Richards, Matt & Mark Langthorne. 83 Minutes: The Doctor, the Damage, and the Shocking Death of Michael Jackson. Thomas Dunne: St. Martin’s. Jun. 2016. 432p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781250108920. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250108937. BIOG
If Tavis Smiley and David Ritz’s Before You Judge Me [reviewed below] is the idealized account of what happened during the final moments of singer/songwriter Michael Jackson’s life (1958–2009), then this chronicle by Richards (To Say Goodbye) and Langthorne (CEO, Roland Mouret) is about as close as we are going to get to understanding the facts. Utilizing thousands of court documents, hours of interviews, and dozens of books on Jackson, the authors present an unflinching and disturbing look at the events surrounding the performer’s death. They track each individual involved and focus on Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, who administered the lethal cocktail of drugs that killed the artist. All of the details missing from Before You Judge Me are laid bare here, including the bitter legal battle for Jackson’s estate. VERDICT Even though we may never know the truth of Jackson’s demise, this book brings us pretty close. Utterly engrossing and grotesquely fascinating, it is brilliant investigative writing.Tyler Hixson, Library Journal
Smiley, Tavis & David Ritz. Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson’s Last Days. Little, Brown. Jun. 2016. 288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316259095. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780316259101. MUSIC
On June 25, 2009, when Michael Jackson, the king of pop, was pronounced dead, the world lost one of its most iconic and influential performers. Fans worldwide mourned the loss. TV and radio host Smiley (Death of a King; My Journey with Maya; PBS’s Tavis Smiley) and veteran music biographer Ritz provide a singular examination of the last four months of Jackson’s life, as he prepared for the blockbuster concert series “This Is It” in London. With compassion and unwavering empathy, Smiley weaves Jackson’s music into the turmoil that enveloped the pop star. Drug addiction, financial ruin, the ghosts of the torment he suffered at the hands of his abusive father—all haunted Jackson throughout his life, one he spent searching for privacy, normalcy, and the love of his children. Readers will listen to Jackson’s lyrics with a new sense of knowledge and discomfort. Smiley intends to relate an account that will remind readers that, despite his eccentricities, Jackson was human, hence the title. VERDICT This heart-wrenching portrait of Jackson’s experience will appeal to fans who wish to remember him for what he was: one of the world’s greatest entertainers.—Tyler Hixson, Library Journal
