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim

by Iceberg Slim

The Naked Soul searches the artist's soul in a collection of personal essays that are full of passion and razor sharp perception.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, African American, Essays, Short Stories, Crime

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1971

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

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d heard of Iceberg Slim, the pimp, but I never heard of Iceberg Slim, the writer. In the Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim, Robert Beck, aka Iceberg Slim, recalls his early life as a young boy raised by his mother, abandoned by his father who among other things threw his young son against the wall. He learns to survive a tough life growing up in the ghetto. As a young boy, Beck sees a friend knifed to death. He tells of a time in prison, “In 1960 I was locked in one of the steel boxes for 10 months.” He spent other times in prison for other things and learned from his fellow inmates. He details his life as a pimp, well known in his community. He gains a reputation that has other young men coming to him for advice on how to follow in his footsteps. He shares with his readers the do’s and don’ts of pimp life ultimately, discouraging others from following in his path. He vividly profiles several people in his life such as Conqueror Jackson, Pappy, an ex hustler, Melvin X, The Goddess who broke his heart, Baby Sis, and includes a poignant letter to his father asking forgiveness. Beck recalls how he became a writer. His comments on life as a black man in America at times takes on the tone of outrage as he uses terms like Master and Uncle Tom, the rhetoric of the day. He pulls no punches and exposes what he sees as a society riddled with hypocrisy.

At times his prose is blunt as he uses slang to convey the stark reality of the street. At times his language is poetic; his images vivid as when he personifies the rain as “her trillion jeweled feet danced on the mirrored asphalt…” Another powerful image of daybreak, “the sun slit night’s treacherous throat with a golden butcher knife.” He describes a knife fight that left a friend with his guts spilling out like “ropes of crimson pearls.” And grocery clerks - “anemic joy lit their drawn faces….” Beck combines humor with pathos. The book is insightful and provocative. I’d come across the Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim by accident. I’m glad I did. It is an eye opening and satisfying read.

[Ryan Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iceberg Slim had class consciousness and that doesn’t get talked about much in discussions about him. I think many people might be surprised how radical Iceberg actually was. The Naked Soul Of Iceberg Slim is his unfiltered view of race, class, and America. Robert Beck (Iceberg Slim) wasn’t a gimmick writer. He was a legit writer with legit talent.

[Damion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful stuff and even funny at times. Dave Chapelle probably made this book even more famous by doing a long routine about it on Netflix.

From some people it's a world that they will never get. For most it's a world that others will want to shy away from. But the sex drive will not go away. And as long as the sex drive is there. People will always for sex. And there will we pimps and hoes.

This book was mostly autobiographical, few things in it I found hard to believe.

It presents an interesting perspective from a figure most in literature wouldn't take seriously. Which I do not know why?

Everyone has something interesting to say as Henry Miller one wrote, and Iceberg Slim tells his story remarkably.

a raw and powerful tale.

[Marty Babits · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to find this book. I live in NYC but couldn't get it from the library--that may be different now. Also, for some reason, I had trouble finding it on Amazon-- that also may be different now. In any case, when I found it, I found it riveting. Like "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," and "Manchilld in the Promised Land," and "Down These Mean Streets," the writing illuminated a life that I did not know first-hand, but that I felt I was being shown first hand. This was not 'literature' in any sense. This was life put down on paper and slotted between a front and back cover. The immediacy of it, the spontaneity and verve of it, was and is electric.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting collection of essays by the great Black American writer (and Pimp) Iceberg Slim. What's fascinating is the fact that he comes from a different generation than the Black Panthers (these essays I believe werer written in the 60's) and he's sort of dealing with the more angry generation at the time. I think a lot of the younger people at the time saw Iceberg from another and dated era.

Still, Iceberg writes from the heart, and he is one of America's great writers. One of these days there will be an American Library edition of his works.

