by Tavis Smiley
First published 2016
Michael Jackson stands at the crossroads of his career and his life. The King of Pop hires managers, then fires them. He reaches out to family members, then pulls away. He battles depression and fights drug dependency while chasing one impossible dream: creating the most spectacular concert series ever staged. Jackson's days swing between crushing lows and euphoric highs as he struggles with the fame that made him a global icon but left him socially broken. Privacy becomes his obsession, yet the spotlight never dims. As the weeks count down, Jackson pushes forward with his comeback plans, surrounded by advisors and haunted by his demons. Smiley reveals the man behind the legend during these crucial final months, showing how Jackson's relentless pursuit of perfection collided with his fragile humanity.
Genres: biography, drama, african-american, contemporary, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, mental-illness, redemption
Period: 21st Century
288 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: addiction, depression, mental-illness