So much has been written about Michael Jackson. The majority of it manufactured, twisted & just down-right untrue. Until NOW… “Humanitarian” delves into Michael Jackson’s charity involvement over the course of his career. It details a diary of Michael Jackson's visits to orphanages & children’s hospitals around the world, charity appearances and documents his body of work that has never been celebrated or publicized by the media & is just as massive, if not more-so, than his musical career.
I loved this book so much. I could have blown through this in a day but stretched it out a week, because it gave me such an uplifted feeling every time I read more. Michael Jackson was an extraordinarily talented singer/dancer/performer, but he was also a beautiful human being. I've been a fan since I was a kid, so I knew about a lot of the stories already. Even so, there were many acts of generosity and kindness that I hadn't heard of before. It was a brilliant idea to put this book together to show this side of him. Like the author says, the media doesn't cover this part of his life.
If you're a fan, you'll know that there's been a fixation on tabloid fiction again since January and March in particular. This book doesn't go into any of that. It's a breath of fresh air that is filled with stories based on facts and events that actually happened, charitable giving of his money and time and heart. It was a very simple and beautiful way to showcase MJ's spirit of giving and love.
My one critique of the book is that it needed an editor. There are spelling, grammar, and formatting issues that could be smoothed out and fixed in a second edition. If there ever is a revised version, I'd be happy to buy another copy. The stories themselves and the pictures paired with them were so heartwarming (and honestly, a relief from everything going on at the moment) that it didn't take away from my love of the book overall, but it is noticeable enough to be noted.
If you're a fan or just someone interested in Michael Jackson's life beyond the headlines and tabloids, I recommend this book. It's an easy read and filled with stories that provide a better understanding of the man behind the myth. Really, truly loved it. Michael had a healing presence, and a little bit of that magic came through the page. I didn't experience any of the miracles of some of the people lucky enough to meet him, but I always put the book down in a better mood than when I picked it up.
the greatest humanitarian of all time. the greatest entertainer of all time. the greatest of all time period. i’m shocked at how much michael jackson gave, not only financially, but through his time, concern, and actions. it takes a surreal amount of humility to be the most well-known person on the planet, yet to get down on your knees and sign the cast of a stranger whose foot was run over by your limo driver, to hand pick thousands of toys and spend all night setting them up to give to kids backstage, to seek out homeless people to deliver meals to. he was the most un-detached celebrity living in the lavishness of neverland yet sharing that grandeur for free to monthly underprivileged guests. i respect this man so much.
“i thought about michael. i thought about how pure his heart was, and how he was able to bless so many people with that purity. and yet ridiculed, accused and abused, he still managed to maintain the pure mess of heart, so that everyone who crossed paths with him felt his love. he warmly welcomed all of us on the TII Tour. his disposition was so genuinely sincere. that’s what i focused on during HEAL THE WORLD. looking into the faces of the children, i remembered michael’s love for them. A King of Pop as a legend of our time, and as the first and last of his kind, michael’s message was even greater… “there are people dying, if you care enough for the living, make a better place for you and for me.” this message gets right down to the truth.” -judith hill, michael jackson’s backup singer
every single one of us has something to learn from michael jackson
When I look at the mainstream medias’ attacks toward Michael Jackson, their disgusting nature always revolts me. Through their constant attacks upon his music, his work, his fashion, his private life, and his personality — all started since his success with Thriller and his purchase of a big music catalogue craved by the industry — they do everything to dehumanize him; something that Johnny Depp has gone through as well and fought back in Court to great success. But with Michael, much of his name is exploited through dishonest pieces produced in the UK and USA medias. Especially in 2019 when a certain doc, co-produced by two disgusting networks, made airwaves. A documentary that was a massive public flop when millions of non-fans and anti-MJ individuals noticed how manipulative, shady, and unreliable that doc was in its imagery/content/contradictions, which motivated them to make extensive researchs on MJ and his attackers, making them realize how these people who attacked MJ were despicable and malevolent individuals with shady agendas. Which, in return, made all these millions of non-fans and anti-MJ individuals become Michael Jackson activists and fans; flabbergasting all those medias and celebs who attacked Michael Jackson and underestimated the public’s intelligence.
A reality that I sadly experienced when an artist, whom I will not name and who used to follow me online, threw unpleasant remarks at me and another person because we support MJ; even though one of that artist’s ex-boyfriends was a big friend of MJ and that same ex-boyfriend — whom I will not name — presented MJ to her during their relationship. Of that hostility, I suspect it happened because MJ’s success shadowed her ex-boyfriend’s fame; even though he always stood by MJ and always got angry when people insulted “his man” as he described MJ many times to his friends and colleagues. Which shows how hypocritical that woman is toward a man whom her ex always loved and whom I don’t think she would have dared attack before him. As for that artist who eventually blocked me because she saw how I support MJ and Woody Allen, her attitude was sad, but not surprising as she could have an immature and rude behavior toward others, especially when they expressed different opinions or presented facts that debunked her beliefs about people who were accused of terrible things that she, just like the Red Riding Hood, believed at first sight.
