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mugglemom's review against another edition
5.0
…Exploring people & ideas outside your comfort zone are probably one of the truest forms of wisdom. How else can you expect to grow? Never dismiss anything until you explore it for yourself… Charlamagne said it best [paraphrased]
This memoir definitely doesn’t give a f*ck and I can appreciate his story.
Without giving away spoilers, here are my favorite bits about this book:
1. starting with yourself, ALWAYS give people the credit they deserve for being STUPID
2. Ratchetness & Righteousness
3. Shit is the best fertilizer, it helps stuff grow
4. Divine misdirection
5. Judy Blume books
6. The size of your house does not determine your future
Honestly, I usually love memoirs and I love them narrated by the individual and Charlamagne delivers on both accounts.
This memoir definitely doesn’t give a f*ck and I can appreciate his story.
Without giving away spoilers, here are my favorite bits about this book:
1. starting with yourself, ALWAYS give people the credit they deserve for being STUPID
2. Ratchetness & Righteousness
3. Shit is the best fertilizer, it helps stuff grow
4. Divine misdirection
5. Judy Blume books
6. The size of your house does not determine your future
Honestly, I usually love memoirs and I love them narrated by the individual and Charlamagne delivers on both accounts.
chocodippedlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
When i first seen this book, i was intrigued. Considering C tha God reputation i knew this had to be good. DO NOT LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU! I challenge anybody to read this book objectively. Forget what youve seen or heard from him and just read and you honestly will be surprised.
▪This book is not for the faint of heart because its completely written with his voice in mind. I appreciated it. Sometimes bios and memoirs are a little boring because its too formal. I felt like C was talking directly to me while reading it.
▪If you need extra motivation professionally or personally, you can get it in this book. No matter how you feel about him, his work ethic is bomb. He pushes the concept that you can never stop learning and growing and that is crucial to your development.
▪This book explains his personality alot. His took his background and past and used it as a stepping stone to push himself further. He didnt make it an excuse and that gets my respect.
▪This book is not for the faint of heart because its completely written with his voice in mind. I appreciated it. Sometimes bios and memoirs are a little boring because its too formal. I felt like C was talking directly to me while reading it.
▪If you need extra motivation professionally or personally, you can get it in this book. No matter how you feel about him, his work ethic is bomb. He pushes the concept that you can never stop learning and growing and that is crucial to your development.
▪This book explains his personality alot. His took his background and past and used it as a stepping stone to push himself further. He didnt make it an excuse and that gets my respect.
wearethedepinets's review
4.0
I had come across this book a few years ago. I actually think I heard about it on the Elvin Duran show. I had never heard of Charlamagne before coming across the book so I was not aware of his style. Luckily, I listened to the audiobook read by the author. He holds nothing back and is completely transparent while giving his advice. Definitely a read for everyone.
biobibliophile's review
5.0
Would recommend listening vs reading to get his tone for stories better. Loved how growth oriented and self aware he was. Lots of wisdom from someone very human.
rinnyssance's review
5.0
I've been listening to Charlamange Tha God on the radio since Wendy. At first, I despised him. Then, I grew to respect him. As the years have gone by, I started to like him because he grew as a person and a radio personality I appreciated that. So when he announced he was releasing a book, I thought, "cool." Then I heard it was titled "Black Privilege" and I thought, "Oh boy." I hadn't dug into the press releases regarding the book at all. Nor did I read any other reviews before reading on my 12-hour flight. So I had no expectations before reading besides what I hear on The Breakfast Club and the few episodes of his podcast I'd heard.I have to say, I was very impressed with this book. I like to think of it in two parts, it's an autobiography and a self-help book. So I'm going to review it in these two parts.
Autobiographically, the book was very honest and relatable. I appreciated that he was honest about all of the mistakes he'd made in his childhood, and all the failures he had to overcome in the space of his career. I loved the tone of the anecdotes, which read just like Charlamange, and was humorous throughout. If you've somewhat followed Charlamange's career, this is a good look inside of what his life was like and why and how he got to where he is at this point. I liked that he didn't make any excuses for any stupid things he'd done, nor did he disrespect anybody else involved in the stories he told. I was surprised at some parts of the story, interested and fully immersed in the story, and in others, I was laughing nonstop because something was relatable or amusing.
As far as the self-help part of the book, I felt it was pretty common self-help advice you can find in any other book. Although, I don't think his target audience is a self-help audience, so I see the value in the message. That made a difference to me. I've read plenty of self-help books and I've never seen one that targets the specific audience Charlamange appeals to, and I'd say he tied all of his wisdom in well. I was especially impressed with his ability not only to use "respectable" anecdotes to moralize a lesson but ones that are less conventional as well.
For anybody put off by the title, I would say you're missing out. The book has little to nothing to do with the title at all, and in fact, the author never talks about "privilege" in the book at all. The book is more about opportunity and his unique journey toward his calling and the lessons he learned in between getting in trouble with the law, getting fired, taking a leap and moving away from everything he'd known and becoming one of the most popular radio hosts in the country. If you let the title turn you off to the book completely, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Charlamange used to seem like a huge jackass to me but after reading, I realized just how much he has grown to be a better person while preserving the essence that made him a radio star. The book is tactful and well-planned. A quick and easy read for people who are pressed for time. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not think I would be giving this book five stars but here I am.
