A review by s_armstrong
Beneath the Underdog: His World as Composed by Mingus by Charles Mingus

dark reflective sad slow-paced

0.75

If you pick this up based on the wondeful writing of the back of the book, run fast and far. It is 90% sex and misogyny. 5% incoherent ramblings. 4% insightful race relations insights. 1% jazz. There is also a disclaimer in the beginning that some of it is fictional so why it is called an autobiography is beyond me. What little growth there is or information about Mingus' life is entirely overshadowed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism