MICHAEL JACKSON:: THE MAGIC, THE MADNESS, THE WHOLE STORY, 1958-2009

Excellent biography of Michael Jackson. Author Taraborrelli not only attended a Jackson 5 concert as a child, he interviewed Michael and other family members numerous times throughout Michael's life as well as was at Neverland and attended Michael's trial. This author has done numerous excellent books including one on Sinatra and one on Elizabeth Taylor. This is a worthy addition to his publications. Well done.

I bought this book for two reasons: (1) Subject Mattter - I'm a BIG Michael Jackson fan. The biggest. and (2) I'm a fan of the author. Not because he's a gifted writer or because his works are entirely factual but because he is very entertaining to read. He also wrote "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot", another 600+ page tome that I could not put down. Just as in the "Jackie" book it is clear that he has great affection for the celebrities about whom he writes, he also expresses it and being a journalist, he has a gift for writing in a sensationalist manner, which keeps the reader riveted. Of course, a good journalist is unbiased, but we'll give him a pass. If you can close your mind to the parts where the author has taken GIANT, sweeping, creative license - he would have had to be a fly on the wall for many of the converstations he seems to have first-hand accounts about, like dialogue between Lisa and Michael that there was NO WAY he was privvy to and scenes between MJ and the young men in his world and even convos between other family members - you will really enjoy this edition. It does seem that Mr. Taraborelli and MJ were estranged for the last several years of his life (from the last molesation trial in 1995 to the end of MJ's life) and he admits as much. And the book suffers from that point on. However, the epilogue was very enjoyable for me, just an outpuring of grief, wonder and admiration for a fallen star who was just gone too soon. I read the last section of the book (The Man in the Mirror) alone in my room, by candlelight. Not by design, it just happened to work out that way and I was so glad that I got to take that time alone to enjoy the last few pages about MJ with do distraction and with the focus that I felt The King deserved. Do I think MJ deserved better? Absolutely! Is this edition absolutely peppered with bad grammar, typographical errors and editing mistakes? Well, yes. But it gets full marks from me because it was a joy to read and a welcome addition to my library. Rest well, Michael and thanks again Mr. Taraborrelli.

