First published 2009
Between 2000 and 2001, Michael Jackson opens his heart to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, his close friend and spiritual advisor. Across thirty hours of recorded conversations, Jackson speaks candidly about his deepest struggles and desires. He reveals his emotional wounds and crushing isolation despite global stardom. Jackson discusses his distrust of women and explains why children represented the purity he craved. He revisits painful childhood memories and describes his attempts at healing. The pop star explores his complicated relationship with faith and how he became disconnected from his religious foundation. Jackson examines his troubled bonds with his siblings and his conflicted feelings toward his father, expressing hope for eventual reconciliation. He shares details about his closest friendships and admits his fear of aging. Through these intimate exchanges, Jackson attempts to explain himself to a public that viewed him with suspicion, seeking understanding and acceptance while confronting the hollowness that fame brought to his life.
Genres: religion, biography-memoir, christianity
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, personal-journey, redemption
Period: 2000-2001
299 pages · Hardcover · Vanguard Press
Content warnings: mental-illness