You Are Not Alone: Michael: Through a Brother's Eyes by Jermaine Jackson

by Jermaine Jackson

Now in paperback, an intimate, loving portrait of Michael Jackson--Jermaine Jackson illuminates the private man like never before and offers unrivaled access into a rarefied world.Jermaine Jackson--older than Michael by four years--offers a keenly observed memoir tracing his brother's life starting from their shared childhood and extending through their years in the Jackson 5, Michael's phenomenal solo career, his loves, his suffering, and his tragic end. It is a sophisticated, no-holds-barred examination of the man, aimed at fostering a true and final understanding of who he was, why he was, and what shaped him.Jermaine doesn't flinch from tackling the tough the torrid press, the scandals, the allegations, the court cases, the internal politics, the ill-fated This Is It tour, and disturbing developments in the days leading up to Michael's death. But where previous works have presented only thin versions of a media construct, he provides a rare glimpse into the complex heart, mind, and soul of a brilliant but sometimes troubled entertainer. As a witness to history on the inside, Jermaine is the only person qualified to deliver the real Michael and reveal what made him tick, his private opinions, and unseen emotions through the most headline-making episodes of his life.Filled with keen insight, rich in anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes detail, "You Are Not Alone "is the book for any true Michael Jackson.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Music, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Audiobook

Hardcover

First published October 26, 2011

About the author

Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (also known as Muhammed Abdul Aziz) is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director. He also produced and recorded duets with American singer Whitney Houston in her early years as a recording artist.

Reviews

[NON · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘There's nothing they can say that can harm him now,’ Mother added (p448).”

The Jackson Family are constantly vilified by the media for years and years; majorly to discredit them whenever they spoke in defense for Michael Jackson. Although, they have their own flaws (who doesn't really) and they've done their share of things but with time I've come to comprehend the extreme unfairness bestowed upon them; I actually kind of admire their “self-restraint” to not lash out facing all that pressure because God knows it gets too much to this day.

Jermaine Jackson's account is loud and clear throughout this memoir; he tells his side of history regarding what he knows and experienced as Michael Jackson's older sibling. I have to say that when I re-read this book several years after my first read, I appreciated it much more the second time around. 11 Years after the murder of Jackson (and with the current situation) had me reading between the lines of what Jermaine had to say about the wonderful life of a great human being who dedicated his life and career to overcome the impossible but his firm principle of not bending costed him quite a lot, and what he had in possession made him a target.

This memoir is honest like it doesn't seek to prove anything, Jermaine is simply laying out the obvious truth about Jackson's life and the unjust treatment by the system as a whole. He also refutes the claims about Jackson being a junkie or not being the biological father of his own children. He presents the story as he experienced it growing up in the Jackson family, and beyond.

Jermaine doesn't address his nor his family's personal lives that much except a bit here and there that would contribute to the subject's life — he didn't bring up La Toya's false claims in early 90s (she was instructed by her then abusive manager/husband) nor did he mention his ex Margaret Maldanado.*

You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes is an inspiring story despite being heart-wrenching at the second and last halves of the book. Jermaine wrote it in a simple, direct language that would deliver the message for all readers from all backgrounds. He clears common misconceptions with a candid sense and the available facts.

There are some parts where Jermaine left vague anecdote/comment that you could pass by unnoticed but when you dig deeper, you find that it is not there for nothing; it is purposeful and it gives indirect remark. I had many AHA! moments upon my second read.

All in all, it's a better biography than most of the tabloidish popular ones; it's forthright, inspirational, humorous, frustrating and heartbreaking in many instances. I fell in love with Michael Jackson all the way through — he deserved so much better, and like some banner held high at the 2005 trial said: “Michael, on behalf of mankind, we're sorry.”

Check out Michael Jackson's own autobiography Moonwalk.

*Starting Over and Jackson Family Values: Memories of Madness

[Stephanie McCown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives the inside look at Michael's life through the eyes of his brother, Jermaine. The book gives the reader and honest look at Michael's life, his struggles, his triumphs, his tragedies, his love for his family, his musical genius, his surprisingly strong business savvy, and so on. Jermaine Jackson sets the record straight regarding the salacious allegations of the sexual abuse of children, getting to the heart of the matter by sharing information the general public did not get because it wouldn't have sold as many magazines as the sensational...albeit entirely misleading...headlines did. Of everything shared in the book, I was most grateful for Jermaine Jackson's unflinching efforts toward sharing what was really going on with the allegations made against his brother. I don't want to offer any spoilers, but I will say that I wish as big a deal was being made about the truth as was made about the lies. Sadly, Michael left this world with his reputation forever damaged in the eyes of many people, and the truth matters little to them. I was glad to see that Jermaine offered information that not only vindicates his little brother, but exposes his brother's accusers for what they are. I will leave it to you to read the book to find out the rest.