I don't know if you're like me, but ever since Michael Jackson passed away, I have wanted to know the truth. I don't think there has ever been anyone more misrepresented in human history than Michael Jackson. He said in an interview that '99.9% of what's written about me is not true.' He said this long before he ever went on trial. When it comes to books about Michael Jackson, two stand out, Michael Jackson Conspiracy by Aphrodite Jones, based on transcripts of the 2005 trial, and this one. If you're like me, when you read Conspiracy you can finally lay to rest any lingering doubts you may have about Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence. Magic and Madness stands out, not because of journalistic brilliance, but because it paints a humanistic and relatable portrait of the man and music. Taraborelli gives a balanced portrait of MJ, having met him many times since MJ was 10. Separate photos show him with Michael and Jermaine, giving him greater credibility than those who never met him. As you might expect from an author who has published many biographies, including three books on Diana Ross (he must really like her), Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and Marilyn Monroe, Magic and Madness is a gripping read. The further you get into the book the more fascinating it gets. You might not know that MJ lived in Encino with the other Jacksons until he bought Neverland at age 30. This created interesting tensions and dramas described in the book. Paul McCartney introduced him to Neverland, where he stayed while they filmed the video for Say, Say, Say. One can appreciate the intrigue, politics and relationships at Motown. He does an incredible job of documenting the whole saga of the Jacksons signing with and leaving Motown and Jermaine being left behind. Jermaine married Motown supremo Berry Gordy's daughter,and had to choose between family and family. As Jermaine said: "I didn't leave the Jacksons, the Jacksons left me. At Motown." Definitely the strongest section of the book. Surprising then that the Jacksons would reunite the 25th Anniversary Motown tribute to Gordy when Michael would stun the world with his showmanship and debut the moonwalk. As you read about rhe relationship with feisty yet sensible Lisa Marie Presley, the dialogue sparkles and seems very true to life, as do descriptions of encounters with Elizabeth Taylor, a true friend. He captures them very well... His PT Barnum showman aspect, some escapades spectacularly successful, some backfiring. You may wonder about the extent of plastic surgery. Obviously, Jackson was not candid about all the surgery he had. He covers the incidents leading up to the 1993 case in some detail. Even if entirely innocent, MJ's behavior is still troubling, resulting in June Chandler losing custody of her child. She testified in the 2005 trial that she had not seen her child in 11 years, and was a positive witness in the 2005 trial, according to Michael Jackson Conspiracy Certainly, Mj's sharing a bed with a young child seems odd, and Evan Chandler leveraged this as part of his grand plan to gain custody and win a huge legal settlement, which he did. Evan C's behavior seems very odd, disturbing and self serving, particularly the Sodium Amytal admission, pursuing a civil action without first contacting authorities, there's the tape, and the infamous Anthony Pellicano, Michael's scandal prone celebrity PI. For what purpose would he insist on sharing a bed with this child, and then insist to his mother that either she trusts him or not, and then playing off children against each other. If he has paid out a huge settlement, why insist on and risk continuing the same behavior, even if innocent. Jackson told Diane Sawyer on Prime Time in 1995 that the only reason he was not charged was because the accuser's description of his private parts did not match the photographs. Surprisingly Taraborelli does not mention this. This book was mostly written before the 2005 case, yet he still picked out inconsistencies in the prosecution case. He uncovered the previous Janet Arvizo allegations of sexual assault,trial and settlement against J C Penney when her son Gavin (the accuser) was arrested for shoplifting. He details a timeline for the molestation, occuring 'AFTER' the Living with Michael Jackson documentary had aired, and 'BEFORE' and 'DURING' the several times the Arvizos denied anything inappropriate had happened. THEN, the Arvizos consulted the 'SAME' attorney as the 1993 case, and allege two incidents of molestation. Jackson supposedly committed this crime while knowing he was under investigation for committing this crime, and simultaneously getting the Arvizo family rebuttal on audio and video. C,mon. If the author can find these loopholes, then why would Sneddon's DA office still prosecute a case where this family had already testified four different times, on audio, video, to Arvizo's school principal, and to DCFS that nothing had happened. Was it not obvious to him that you cannot give two diametrically opposite of the same events and expect to be believed by a jury? This matter should never have gone to trial. In fact MJ's attorney Tom Mesereau filed a motion to set aside the indictment. Things for Taraborelli to look at for future editions: He states the amount of the 1993 settlement at $20 million, and in the final chapter says $25 million. Which is it? As it's confidential, how does he know? Was it covered by Jackson's insurance or not? A discography showing chart hits and highest positions would be helpful. He makes no mention of the book . Redemption: The Truth Behind the Michael Jackson Child Molestation Allegation (Unautographed Copy) written by Rothman's legal secretary Geraldine Hughes, an important book. He does not acknowledge the sources of some of his material, for example a conversation between Katherine Jackson and Lisa Marie. It seems unlikely either would be a source. He recommends checking out Maureen Orth's Vanity Fair series, and I have, yet she has written some of the most ludicrous articles about Michael. I did not care much for the last chapter which was obviously hastily put together, but did appreciate his reflections on the 2005 trial, even if pretty sketchy. Similarly, with John Branca, MJ's attorney. How could he know the surely secret details about the negotiations for Neverland, and the buying of The Beatles catalogue. Who or what is the source of June Chandler's account? The research and sourcing of official legal documents is very impressive, so kudos for that. If you want to know in great detail about the 2005 trial read Michael Jackson Conspiracy which I have also reviewed, and if you want to know the whole story read this book. I hope you find this helpful.

I couldn't put this book down from the moment I began. The research that has gone into this book is amazingly in depth, and in my opinion gives a fair and truthful-feeling presentation of Michael's real life. There is so much media spin on everything about Michael, that it was refreshing to have a balanced straight forward account. The author delves into the subject without passing judgement or giving undue support, and leaves his reflections more in the form of questions for the reader to think about as well. There are so many great little insights and moments that I had never heard about, and I was amazed at how many perspectives you got from both Michael and those who knew him, so you really felt you had a sense of all the sides of a matter. I learned a lot especially about Lisa Marie and their relationship, and found her story extremely interesting. The dynamics of the Jackson family are also fascinating in themselves. What's also quite fun when you read this book, is that you can find so much on the internet that will enhance your reading experience. For example when the author explains why Michael Jackson was distracted and agitated when accepting a certain award one year (quite a funny story) you can look up the video of the award that night and see the agitation you just read about! Not many people are so famous that you can actually look up media and photos that correspond to the biography you're reading! There were a handful of typos, which really wouldn't be worth mentioning in a book this length except that I was bummed when the second to last word of the book was one of them. However I'm sure it was quite a rush getting the updated version of this book out so quickly, and I'm glad they did. Michael Jackson was a fascinating, amazing talented, troubled, and unique person who will be missed by many the world over. I really loved delving deeper into a person who was such a phenomenon and I can't imagine a better, more complete and balanced biography. Highly recommended for both fans and those who are just curious about the legend. Incidentally, this review comes from a fan.

