This is by far and away the best book on Michael Jackson. Taraborrelli is exhaustive in his research and he gives everyone in Jackson’s life, including Joe, his due. Frankly for years I did not read this book because I just felt it was tabloid rehashing, but after Michael Jackson death I picked it up; honestly I was stunned at how much I enjoyed it and how how fair Taraborrelli is to Jackson. The book is a door stop, I dont think he missed an hour of Jackson life, but it’s riviting none the less. The book helps the reader understand the current dynamic going on with the Jacksons; the infighting, Joe’s bizzare comments, Katherine’s odd behavior toward the brilliant Branca and on and on. Michael Jackson is a total enigma, but Taraborrelli gets as close to explaining him as anybody I’ve read. I appreciate that the author does not make judgements for the most part, he just lays out the information and allows you to form your own conclusions. The book has been recently updated and all the current events have been included. In the end, as a reader you come away with admiration for Jackson, as an iconic talent and humanitarian, you feel sadness for a man who was never allowed to embraced his obvious homosexuality, and scorn for what deep in your heart you know was at the very least bad judgement with reguard to children.
Rating: 5 / 5

In my opinion this was an excellent book. The day I got this book I looked through it thought to myself, wow this is going to take me along time to read. It’s 715 pages long. I sat down later that day and started reading and couldn’t put it down. I read this book in less then a week. J. Randy Taraborrelli did right by Michael with this book. He was honest and objective…gave the facts and not his opinion. I think Michael and his family would be proud.
Rating: 5 / 5

When in-depth research and insider knowledge collide, you get a book like this one. An extremely intelligent, organized and compelling read. I couldn’t put the book down and, by the time I finished it, I felt that I had been given credible insight into the life and times of Mr. Jackson. This is one of the few books about Mr. Jackson in which I felt I got my money’s worth! This is also one of the few books I’ve read about Mr. Jackson in which the author carries such irrefutable credibility.

I especially liked the tone with which the book was written. Mr. Taraborrelli was extremely fair and empathetic towards his subject which, in face of the controversies which swirled around MJ, couldn’t have been easy to sustain at times. Throughout the book, I had the feeling that Mr. Taraborrelli understood MJ as well as anyone could have. I really wanted an intelligent read with lots of ‘inner circle’ details and I personally received that from this book. If you want more of a salacious read, full of gossip and unsubstantiated innuendo, then this is not the place to find it. Instead, you’ll be reading a factual account of MJ’s reclusive world from someone who was there and genuinely knew him and, most importantly, seemed to care about him, warts and all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Rating: 5 / 5