Kirkus Reviews said in its review "The personality of Brown observed at work (with the Black Economic Union) and at play (basketball with the author, golf with Bill Russell, sex with various and sundry ladies) never quite focuses through the clouds of
charisma."
Salon.com wrote that the book was "an admittedly self-centered biography of football legend Jim Brown that chronicles Toback's experience as a Jewish white guy who lived with Brown in Hollywood, a life that was essentially a series of wild parties and
orgies."
Calvin C. Hernton reviewed
Jim for
The New York Times and said, "James Toback reveals as much about himself in this book as he does about his subject, Jim Brown," adding, ""Jim" is an interpersonal, intimate and complex book." Conversely,
Vincent Canby of
The New York Times wrote ""Jim" is an appalling and fascinating mixture of self‐analysis, hero‐worship and incredible self‐importance." ==References==