Before Michael's death, I had never heard of the author of this book, J. Randy Taraborrelli, nor had I remembered how much I really loved Michael Jackson as an artist. My grandmother bought me the "Thriller" album when I was five-years-old! Even grandma did not escape the knowledge that this album and musical genius was one of kind and always would be. I would play it over and over again even as a small child. The song, "Thriller" was my favorite. The scary laugh at the end would get me every time! I have been a fan of Michael's music for the past 27 years. No celebrity death has hit me like when Michael Jackson died. I felt, as did many others, like I "grew up with him." Besides him being an incredible musical genius, he did so many wonderful things for not only people who knew, but complete strangers. I was in love with his musical talent as well as his heart. Over the years, I had children, went to work, and etc. But his music was never too far from my heart. His death brought back incredible nostalgia. I bought Taraborreli's book shortly after Michael's death. After reading it, I am and always will be mesmerized by Michael's life. No one on this earth would have an effortless time dealing with all that he had to deal with. But I also agree with the author that Michael also made things difficult for himself as well. Who doesn't? If many of our lives were put under a microscope like Michael Jackson's has been since he was a young boy, how would we fair? I have to admit I cringed on the inside reading about the molestations. I have not been swayed either way in my beliefs of whether he is guilty or not. I am still just as foggy as I've ever been. For all the evidence that there was against him, there was always compelling evidence pointing to his innocence. One thing I know for sure is that my opinion really doesn't matter. There is only one judge in this life, and that is God. So I leave the molestation issue there, even though I pray and wish no child ever has to endure sexual of physical abuse of any kind, but I know that is not a reality. I thought this book demonstrated the truly human side of Michael Jackson and what all he endured in life, both good and bad. His life was filled with incredible blessings coupled with just as many tragedies. The physical and emotional abuse he suffered as a child is very serious. Not everyone "gets over it" as many people felt he should have by now. Suffering from child abuse can and does cripple people for life if they do not receive any help, no matter how rich and famous they are. Money, fame, drugs, and other people do not erase the pain as many onlookers may have thought it should have for Michael. I felt a wide range of emotions for him. I felt compassion, admiration, confusion, respect, and absolute amazement. Underneath it all, Michael was a human being, and people need to remember that. Even if he did seem "superhuman" and may have even viewed himself in that light. I think Taraborreli did justice to his life and I love how he ended the book. I encourage any Michael Jackson fan and critic to read this book. It is well worth the money and time. No matter what people's opinions are of his personal life, Michael Jackson was and will always be the best entertainer of all time. I'm thankful that I was blessed to live during his lifetime. I love his music and I always will. My prayer for Michael is that he is with God now. All the money, fame, and drugs can never replace what God can do to fill someone's life, heart, and soul. Sadly, Michael's life is a testimony to that. I so wish his life had ended differently. It breaks my heart that his children never got to see him perform, and that they have to go on with their lives without their father. It is a tragedy that he worked so hard and it took his death for a reemergence of his music to enter the lives of so many fans that have always loved his work. So many miss you and love you Michael. But I pray now that you are with the only true King of this world, and that is God. I believe Michael will finally know what peace is and will also be filled with the kind of love that no one human can ever fill. That's God's love. He doesn't have to search anymore for that kind of love, even though so many wish he was still here.