Autobiographically, the book was very honest and relatable. I appreciated that he was honest about all of the mistakes he'd made in his childhood, and all the failures he had to overcome in the space of his career. I loved the tone of the anecdotes, which read just like Charlamange, and was humorous throughout. If you've somewhat followed Charlamange's career, this is a good look inside of what his life was like and why and how he got to where he is at this point. I liked that he didn't make any excuses for any stupid things he'd done, nor did he disrespect anybody else involved in the stories he told. I was surprised at some parts of the story, interested and fully immersed in the story, and in others, I was laughing nonstop because something was relatable or amusing.
As far as the self-help part of the book, I felt it was pretty common self-help advice you can find in any other book. Although, I don't think his target audience is a self-help audience, so I see the value in the message. That made a difference to me. I've read plenty of self-help books and I've never seen one that targets the specific audience Charlamange appeals to, and I'd say he tied all of his wisdom in well. I was especially impressed with his ability not only to use "respectable" anecdotes to moralize a lesson but ones that are less conventional as well.
For anybody put off by the title, I would say you're missing out. The book has little to nothing to do with the title at all, and in fact, the author never talks about "privilege" in the book at all. The book is more about opportunity and his unique journey toward his calling and the lessons he learned in between getting in trouble with the law, getting fired, taking a leap and moving away from everything he'd known and becoming one of the most popular radio hosts in the country. If you let the title turn you off to the book completely, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Charlamange used to seem like a huge jackass to me but after reading, I realized just how much he has grown to be a better person while preserving the essence that made him a radio star. The book is tactful and well-planned. A quick and easy read for people who are pressed for time. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not think I would be giving this book five stars but here I am.
blkbaer's review against another edition
5.0
Do yourself a favor and listen to this first, and then buy yourself a copy for reading at random later. This is probably the best version of an author reading their own book with Gary Vaynerchuk coming in a really close second.
glendareads39's review against another edition
4.0
"Live your truth." Deeply motivational and powerful.
classysassreads's review
5.0
Definitely enjoyed this read because I knew he was gonna keep it 100 but the nose part took me out and now it’s stuck in my head.
metropolis's review
5.0
tl;dr: skip to The Verdict
“Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes To Those That Create It” is the first book from ‘Charlamagne tha God’ — a notorious Hip Hop radio DJ on the world famous ‘Breakfast Club’ morning show. The book is a memoir with a generous amount of reflective wisdom: it’s brimming with incisive advice for growth and self development — wrapped up in street savvy mantras.
It chronicles his rise from his troubled youth, where crime and possibly prison seemed like it would be his ultimate destiny. It takes us on to his entry into and rise through the entertainment industry, with his many sackings and controversies along the way. He’s renowned as a bold, straight talker, who is never afraid to ruffle a few feathers with his lack of filter, and his honest reality checking approach.
THE CASE FOR
‘Black Privilege’ is sharp, well written and engaging. Charlamagne’s streetwise delivery shines in concert with his direct writing style and no holds barred approach. Charlamagne developed a love of reading from a young age and much of the book displays a strong philosophical clarity which is grounded in this fact. He has a key form of wisdom spawned from conscientious reading and sage advice married to his varied & powerful life experiences.
He’s happy being perceived as raw or blunt. His total lack of prudishness and embarrassment is certainly something which has empowered him in his hustle to the top.
One of the key positives of the book is how Charlamagne addresses some of the most notable cultural issues of our age. In particular he addresses the remedies to: excessive pursuit of instant gratification, obsession toward the superficial, a lack of self reflection and a lack of constructive realism. He manages to tackle these issues in the most relatable manner while also managing to avoid being condescending. His mantras, wrapped in pearls such as “Put the Weed in the Bag!” and “Live Your Truth”, work so well because of the rawness of their presentation and explanation.
Most of all, something that shines through — particularly in light of the difficult path he has traveled — is the powerful undercurrent of positivity that Charlamagne manages to convey. While he could easily be perceived as someone intent on tearing down, his actual frame and approach is inherently built on ultimately lifting people up, and pushing people to a positive end result.
THE CASE AGAINST
Charlamagne for the most part comes across as unbiased and grounded in his perspectives. However, he holds on to some conscious biases in his world view, bias which I feel may occasionally serve to his detriment. Although, in light of the social context in which he serves and the politically / racially charged narratives he’s is often drawn into, his occasional tendency towards a slightly unfair bias is understandable.
He does at times come across as a little: all work and no play. He occasionally touches on a ultra conservative stance implying that fun, partying and casual socialising really isn’t for ‘adults’ who wish to achieve success. This may (to some extent) be a crucial message for many readers of the book. However, the thing that he virtually ignores is that time, frequency, and most of all context are most important. The key is getting the work / life balance right. Too much in any one area is often problematic.
