Life Commemorative: Michael Jackson [Hardcover]

Life Magazine (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2009

From this book's first chapter: "To be able to float free, with gravity exerting no impact. To live in Neverland. To be idolized-to be loved-by millions around the world.

"These seem completely unreasonable dreams. But from a boy from Gary, Indiana, who was special from the first, they became more than dreams. They became fundamental needs. And they were achieved during a lifetime that was stunning in its highs and lows, and that was, ultimately, far, far too short.

"Far too short and, more sadly still, perhaps poised for a triumphant next chapter. We will never know."

While that is true-we will never know-we can revisit and celebrate that extraordinary life, and we do so in words and pictures in this special commemorative book. Although Michael Jackson lived just 50 years, he spent the great majority of that time in the public eye. We loved his as a boy, radiating joy and dancing up a storm in the Jackson 5, his falsetto tenor pouring forth from car radios coast to coast. We were subsequently thrilled by his reinvention as the biggest pop star on the planet, with "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" blasting from boom boxes around the world.

The best pictures from each era are here. As you would expect, LIFE magazine, then the country's preeminent photo journal, was onto the Jackson 5 story early-in fact, we put the family on our cover when Michael was still a lad. He made the cover several more times, and he allowed LIFE exclusive access to his private California sanctum called Neverland. We have combed through our archives and found all the famous shots as well as several surprises, including never-before-seen pictures that show the boy and then the man in an unguarded, personal way. Also, we have taken the best from the portfolios of the world's top rock 'n' roll photographers and created, we think, a complete picture of this endlessly compelling entertainer.

Michael Jackson was, like Sinatra, Elvis, the Beatles and few others, a celebrity who not only made us smile but changed the culture-who altered the way that we looked and behaved. In this book, we relive his thrilling life and times, which were our time too.

LIFE Magazine Chronicles Every Step of Michael Jackson's Career
(Click on each image below to see a larger view)

Michael the Moonwalker	Michael On Stage & Off	A Thriller Like No Other
Inside the Private World of Michael Jackson	Michael Jackson and Son	The Jackson Five with Mom and Pop

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: TIMEI (July 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603201300
• ISBN-13: 978-1603201308
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.5 x 11.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jackson, Michael

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, August 5, 2009

By 

Anna "A Reader" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Commemorative: Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

I looked forward to Life's Commemorative Book on Michael Jackson, but this book was disappointing. The book focuses heavily on his early years with the Jackson Five, and does not contain enough information or photos of his most creative years and the spectacular performances, dancing, songs and videos that mark Michael Jackson as one of the greatest artists of our age.

I also found that the quality of the photographs in the book were not what I was accustomed to seeing from Life. I suppose that for the price, this was the best that could be hoped for.

Perhaps a better memorial of Michael Jackson's life and accomplishments will be produced at a later date given more time and research. While I'm glad that I bought this Commemorative book, I wish that Life had devoted more time to producing one with the quality and detail that Michael Jackson's talent and contribution warranted.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Tribute to MJ..., August 9, 2009

By 

tkay (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Commemorative: Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

This is a must have for any MJ fan. It is hard-cover, unlike many of the other tributes, which is worth the price, period. It has some very nice photos in it and it follows his life from beginning to end. I have two favorite photos: the first one is when he was young, obviously when he was the front "man" of the J5, with the global afro, those big gorgeous eyes and that beautiful skin and the other is one where he is still sporting the afro, (a teenager by this time, young but older than he was on the first photo) walking across a pond, striking a pose, giving us a hint of what was to come.

If you are truly a MJ fan, you won't be disappointed with this one. LIFE did a great job, ENJOY!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It covers Michael Jackson the way he should be covered, August 19, 2009

By 

A. Kanik (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Commemorative: Michael Jackson (Hardcover)

While I was hesitant to purchase this book to avoid contributing to the "Michael Jackson market frenzy" that emerged following his passing away, I also wanted to pay tribute to the man, and did purchase it.

And, I do want to send a thank you out to Life Magazine for giving Michael Jackson the tribute that he deserved. I have observed that some other "so-called-tributes" continued to push MJ around even after his death and made a point of continuing to label the man as a "freak." Life focused on Michael Jackson's accomplishments and the Michael that we all fell in awe and in love with. It covered his musical and dance genius, his extraordinary talent, and covered him for the great human being that he was.

The photos and print quality were also of good quality and choice. It was also interesting to see photos of old Life issues with MJ covers.

I just wish that Michael Jackson was still with us, and all this was not necessary.

If you are going to buy a tribute, this can be it.