The #1 New York Times bestseller! Michael Jackson’s one and only autobiography – his life, in his words.

With original Foreword by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a new Introduction by Motown founder Berry Gordy, and an Afterword by Michael Jackson’s editor and publisher, Shaye Areheart.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to tell stories, you know, stories that came from my soul. I’d like to sit by a fire and tell people stories – make them see pictures, make them cry and laugh, take them anywhere emotionally with something as deceptively simple as words. I’d like to tell tales to move their souls and transform them. I’ve always wanted to be able to do that. Imagine how the great writers must feel, knowing they have that power. I sometimes feel I could do it. It’s something I’d like to develop. In a way, songwriting uses the same skills, creates the emotional highs and lows, but the story is a sketch. It’s quicksilver. There are very few books written on the art of storytelling, how to grip listeners, how to get a group of people together and amuse them. No costumes, no makeup, no nothing, just you and your voice, and your powerful ability to take them anywhere, to transform their lives, if only for minutes.” –Michael Jackson, in Moonwalk

From the 1988 edition:

Megastar Michael Jackson’s singularly brilliant career and intensely private lifestyle have become a magnificent obsession for millions of rock fans and celebrity watchers throughout the world. His double-platinum singles rocket to the top of the music charts with a velocity equaled only by the inevitable accompaniment of wild rumors about his eccentric personal life. Now for the first time, Michael Jackson breaks the fiercely guarded barrier of silence that has surrounded him in a remarkably candid and courageous book — Moonwalk.

In this intimate and often moving personal account of Michael Jackson’s public and private life, he recalls a childhood that was both harsh and joyful but always formidable. Michael and his brothers played amateur music shows and seamy Chicago strip joints until Motown’s corporate image makers turned the Jackson 5 into worldwide superstars. Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 have combined sales of over 200 million albums. He talks about the happy prankster days of his youth, traveling with his brothers, and of his sometimes difficult relationships with his family over the years. He speaks candidly about the inspiration behind his music, his mesmerizing dance moves, and the compulsive drive to create that has made him one of the biggest stars in the music business and a legend in his own time. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Thriller as the biggest-selling-album of all time.

In Moonwalk, Michael Jackson shares his personal feelings about some of his most public friends…friends like Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, and Katharine Hepburn. He talks openly about the crushing isolation of his fame, of his first love, of his plastic surgery, and of his wholly exceptional career and the often bizarre and unfair rumors that have surrounded it.

Illustrated with rare photographs from Jackson family albums and Michael’s personal photographic archives, as well as a drawing done by Michael exclusively for this book, Moonwalk is a memorable journey to the very heart and soul of a modern musical genius.

Go back to the year 1988. Michael Jackson is still capitalizing on the success of his first two major-label albums and has just released his third album, Bad. He is wondering what's next for him. He decides to write a tell-all autobiography, explaining his past, present, and future in music and the entertainment business. He also explains his love life, his ability to come up with extraordiary music, short films, and even dance moves, and also tries to clear up some of the nasty rumors that have since plagued his career.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the single greatest autobiography I have ever read in my life! Not only does Michael express his feelings about music, children, and personal life, but he also displays true detail and emotion within every single sentence. If you are a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, you will really want this book!

No matter what anybody will ever say about him, Michael Jackson is, has been, and always will be the greatest musical artist in the history of this world!

16 of 16 found the following review helpful:


Moonwalk by Michael Jackson  Aug 18, 2009 By Dian Yamin
I have read this book a few times and will be.. many more times..!

This is Michael Jackson's autobiography describing his early days-1988 era (this book was first published in 1988). He mentions that he wanted to write this book as he tells stories. That is why when I read this book I feel like MJ was in front of me telling me his great chapters of his life (Chapter 1: Just kids with a dream, Chapter 2: The promised land, Chapter 3: Dancing Machine, Chapter 4: Me and Q, Chapter 5: The Moonwalk, Chapter 6: All you need is love). The whole writings, generally in my personal impression, are about his journey from each success he made from the early The Jacksons Five era, The Jacksons 5, back to The Jacksons to his own career (making Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad albums); including Victory Tour. How he tells the readers a great outcome comes from a great work is amazing. The great works are so great so that I can't tell with any amazing words here. For example, he tells the making of Thriller Album with massive works.

When he tells about his family life, he tells it by convincing the readers how normal and natural the family life is just like others.. like mine.. it's the dynamic of hate-love, hate-apology, sweetness-bitterness.. a painting of life. I love when I read how he describes his sister 'LaToya', it's just the way an ordinary brother telling about his sister.. so natural.. In most of my time reading his family life, I was.. smiling and laughing imagining I did the same things with my sisters and brothers.. while wondering why people think he hates his father.. Why people could ever judge this special person in any way when he really grasps what other special persons' wisdoms of life and become his favourite quotations (printed in the page about his favourite quotations):

'When I want to discover something, I begin by reading up everything that has been done along that line in the past -- that's what all the books in the library are for. I see what has been accomplished at great labor and expense in the past. I gather the data of many thousands more. The three essentials to achieve anything worthwile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-it-iveness; third, common sense' (Thomas Edison).

He reflected this quotation when Oprah Winfrey ask him in her Talkshow (10th February 1993) what he achieved at his 30th of age and he simply said "I am still learning.." Then.. why people could ever judge this special person in any way when he presents and acknowledges his mother in this book for having taught him so much about life and love, doing things by hearts, thanking God for his talent and.. giving back.

See all 201 customer reviews on Amazon.com