[B.L. Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a well-read author, scholar, and so forth - I love finding treasures like this. This was the first book that I've ever read from a former pimp, ex-con, black & proud author Iceberg Slim. I love how genuine and frank he is. The man pulls no punches. There's a lot of disparaging language in it regarding dark-skinned black women, white women who sleep with black men, the police, charlatan preachers, etc. - Howbeit, they're reflective of his real opinion. I found the book to be very open and honest. Frankly, I'm against censorship (overall) and thereby was welcoming to this. Iceberg expresses what he thinks this book should speak to his fellow black as well as how he feels his writings will appeal to white supremacists, as they're not watered down, express racist views, and a pejorative outlook on black society. Frankly, I'm glad that he made something of himself. My belief is that God allows us (as people) to go through things so we can help other people. Theologically, the same things that are used to break sinners are used to make saints stronger. Thereby, our reactions to the hand that we're dealt in life (good or bad) many times say more about us than the hand that we're dealt. Reading this book has made me like this author's work. I plan to read much more of it. This was really solid.

[Angel Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iceberg's deep intuitive views of the black person in the American society still rings true today. The way he almost seems to have dialogue with the reader and provides plenty of evidence to support the theories he proposes is moving. His growth in mentality from his pimp era to his new beginning, awakening, is awe inspiring. I felt this book in my veins. He takes you on a journey in all of his writings but there is something so enrapturing and captivating about him as a person and his stories. He captures life as he saw it and is able to translate that to the reader in vivid color. The way he bares all in this book down to the inner-workings of his mind and others' in the black community is heavy but makes you ponder "Have things changed, but the game remained the same?" The game in politics, race, and the streets. Iceberg is still as relevant as ever.

[Fabio (hot guy from the library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as "Pimp", but I love the way he writes. Softer sides of Iceberg are shown and you start to get a sense of the whole man. Mostly interesting because of his long takes on pimp shame and race. He writes frequently and at length about his admiration for more aggressive black movement figures like the Panthers or Mr. X and the "by any means necessary" mantra - which, as you may expect, makes for some really interesting excerpts. His life as a pimp and as a square give a wild perspective, a more unique and poignant point of view for the 'berg regarding being black in a racist system. It's a pretty profound read for a non-black (especially white) reader. All that said, it has a looser compositional throughline and tangents appear like little weeds in the garden. Maybe this like a 3.75. None of my reviews really matter.

[LaShana Claude]

Within the moldering walls of Chicago's House of Correction, in one of its ancient cell houses, is a row of steel punishment cubicles where rule-breaking inmates spend at most several days. In 1960, I was locked in one of the steel boxes for ten months. I owed the joint an unserved part of a sentence from which I had vanished thirteen years before like a wisp of black smoke and without the usual damage to joint fixtures or guards' skulls. And apparently the sweet joker who ordered me stuffed into the steel box to commit suicide or go mad (when I was returned to the joint on escape charges) felt he owed vengeance on me to his long-ago fellow clique of torturers and grafters who must have suffered a shit storm of consternation and rage when nigger bought out, but thought out.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iceberg Slim has been a household name and book on the shelf since I was young. My mother introduced me to The Long White Con. That was my first read of Iceberg. This book was more of a memoir and retelling of passages throughout his young and middle aged life. The advice that he gives to the Black man living in or out the Ghetto, is to be appraised and not taken lightly. The words written are that of a wise man who has lived a life of poison, crooked mannerisms, etc. but in his writing, he lays it all bare.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I turned to this after reading some Donald Goines, as Goines was inspired by the work of Iceberg Slim. This was…intense. Iceberg pulls no punches discussing the lives of pimps and prostitutes, and the struggle of black Americans during the mid-20th century.

Bobby Spears, Jr. Is a strong narrator for Audible, but this audiobook was edited poorly and has awkward spacing, which was disappointing.

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK SOME PEOPLES HAVE GOOD SOULS SO HAVE BAD SOULS. I HAVE A GOOD SOUL. ITS ALL ABOUT THE SOUL.

[Ladybugcain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read. I will need to read his others now.

[Dee’s Cozy Corner Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read.

[Carrie Campbell-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story! This was a good biography of iceberg slum. I enjoyed hearing about his life.