The book is well written and engaging,and allows the reader to see Michael in a light that the world denied him. Michael was portrayed as a freak and a weirdo in the tabloid mags, never said to be the gentle and loving human being that he was who had struggles that perhaps he didn't always handle so well. So much of what the general public remembers about MJ is the extensive plastic surgeries that lead to a look that ultimately taught him a painful lesson (read the book), or he is remembered as a man accused of molesting children who, although found "not guilty" by a jury of his peers, was never able to live down the accusations made against him. Ultimately, his life was cut short by shady characters with ulterior motives. My heart broke as I read of his final days, realizing his death was something that could have been avoided if someone has just listened to his pleas for help as he began to understand that something was terribly wrong in his body but he didn't know what. Read the book for the details.

Anyone who ever appreciated Michael Jackson and his work will enjoy this book. Anyone who ever wanted to peel back the curtain of personae and see what was really going on with Michael and his family will enjoy the book. Anyone who enjoys a good story...albeit with a tragic ending...will enjoy the book. Ultimately, the story is one of great struggle, triumph, and redemption. While the story ends with tragedy, it also provides hope. We can all make a difference in the world. Michael Jackson's legacy of inspiration, generosity, love, and unyielding faith in the midst of adversity is one that will continue to impact and inspire people for generations. The book ends with a story in which Michael's music and his name are known to children even in the remote regions of Africa. I think that's inspiring. I think if we all used to talent we're given and used it to the best of our ability, we can change the world, even to the furthest regions of the most remote places on the planet. I think that's what Michael would have wanted his legacy to be...one of inspiration to be our very best selves, and in doing so, "heal the world, make it a better place."

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering that I initially resisted buying Jermaine's book because of my feelings towards some of Michael's siblings and some things done and said since his tragic passing, I can't recommend You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes highly enough to other MJ fans.

This is a loving tribute to an often misunderstood (by the media especially) genius, a modern Renaissance man who longed to be Peter Pan, and who, through his art and resultant global fame, really did fly to the highest of heights, but also experienced the lowest of lows.

As well as chronicling their childhood and adolescence at home and on the road as members of the Jackson 5, Jermaine provides a sensitive and compassionate portrait of his brother's less happy times, and in particular a behind the scenes account of the anguish Michael and the whole Jackson family suffered during the 2005 court case.

In this book, erroneous myths about MJ are exposed and the simple truth revealed to be just as Michael tried to tell the media himself, usually unsuccessfully - because the myths and lies were considered far more newsworthy and generated higher ratings. Jermaine emphatically sets the record straight once again on his brother's behalf. Whether the tabloids take notice, or believe it, remains to be seen. (They haven't in the past.)

You won't find any grist for the gossip mill here - just a lot of love for a cherished lost brother, a special soul too sensitive for the world in which he lived, and one whose legacy will continue to grow so long as his music is aired, his groundbreaking videos viewed, and people are inspired to donate or volunteer for humanitarian and environmental organisations because of Michael Jackson.

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the new UK paperback edition of Jermaine's book "You Are Not Alone" from Amazon UK today and had to read the new final chapter... then had to stop because I didn't want to burst into tears in the office (believe me, it's happened!)

This new edition, with the beautiful cover image of Michael age 31, captured by Annie Lebovitz, and the extra chapter "September 2011", merely emphasises the risks Michael ran in trusting (with his life, in this instance) people he liked and wanted to remain loyal to in terms of his friendship and patronage.

As in some other instances involving his personal life, his career, his integrity and reputation, and, of course, his money, he was mistaken. Fatally mistaken in Murray's case. Even given Michael's determined insistance on such extreme, unconventional means of curing his chronic insomnia, as Jermaine expresses it: the consequences on 25th June 2009 were so easily preventable, if only he had been in the hands of a competent doctor. He certainly thought he was. He was wrong.

In the new final chapter, Jermaine mentions an expert witness who was never called by the DDA (Walgren) but who could have helped, with his testimony, dispel the erroneous accusations of "addiction" which the press were so quickly to spread around the world, and repeat to this day. Dr Chavez' opinions make essential reading for anyone still having doubts - whether about Demerol or Propofol as administered to Michael.