A good example of this is the questionable routine / sleep schedule he upholds. It has far too short a period for sleep for the overwhelming majority of people. Modern science has shown that, longterm, less than optimal sleep duration, is detrimental to physical and mental health. The sleep when you’re dead school of thought, often glorified by some in the past, has no place in modern sleep hygiene teaching. So his approach to this area is an overall shortcoming to his productivity and his philosophy.
Also, while he definitely benefited through the exposure gained via his time on Wendy William’s Radio show. Working for free, for over a year (being employed via her very wealthy husband) meant that he was definitely subject to some serious exploitation — something he should be weary of recommending wholeheartedly.
THE VERDICT
Overall ‘Black Privilege’ is a captivating and well written book. Charlamagne’s approach to exploring his deeper philosophy is worth celebrating. His philosophy could be summarised as — strive to achieve your grounded ambitions step by step — but at the same time it’s infinitely much more than this.
The book is not only an interesting memoir, but also an insightful exploration of the type of wisdom needed to truly flourish. Additionally, it serves as an antidote to many of the problematic pop culture and political narratives that are becoming more popular.
This is a book I would happily recommend to people of all races, and I can honestly say it was a Privilege to read.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
“Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes To Those That Create It” is the first book from ‘Charlamagne tha God’ — a notorious Hip Hop radio DJ on the world famous ‘Breakfast Club’ morning show. The book is a memoir with a generous amount of reflective wisdom: it’s brimming with incisive advice for growth and self development — wrapped up in street savvy mantras.
It chronicles his rise from his troubled youth, where crime and possibly prison seemed like it would be his ultimate destiny. It takes us on to his entry into and rise through the entertainment industry, with his many sackings and controversies along the way. He’s renowned as a bold, straight talker, who is never afraid to ruffle a few feathers with his lack of filter, and his honest reality checking approach.
THE CASE FOR
‘Black Privilege’ is sharp, well written and engaging. Charlamagne’s streetwise delivery shines in concert with his direct writing style and no holds barred approach. Charlamagne developed a love of reading from a young age and much of the book displays a strong philosophical clarity which is grounded in this fact. He has a key form of wisdom spawned from conscientious reading and sage advice married to his varied & powerful life experiences.
He’s happy being perceived as raw or blunt. His total lack of prudishness and embarrassment is certainly something which has empowered him in his hustle to the top.
One of the key positives of the book is how Charlamagne addresses some of the most notable cultural issues of our age. In particular he addresses the remedies to: excessive pursuit of instant gratification, obsession toward the superficial, a lack of self reflection and a lack of constructive realism. He manages to tackle these issues in the most relatable manner while also managing to avoid being condescending. His mantras, wrapped in pearls such as “Put the Weed in the Bag!” and “Live Your Truth”, work so well because of the rawness of their presentation and explanation.
Most of all, something that shines through — particularly in light of the difficult path he has traveled — is the powerful undercurrent of positivity that Charlamagne manages to convey. While he could easily be perceived as someone intent on tearing down, his actual frame and approach is inherently built on ultimately lifting people up, and pushing people to a positive end result.
THE CASE AGAINST
Charlamagne for the most part comes across as unbiased and grounded in his perspectives. However, he holds on to some conscious biases in his world view, bias which I feel may occasionally serve to his detriment. Although, in light of the social context in which he serves and the politically / racially charged narratives he’s is often drawn into, his occasional tendency towards a slightly unfair bias is understandable.
He does at times come across as a little: all work and no play. He occasionally touches on a ultra conservative stance implying that fun, partying and casual socialising really isn’t for ‘adults’ who wish to achieve success. This may (to some extent) be a crucial message for many readers of the book. However, the thing that he virtually ignores is that time, frequency, and most of all context are most important. The key is getting the work / life balance right. Too much in any one area is often problematic.
A good example of this is the questionable routine / sleep schedule he upholds. It has far too short a period for sleep for the overwhelming majority of people. Modern science has shown that, longterm, less than optimal sleep duration, is detrimental to physical and mental health. The sleep when you’re dead school of thought, often glorified by some in the past, has no place in modern sleep hygiene teaching. So his approach to this area is an overall shortcoming to his productivity and his philosophy.
Also, while he definitely benefited through the exposure gained via his time on Wendy William’s Radio show. Working for free, for over a year (being employed via her very wealthy husband) meant that he was definitely subject to some serious exploitation — something he should be weary of recommending wholeheartedly.
THE VERDICT
Overall ‘Black Privilege’ is a captivating and well written book. Charlamagne’s approach to exploring his deeper philosophy is worth celebrating. His philosophy could be summarised as — strive to achieve your grounded ambitions step by step — but at the same time it’s infinitely much more than this.
The book is not only an interesting memoir, but also an insightful exploration of the type of wisdom needed to truly flourish. Additionally, it serves as an antidote to many of the problematic pop culture and political narratives that are becoming more popular.
This is a book I would happily recommend to people of all races, and I can honestly say it was a Privilege to read.
Rating: 4.5 Stars