[MizZes Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight into Robert Beck aka Iceberg Slim.

[Riss Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Chapter 11 and beyond is worth a read at least 3-4 times. Highly recommend.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim is a collection of essays he wrote (as Robert Beck) that pertained to his life as a pimp, his jail experience, his opinion about the pimp game as a retired veteran, and other musings he had during his life.

This collection of Iceberg's essays really shed some light about how he thought, who he was as a person beyond being a pimp, and the ins and outs of the risky life he lead as a majorly successful pimp. Robert Beck also shared his thoughts and perspectives of the world as a conscious African American male. Iceberg was a really conscious soul brother who cared about his plight of the black race, especially now that he is done with being brainwashed about pimping.

Having read this book prior in college, I had a chance to revisit this book as a more mature adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although quite different from his memoir, Pimp, The Story of My Life, I was still intrigued about this short collection of essays he wrote. This collection showed his writing ability, shared with his audience who he really wanted to be, how he despised himself as a pimp, and interaction with others about what interested him.

This book is a true testament of how someone who is a drug addict, infatuated by dehumanizing others, and selling his soul to the highest bidder for the quick dollar, and somehow still rise about and get out of the game.

I would recommend this book to anyone, and rate it a 5. This is easily a must read over and over.

[Alonzo Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to go out on a limb and call this the most important book that Mr. Slim ever wrote. It's unlike his other books in that it's a collection of essays, anecdotes and letters. Despite that, there was never a dull moment. This is one of the few books that I've read that's challenged me to rethink my views on race. I'd recommend this book to everybody that can get their hands on it. While it may not have the same impact on you as it did on me, I think it will at least encourage a discussion. Which is all that you can ask a good book to do.

Four and a half stars ( I know this is nitpicky, but I had to take off a half star because the book was too short.

[DuVay Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is better than PIMP to me. Reason being is because it gives U both Slim's pimp side and his POLITICAL side. Incisive drops. The drops about the Reverend and the correspondence between him and the young brother looking for advice is dopeness and telling. This book also shows the NEW direction ICEBERG was moving in with his Writing n Authorship. He was becoming more POLEMIC. Cumming off like a Wise Pimp, even. PIMPFUCIUS. And his solutions for Niggaz to do better aint bad either. If he was alive today, his Opinions would make a helluva BLOG or VLOG sumwhere on social media. His is a voice that is sorely MISSED. Thats for dam sho!! This is definitely the one to have.

[EC Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential. Sort of a companion to 'Pimp', it's shorter, essay-styled and focuses of life since then, which is not as exciting, but cuts to the center of all the wisdom gained from his experience. He speaks directly to the reader at times, at others he speaks to specific people but always there is a sincerity and even nobility in his earnest spelling out of exactly what he learned and the terrible price he, and others, paid. His language is masterful, as usual. Sobering, moving, powerful.

[Ingrid Mescudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je m'attendais à tomber sur un ensemble d'anecdotes sur la vie d'un pimp. Mais il n'en est rien.
Du temps où j'étais mac est une sorte de mémoire de l'auteur, un retour sur sa vie et presque un avertissement pour tout individu attiré par le glamour de cette profession.
Iceberg Slim s'engage dans un discussion sur la race et la traitement de la population noire du ghetto dans les années 60/70.

[Charly · Rating 4 out of 5]

my friend jimmy lent me this book as a joke i thought. he showed me some of the parts with real rough language - that is, lots of bad words put together for intense expression. well i read it and it was really good.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleazy goodtimes.

[Floyd Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant essays about life in "the game" in the marginal communities of African America by legendary reformed pimp Iceberg Slim aka Robert Beck.

[Eloka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hey friends . I know it must be too much to ask but if there's any suggestion or direction to how I could get this to read, maybe a site to download . Will be appreciated . Thanks !

[Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon livre qui complète pas mal l'autobiographie Pimp, par des petites anecdotes.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

i gave this book a 10 upon first read. it was absolutely spectacular.

[Raul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coo insights, not really structured