Okay- so this is the best most accurate book published to date of the life of Michael Jackson. It was not at all gossipy, vicious or fictional. You definitely can tell the difference between tabloid junk and the truth. I believe this book to be the absolute truth or as close as anyone will ever get to the real Michael Jackson. It did not slander him at all. It was very factual and impartial. It highlighted his achievements along with the ongoing drama of his life. It made you see him as a person, a human being. We all would like to think of Michael as this untouchable superstar with some super human powers or something because that is how he wanted to be viewed by the public, but the truth is he was so vulnerable and mentally stunted. His family, whose claims of love, always seemed to depend on his ability to make them all money. You can now see why he would distance himself from the family including his mother. He loved his mother dearly, but his mother had a sense of wanting to keep the family together, so they used her as a way to get Michael to do what they wanted, and he had a hard time saying no to her, so he distanced himself from her, so he wouldn't be put in that situation anymore. You can tell he lived to make his mother happy because of all the pain his father caused her, but by doing that, he sacrificed a piece of himself and never got to be the person he was meant to be. He seemed conflicted between the religious beliefs he was raised on and his will to grow up. He was very afraid of the world, but more so than his siblings because he was the star of the family. Everyone had something riding on his talent, and he was raised with the belief not to trust anyone because they were all out to get him. Couple that with an already sensitive person, and it doesn't take long for the paranoia to kick in. I think we will all remember him the way we want to, but I think this book was well written and it definitely gave insight into just who Michael Jackson the human being really was. He had an unyielding need to be loved and adored by everyone. He tried to appear perfect and everytime a piece of his imperfection was revealed whether about himself or his family, it took a piece of him away. When you read this book, you realize he was never anything like the confident performer he portrayed himself to be on stage. It also gives clarity into the child molestation allegations and his trial, and at least I feel 100% comfortable in believing he never ever did such a horrible thing, but he was victimized because he opened himself up to that kind of controversy because he honestly thought he was untouchable because of who he was. His life is a very sad story. I hope his soul is the free spirit it was meant to be, and he can now rest in peace. Thank you Michael Jackson for sharing your talent with the world. Your music and performance will truly be missed.

Ok, so in the sad world of Jackson biographies, this is undoubtably the best. Taraborelli's style is conversational and enjoyable and I agree with the reviewers before me- it is difficult to put down. However, there are a number of things that rattle the credibility of this publication. 1. Taraborrelli contributes to the Daily Mail, a smutty British tabloid. 2. Taraborrelli allows the Daily Mail to refer to him as Jackson's "friend" and even "lifelong confidante." This is incredibly far from the truth. Taraborelli makes no such assertions himself, but allowing himself to be referred to as such is just as bad. This type of self-aggrandizing disregard for the truth undermines his otherwise seemingly-semi-credible work. (Also of note, the Daily Mail also calls Stacy Brown a family friend. Brown is another Jackson biographer who revealed that crucial portions of his biography were made up for sensational purposes when under oath in Jackson's 2005 trial) 3. There are some things that Taraborelli reports as fact that could only have reached him through a biased, drawn-out grapevine. For example, Jackson's sex life with Lisa Marie. Also, the portions written about the nature of Jackson's relationship with Jordie Chandler, particularly the pieces where Jackson is alone with only the family in their home when Jackson is like, obsessively staring at Jordie. Who the HELL told Taraborelli that? One of Chandler's parents? Good ol' Uncle Ray? Knowing that Taraborrelli took liberties with the fact here and in other places where he will put incredible detail into scenes of which he couldn't possibly be aware makes you wonder where else he did this(and, also, if he knew all this- why did he not know that it was Jackson's insurance who paid the Chandlers the $20 million and not Jackson himself?) Does it make for enjoyable prose? Yes. But it's basically FAN FICTION. 4. Taraborrelli associates with some pretty shady anti-Jackson characters. He considers Diane Dimond a close friend. Frankly, I don't understand how someone could see past her tasteless witch-hunting to become a friend. He also gave interviews to this guy who's in this name escapes me, but he made a documentary called "Michael Jackson: What Really Happened" This documentary is so poorly made, it seems like a middle-schoolers powerpoint. And basically everything in it is ridiculous and incorrect. 5. Taraborrelli's participation in the 2005 trial was less than admirable. He seemed to favor the prosecution's chances when, upon review of the transcripts and evidence, they never had a case. He also got all of this credit for being so "close" to Jackson, but then he went along with all of the reporters who entertained themselves by relentlessly mocking their cash cow. I spent one week on the press there, and I was blown over by how unprofessional the environment was. 6. Taraborrelli admitted in an interview that he hadn't been keeping up with Jackson's story for the past few years. This means that the final portion of this book was scrambled together in a month. 7. The reason, Taraborrelli admitted, that he had been ignoring Jackson was because he was mad at him. .....seriously? ...are you joking? FEELINGS SHOULD NOT MATTER IN BIOGRAPHY WRITING!!! Taraborrelli, you are not Jackson's FRIEND. You aren't allowed to be mad at him! This is unprofessional and immature. All of this said, I do think this book is worth a read. Taraborrelli writes well and definitely appears to come much closer to fact than any other biographers. His sources listed are extensive, yet vague in some very crucial areas. Unfortunately, the truth will never be known when it comes to Michael Jackson. Some lie for fame and money. Celebrities will lie for their image. Taraborrelli does seem to care for Jackson and is capable of discussing his life without his comments dripping with mockery like other "journalists." Sadly, I imagine this is as good as it's going to get. ETA 12/18/2009: After following him on Facebook for the past four months, my opinion of Taraborrelli has greatly increased. I understand why he made the choices that he did now, and, upon reflection, I appreciate his work much more. I look forward to the next edition.