Jermaine now concludes "You Are Not Alone" with the Jackson's Unity tour, and explains how it feels for them to be performing some of Michael's music without him. His last imagined impression of Michael, as a little boy sitting in the clouds wearing a sequin glove and tapping his foot to the beat is a sweet, brotherly image, though completely at odds with the one I have of the King of Pop, Rock and Soul.

As one of his big brothers, it's certainly understandable that Jermaine and other members of Michael's family like to image him/depict him as the little boy that headed the family singing group... and was largely responsible for their international success, and certainly the current renewed interest in the Jacksons as a musical group and success of the Unity tour being enjoyed by Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon.

My own image of Michael is of the beautiful mature man I fell in love with (like millions of other fans) as seen in stunning music videos and gorgeous photos of him in his 30s, 40s and at 50, enduring all that life, greed and the media threw at him, until at last, his own drive for perfection in his craft caused him to put his life in the hands of an incompetent physician in order to put all that creative energy on hold long enough for him to get a good night's sleep.

Since we can't turn back the clock, we can at least take some melancholy satisfaction from the fact that Michael's ultimate sacrifice for his art has ensured his immortality in the minds of millions the world over, for generations to come.

As fans we have an important role to play in making sure that continues in a way that would make Michael happy. Many individuals and organised groups of fans have done that already - with charitable acts, donations and other activities undertaken in honor of Michael's humanitarian legacy.

It just goes to show, as Michael said, in the end, it really is "up to us".

Kerry HenniganJuly 10, 2012.

[Kuriztee · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will learn a whole lot about who Michael Jackson was. This book will fill in the same blanks the media filled, only with the truth. I have become extremely heartbroken with the way the media industry made Michael Jacksons life. To know and study who he really was is to fall in love, L-O-V-E, with a man who gave so much of himself to the world, through insane rumors and headlines, he kept his chin up and fought back by not changing and keeping the love first in his heart. He's the top-dog under-dog and though he's gone, his music, love, message and influence live on. We should all learn to be more like Michael Jackson.

Jermaine goes into many if not most of all the headlines and rumors and gives you the real story and the reactions. We see MJ through his brothers eyes. Filled with love but not excluding the bad side. The side of MJ that could cause hurt, like distancing himself from his brothers or his impulses that would lead to others including Jermaine having to pick up the pieces. With such distance between them you get the whole story of the closeness before and then during their parting of ways to pursuit their own artistic careers and then the solo years. No one is a total saint, not even Michael but he was not the man in the headlines.

I recommend doing research while reading this book because there was one point where I was thrown. Totally irrelevant but I have one question: did Dean Martin really own a pet bear?


4 out of 5 stars just because some points get repetitive to the point of useless. That's about it!

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying I never was a Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson fan. I liked a few of their songs but they never "floated my boat". That said, I came into reading this book thinking it would be a totally biased "puff piece." It was not. Jermaine Jackson was biased but in a way that a brother would naturally be defending his brother. But, he also writes about the domineering Papa Joseph Jackson and his total stranglehold on the family during the early years. Also, he writes about many of the inter family squabbles. I do think the book is ultimately worth reading and it gave me a greater appreciation of Michael Jackson's art, his work ethic and his charity.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Normal is just someone you don’t know very well.”

I appreciated Jermaine writing this book and giving readers an inside look into the Jackson family and most importantly Michael. As a Michael fan, I’ve read numerous books on him and this one was the most meaningful because it was written by someone who loves him.

Regardless of whether readers believe everything or not, this was Jermaine’s story and his truth to tell. I appreciated the inside look he gave after Michael’s death and where there family’s POV was during that time. He answered some questions regarding some things in Michael’s life that I wondered.

I was surprised to read about Jermaine and Whitney Houston though! That was something I did not know! I also didn’t know that Michael was a vivacious reader and liked to sleep on the floor. It was interesting also that 🎶 Smooth Criminal 🎶 was inspired by the Nightstalker case in Los Angeles-!

I teared up reading about Jermaine buying a suit in India only to find out Michael had gone to that same suit store years earlier. 🥹

I really enjoyed this book. Michael forever 🫶🏽 ❤️

[Gothic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really moving and insightful look into the Jackson family's history. The book is marketed as something that is focused on Jermaine's view of his brother Michael's life, which it is, but it also details a lot about Jermaine and the rest of the family's lives. One thing that I wasn't expecting, was my feeling of empathy with their at times, abusive father Joe. Once Jermaine painted the picture of how tough the area they grew up in, in Gary Indiana, you can understand why Joe pushed them so hard for a better life. Of course, this does not justify or make their Father's brutality acceptable. I got the impression that Joe, through his own tough life, did the best that he was capable of.

