The book I read is The Way I am by Eminem. Eminem a.k.a. Slim Shady a.k.a. Marshall Mathers is a rapper who took off in the early 2000s. His songs were very controversial and he became known in the hip-hop community quickly. The Way I am is a nonfiction autobiography that depicts the hardships of poverty, the unseen downsides of fame, the struggles he had to go through as a white rapper, and the inner workings of his mind. Speaking about his childhood, Mathers mentions that “Guns and violence have been around me my whole life” (Mathers 134). Growing up in one of the poor neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan, he was not taught right and wrong but how to survive. His desensitization to guns later got him in trouble with the law and the media. While at an airport Mathers and his friends were harassed for being famous and he feels that once you reach that level of fame people act “Like you aren’t real anymore” (Mathers 45). Mathers got a lot of backlash for being white due to rap being a predominantly black culture. He had to prove himself time and time again and have friends that would help guide him. The book dives deep into how Mathers writes his lyrics and finds inspiration as well as who helped guide him and how he got where he is now. The book is very insightful and helps connect you to him. I feel that when I’m reading it I’m right there with him having a conversation. I agree with the book's main points: poverty is bad, fame is not what it's cut out to be, and you should think before you act. I disagree with his point that because he grew up poor he had to act a certain way. I feel you could get by without acting tough and like a bully all the time. The book raises many issues. It depicts the difficulties of getting into a relationship too fast, what it’s like living in a broken home, dealing with anger issues while being famous, drug abuse, and much more. Mathers has a lot of problems and mentions most if not all in the book. Some briefly and some in depth. He has had to face a lot in his life and to be where he is now is a testament to how resilient and talented he is. This book helped me realize how dreadful living an underprivileged life can be. Going into the book I knew that he had a bad childhood and that life is difficult for some people. After that, I realized the full effects it has on some people. He showed that it is possible to get out though and with hard work you can accomplish anything. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It helped me understand more about someone I already found interesting. It incorporated a lot of material into it without feeling forced as well. I didn’t expect much from the book because it seemed like a cheap cash grab. He proved me wrong though, keeping it interesting, funny, and most of all relatable. Mathers is a real dude who even after fame stayed true to his roots. When I picked it up I could not put it down. I would look at the clock and the time would just fly by. Future readers should know that he is a rapper and so has a good understanding of how to tell a story and how to use the English language. On the other hand, his humor is very crude and he uses strong language. Other than that, enjoy the book, it should be a fun, yet dramatic read.
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