I DECIDED, AFTER THE RELEASE OF THAT APPALLING HBO FILM (WHICH SHALL GO NAMELESS), THAT I WOULD FIND OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD ABOUT THIS MAN. I KNEW WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I WANTED INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE READ EVERY BOOK PUBLISHED ABOUT Michael Jackson, AND THIS BOOK IS the BOOK THAT ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS. RANDY TARABORRELLI HAS DONE THE WORLD AND MICHAEL AND HIS CHILDREN A GREAT FAVOR. THIS IS A REAL BIOGRAPHY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE SPAN OF THE MAN'S LIFE. RANDY KNEW MICHAEL AS A KID, AND THEN WENT ON TO BECOME A WRITER AND JOURNALIST. IN THOSE CAPACITIES, RANDY INTERVIEWED MICHAEL OFTEN OVER THE YEARS. HE KNEW HIM AND KNEW THE FAMILY. THIS IS AN HONEST, THOROUGH, AND FACTUAL ACCOUNT THAT FULLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION "WHO WAS MICHAEL JACKSON?" WHETHER YOU ARE A FAN OR NOT, THIS IS GREAT READING. IF YOU, LIKE I, WANT TO SATISFY YOURSELF THAT YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MICHAEL EVER HURT A CHILD, YOU'LL FIND THAT ANSWER HERE. IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT HIS CHANGING APPEARANCE, YOU'LL LEARN ALL ABOUT IT HERE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIOGRAPHY OR IN MUSIC & DANCE, AND WANT TO NOW MORE ABOUT THE MIND OF A MUSICAL GENIUS AND GLOBAL MEGASTAR, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. AND IF YOU ARE A FAN AND LOVE MICHAEL AND DESPISE WHAT WAS DONE TO HIM, YOU must READ TARABORRELLI'S BOOK. YOU'LL BE SO GLAD YOU DID.

If you like MJ, or know anyone who does this would make for a great gift or a collectible item. I got this book and many others for myself because I was greatly interested in his life, thoughts, and his kind soul. I read it a few times and each time i discovered a new love for MJ and everything he stood for. I can imagine this book bringing so much joy to another fan as well.

L'oeuvre de J.Randy Taraborrelli devrait être la SEULE et UNIQUE référence sur la vie de Michael Jackson. Pourquoi ? Tout simplement parce-qu'il a connu et fréquenté la famille Jackson ! Cela devrait suffir et chasser tous ces pseudos journalistes, écrivains qui se disent tout connaître de Michael Jackson! Leur but premier est uniquement d'engraisser leur portefeuille et leur compte en banque ! L'auteur était un ami proche de Michael ainsi que de sa famille. Il a grandi à ses côtés et souvent réalisé des interviews de lui et de sa famille pour des magazines. Pour ma part, et cela n'engage que moi, je préfère croire ses propos qu'à tous les autres rapaces que l'on peut voir depuis la mort de Michael. Ainsi, nous avons une vraie biographie sur le King of Pop de son enfance jusqu'à sa mort. Il passe vraiment en revue toute la vie de l'artiste : les débuts des Jackson, la naissance de ses enfants, ses ex-femmes, son succès, ses procès ... vraiment une oeuvre complète. Le seul problème qui peut freiner certains fans et cela peut se comprendre c'est la langue dans laquelle l'auteur a rédigé son oeuvre : l'anglais. Eh oui, à ce jour il n'y a pas de version traduite en français. Toutefois, je trouve qu'il s'agit d'un anglais assez compréhensible et pas trop compliqué. J'encourage tous ceux qu'ils veulent le lire de se lancer car cela vaut vraiment le détour ! On en apprend bien plus que tous les livres réunis !

L'uomo dietro l'artista e l'artista dietro l'uomo... c'è tutto questo e molto di più in un libro davvero fenomenale

Cómo todos sabemos Michael Jackson es el Rey del Pop, esperaba con ansias que el libro llegara, pensé que el libro era nuevo y cuando lo recibí no fue así, solo por eso le pongo 4 estrellas de 5, a pesar de eso el libro está en buenas condiciones

Lovely than you