Michael was described as a much more rounded and believable character than junk the tabloids have reported over the years. However, Jermaine doesn't make Michael out to be a perfect character. Instead he describes him in a way that only a family member can, honestly. Flaws and all, Jermaine's description of Michael still communicates that he was one of most endearing and amazing human-beings to have ever walked the planet. Caring to a fault, maybe slightly naive at times, private, good humoured, intelligent, observant, a prankster, and of course amazingly talented.

I can't encourage people to read this book enough. It's not just an attempt to make money off the back of Michael's death. The genuine love that Jermaine felt for his brother pours from its pages. It's a story about a family making good, the American dream. It's about a wonderful and inhumanly talented man, who was largely misunderstood right up until his death. A man whom was effectively linch-mobbed for others selfish gains.

[Lisa Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike some people who picked up this book to read - I didn't go into it thinking it would be all about Michael. The book is written by his brother, Jermaine, and I definitely expected at least 30% to be about Jermaine. The part that does bother me is that I expected the book to explore more of Jermaine and Michael's actual relationship. The first several chapters gave great insight into their relationship as children. Yet, we didn't get the same information about their relationship as adults. (The title is very misleading as it makes it seem like Michael and Jermaine had this close knit bond throughout Michael's life which is not true). It is odd because if you read the book - it is pretty clear Michael DID feel very much alone. I do realize Jermaine and Michael were not as close in the last few years before Michael's death. Yet, we don't get a proper understanding of why it was the way it was other than Jermaine blaming Michael's handlers for keeping him away from his family. I think there is a way bigger story there that will probably never be revealed by any of the Jackson family.

[Deanndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book broke my heart to pieces but i loved it.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Jermaine Jackson tried to save as much as he can of his brother's image to the outside world. This book will appeal mostly to the hardcore fans of MJ, and I am not sure how accurate it all is. There are so many conflicting versions of the stories, both by people close to MJ and further away. We will probably never know the truth of MJ's intensions. The writing is entertaining (thanks ghost writer!) and while it was a very long book, it held me to the end.

[Jamya Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty much an overview about Micheal Jackson from the point of his view from of his brother, Jermaine Jackson. Jermaine was telling his readers all that his family has been through with the now late Micheal. He went into detail about how talented and creative Micheal was when he was by himself and Jackson 5. They saw that they all had a tremendous talent regarding singing and dancing. They exploited those talents and decided to share it with the world hence Jackson 5. It took them allot to get to their highest point since during those times everyone wanted to be famous and be known.

My favorite part of the whole book was when they had lived next door to Diana Ross. It must have been amazing to have lived next to such a prodigy. Jermaine even stated how wonderful of an experience it was. He talked about how they would all go to her house and hang with her and what not. I could imagine from Jermaine"s description singing with her would have been a breath taking.

I would recommend this book to someone who loved Micheal Jackson ( more in the older crowd). The reason being is because if an older person was reading this they could reminisce about how wonderful Jackson 5 and Micheal alone was. They would have allot of laughs and cries knowing how insanely up and down the Jackson family was. A newer aged person wouldn't really understand because times are different and the younger age only liked him because of his music and not his hardships or what he accomplished.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is undoubtably the best "biography" on Michael that I have ever read. Michael's most dear brother, Jermaine, has given us the most endearing, honest and eye-opening account on the shelves to date (and I suspect that this will be the most widely read and lasting). Yes it's that good. From the moment four year old Michael appears on the page, wide-eyed and dreamily looking out his window while quietly singing a forbidden Christmas carol, you can't help but fall in love with him. If you are a Michael Jackson fan, this book is a gift; a labor of love straight from the heart of one who knew him best. If you are not quite a fan, well, this book is enough to make a believer out of any naysayer. Either way, you are in for a huge treat and you will undoubtably discover new things about the man (believe it or not I now wholeheartedly understand the whole "dangling Blanket over the balcony" incident). I honestly feel blessed to have been given such an intimate and open look into the life of the greatest pop icon to ever live, and perhaps more importantly, into the beautiful man behind the icon.

[Menna Yehya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovering this book was literally a coincidence, this is the biggest proof that the media works day and night to bury the truth.

I felt his book was lil sus knowing the drama that happened between the two brothers all throughout Michael's life, but all my worries vanished as I read more and more from this book.

This book did not shy away from the bad sides and corrected every misconception that was once the hot news that everyone basically ate up without thinking twice.

I'm glad I read this and hope the truth will run marathons because Michael was a truly good human being who deserved better.

Knowing that there is an MJ biopic in the making made me excited and what made me more excited is that Jaafar (Jermain's son) is going to star in this biopic as Michael! This news genuinely gave me hope that this time the truth would be bright and clear, and everyone would leave this man to rest at last.

4 and a half stars for rating.

[Nigel Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I read on another review, it's clear that Jermaine had barely any contact after Michael moved out of Hayvenhurst. I found a lot of the stories in here a little too good to be true coming from Jermaine, but it's hard not to question everything Jermaine says given his interviews and comments over the last 15 years.

I was disappointed with what wasn't included in this book. His first album with the brothers in 8 years in 1984 is almost skipped over for example. Nothing about the recording process of Victory.

It was enjoyable up to the Victory tour, in that we can assume most of what was written was the most factual as Michael was still in the fold with the brothers. However, I felt that I came away from this book with nothing new, as pretty much all of the stories had been told before.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jermaine Jackson's book is a well-written exploration of the phenomena of Michael Jackson. Although Jermaine faced challenges in the Jackson family, including leaving the Jackson Five when he disagreed with them leaving Motown Records, the book seemed objective and truthful. Jermaine also had the benefit of being an older member of the Jackson siblings, so he could recount memories that the others might not have as clearly.

[Rachel Firman · Rating 5 out of 5]

And to think it took me nearly 5 minutes to decide to buy this book. I have been a fan of Michael Jackson for the past 2 years or so now and this book only fueled my appreciation and respect for him and his work. Highly recommended!

[Mark Busuttil · Rating 5 out of 5]

JERMAZING!!!

[chimiochi ⋆ ࣪ ᖭི༏ᖫྀ ⋆ ࣪ (inactive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to cry. That’s all I have to say.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot tell you enough about how this book is truly excellent and it opened my eyes to the life of Michael Jackson.

I would never admit to being a big, big super- fan of his although I always found him truly talented. This biography on him by his brother shines a light of a rare talent that awoke in Michael Jackson’s junior years, surviving haphazardly and after many difficulties until his light extinguished in 2009.

Jermaine Jackson writes with little ego about the Jackson family and dispels many myths of abuse as perpetuated by their father Joseph Jackson. Instead, Jermaine portrays his father as unrelenting when developing the family talent, painting him as strict yet ambitious and supportive. He writes with much love when he turns to the spotlight of Michael about halfway through the book and explains every possible difficulty that was associated to ‘being Michael’ giving every reader a realistic account of what his life was really like as a megastar and living in a celebrity-obsessed climate. In every way, Michael’s life was almost impossible to truly live and was ever questioned.

Jermaine Jackson really comes into his own, I feel, when elaborating on the eventual demise of his brother and through his ghost-writer (who he admits to employing in the credits) communicates with a frank honesty about some of Michael’s problems in being too transparent, naïve and gullible in how he revealed aspects of his life to the world. He talks, for example, about the Bashir documentary that featured Michael talking about his love of children in a more than ‘sensitive’ climate.

For anyone who is not a Jackson or Michael fan and equally for anyone who believed him guilty of offences towards children then this probably will not be a book to pick up as it will prick too many nerves. For anyone with a more open mind however then this book will provide more than a glimpse into an extraordinary yet ultimately tragic life.

The book is beautifully written and is narrated in a three-part formula (Jackson's early life - the beginning, the middle, and the sad end) and is very detailed on Michael Jackson’s music, personality, hopes and fears. I loved reading every page of my near-on two week at intervals read of it and out of the many hundreds of books that I have ever read then this one will always stand out. It’s a keeper for the bookshelf is this gem and I have a newfound respect for the brotherly and very tender love that Jermaine showed Michael in the writing of it.

Most highly recommended.

[Savannah Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book! I know Jermaine and La Toya made mistakes in their pasts with Michael, but in their books they explained why these things occurred and it makes you understand their side better. I don't like the fact people/fans still hate Michael's siblings for it and continue to make more accusations since Michael's death. If you have family, you know your love for them never fades and Michael, although he was making himself secluded from his family- he still loves them no matter what. Blood is thicker than water as the saying goes. I think yes, Jermaine loves the spotlight but he grew up in it as well so you can't judge. I enjoyed his book and couldn't put it down! I recommend it to any Jackson fan who can keep an open mind and heart.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is ok I read it twice.
There is a lot of truth in this book pertaining to Michael's
charitable work, all the people and orgaisations he has helped
that was never really recognized.
Book is thicker than the bible - Jermaine found another way
of making money off his brother whom he rarely spoke to the last 5 years of
his life.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this book to be more about Jermaine than Michael's life. Some insight into the life of his brother but not as much as I would have liked.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming, Informative, Funny & Touching! A Beautiful Read! I Loved It!

[Sofia Källström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice with a book written by Jermaine seeing how the press has portrayed his relationship to MJ (just like they’ve twisted and turned everything else in Michael’s life).

Pros: Great explanations of MJ as a person, filled with wholesome stories from both their younger years and later. Jermaine really humanises MJ and gives very good backstories and explanations for some of Michael’s more “peculiar” behaviours such as why he surrounded himself with so many kids. He also gives a lot of context to the 1993 and 2005 allegations and it’s honestly sad how wildly the media twisted these situations, leaving out so many facts that, had the world heard them at the time, it would’ve never crucified Michael as it did (and still does). Most people probably do not know that random people were offered 6 figure sums to go on record saying MJ had molested them.

The book also gives more insight into the last few months of Michael’s life and it’s all incredibly sketchy. I was absolutely shocked by some of the things Jermaine tells about what went on around the TII rehearsals. It was honestly disturbing to read. Queue conspiracy theories about Sony and AEG but it’s clear that even Jermaine is speculating based on talking to people who were there at the time.

Cons: The book has some factual mistakes, for example saying that Gone Too Soon was written for Ryan White. It was also a bit too self biographical at times - sometimes Jermaine went on too much about his own life and career. There are also some stories and facts that hardcore fans will already know but to the unknown reader it’s probably good context of explaining MJ as a person.

All in all I strongly recommend it to any fan or person curious to learn and understand more about arguably the biggest superstar of all time.

[Tinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trvalo mi zhruba 10 rokov dostať sa k tejto knihe, až som na ňu náhodou narazila na jednom webe, kde bol posledný kus. Tu platí to otrepané - na dobré sa oplatí čakať. Jermaine zmapoval celý Michaelov život. Od éry Jackson 5, cez éru Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, súkromie rodiny, vzťah bratov, pozadie Neverlandu, pozadie súdnych procesov, zdravotného stavu brata až po jeho posledné dni na svete, a pritom si zachoval tú jeho typickú diplomaciu a galantnosť. Nikde, naozaj nikde toho nie je tak veľa a tak do hĺbky o Michaelovi, ako je v tejto knihe. Myslím, že keby si prečítali čo i len časť z tejto knihy médiá, nebolo by tu dnes tak veľa bludov, o ktorých majú všetci načítané z novín. Biografiu Willa Smitha to síce z prvého miesta nezosadilo, ale dala by som to do top 5-ky kníh tohto žánru.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This got 5 starts because is what I expect for a book by Jermaine and because I don't think too hard about the number of stars... I do value Jermaine's perspective for what it is and I enjoy the very personal stories about the Jackson 5 days. those are invaluable. I also appreciate him spelling out the issue of the ATV catalog... IYKYK..

Jermaine is defo cashing in on Michael's death here and is super questionable. However if I put together the perspective of all the Jackson family then I'll finally figure it out. The closer I get the more I begin to regret it. The trauma runs deep in this family.

I practice compartmentalization. You gotta understand that. I did love the book, just like I love the music. The music has meant so much to me throughout my life... That's why I get hooked on this stuff .. I gotta understand... The truth ... Not the truth of the Jackson family... But the truth of human nature....

[JP Badion · Rating 5 out of 5]

That epilogue got me good

[Saliha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me while I have an emotional breakdown.
Why'd they have to kill him?????

[arisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, moving, sweet, tragic. Jermaine Jackson really bared it all in this beautiful memoir. I certainly did not tolerate the last few chapters well because I just remember crying endlessly through the ending, and after. Some sections on not-so-relevant technicalities are probably the only thing that hindered my overall reading experience a bit. But, that does not take away from how hauntingly beautiful and riveting this work is. A just and heartfelt tribute from one brother to another. It humanizes a very, very misunderstood man. Highly recommended.