Overall, there will always be individuals in show business, the public and medias who will hold a hate or grudge over Michael Jackson for multiple reasons that have nothing to do with him. However, the support from fans, the public, and music experts who know more about Michael Jackson than these UK and USA rags has been massive; and it keeps growing by the tens of millions of people. With many people buying great books about the singer’s life, but also about his humanitarian work. An aspect of Michael’s life that has not always been properly adressed in the medias. And which Paul Dwyer explores in this book. A book that presents chronologically many events where Michael helped children and teenagers who were ill, or who needed help, and he interacted with them; during beautiful encounters that boosted their confidence and will to live, allowing many of them to survive these difficult periods. Many of these children and teenagers were met at hospitals, in schools, or through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or from letters he received from fans and families. Encounters that these people recounted on certain websites, in interviews, or to others. Many of these encounters present in this book, alongside other public appearances that Michael did at certain charity and fund raising events to help children, the environment, and other social causes.
For many of these events presented, several never publicised in the medias, we have photos accompanying these segments, and also certain newspaper articles if these moments were mediatised. So through this book that was praised by people who interacted around Michael Jackson, including Michael’s son Prince, readers can obtain a detailed observation of the humanitarian work that Michael Jackson did during his career. However, I did notice some typos and spelling mistakes here and there through the book. Which makes me hope that Mr. Paul Dwyer will present eventually a new edition that shall correct all those technical flaws. For the research quality within this book is excellent, and I think that it deserves a book release without those flaws. And I hope that more libraries will consider this volume in their aisles as books about Michael Jackson are important. They can help present exact informations about the singer that certain medias neglect and omit because they prefer to present lies that sell their souls to the Devil rather than truths that the public needs to know and humanizes a man that some medias and celebs have demonised for too long.
The title Humanitarian is short, sweet and gets right to the point because it’s the core of who Michael Jackson really was. The cover is a nice picture of Michael with the background being of the magical place he called home, taken at night, and lit up beautifully. But for me, as majestic as Michael looks, as well as the picture of his home, it wouldn’t have been my first choice for the actual cover. The text inside the book is somewhat small which can make it hard to read but was necessary to make room for the pictures that also tell the story on their own.
One thing I have found that most Michael Jackson fans have in common, is that we all were fans of the magic of his music. But it wasn’t until we dug into the person, that we fell in love and realized that we weren’t just fans of his music but were intrigued by an extraordinary man that had to have been in flesh, a human, but in spirit something of a higher being. Even as a fan who already knows a lot of Michael’s humanitarian work, I learned so much more from reading this book. If you are not a fan and don’t know what Michael has accomplished around the world, this book will be all the education you need and could surprise a lot of people who may not see all the positive things about him that his fans already know.
Humanitarian contains countless stories, 154 pages of Michael’s work, and we still do not know all that he has done because as we learned on the very last page, much of Michael’s charity involvement was a private and unpublicized matter. The personal commentary stories stood out most to me because from them I learned he literally saved lives! And if one pays very close attention to the dates of Michael’s humanitarian acts, it’s astonishing as well as heartbreaking. When the world was turning their back on Michael, he was far from turning his back on the world. While the world was accusing this man of wounding its most precious treasures, Michael was putting his money where his mouth was and literally practicing what he preached, which was to heal the world. He set out to accomplish something and never lost sight of his real work, His godly work. Michael started with the little man in the mirror. He was just a little boy earning money from performing as a child to hand out sweets to local neighboring children in the early 1970s (p.6) and he is still changing lives for the better to this day, as declared by Michael in his will, to devote 20% of his future earnings to several undisclosed charities (p.138).
Michael Jackson was our Earth Angel, and this book is proof of that.
Thank you so much to Paul Dwyer for taking the time out of his life to put this treasure out into the world! It is a very special book for me not just because of its contents, but how I was given the opportunity to have this book in my possession, was pure Michael magic. Since the day I received this book at my doorstep, I have carried it around with me in my Michael bookbag. It’s a reminder of what one human being can accomplish in this world, so I have no excuse not to be a better me every single day!
I rate this book 4 ½ stars and that’s only because in my opinion there are so many other pictures that would’ve matched the title and grabbed lots of attention if on the cover. Other than that, it is perfect to me.
Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson is not just a book—it's a revelation. Paul Dwyer delivers a deeply researched, emotionally resonant tribute to one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented figures in modern history. For those who think they know Michael Jackson, this book opens the door to a side rarely seen in headlines: Michael Jackson the humanitarian, the giver, the advocate for children, the global citizen committed to healing the world.
Where many biographies focus on the controversies or the spectacle of Jackson’s fame, Dwyer boldly chooses another lens—one of compassion and humanity. Through meticulous documentation and first-hand accounts, he pieces together a portrait of a man whose philanthropic work was not just an accessory to his fame, but the very core of his being. From supporting underprivileged children around the world to quietly funding causes behind the scenes, Jackson's legacy of giving is finally brought into full view.
The book is structured with clarity and purpose, guiding the reader through Jackson’s life by highlighting charitable acts, humanitarian awards, and his consistent message of love and unity. It’s both sobering and inspiring to realize just how much he did—and how little the world seemed to notice or remember.
This book is a must-read for fans and skeptics alike. For fans, it's a validation. For skeptics, it’s an eye-opener. And for everyone else, it’s a powerful reminder of how narratives can overshadow truth—and how important it is to look deeper.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Final Word: A beautifully written, necessary counter-narrative that honors the spirit of a man who truly wanted to make the world a better place.
A beautifully compiled book full of facts on Michael Jackson's life giving all he had to give to try and make the world a better place. A wonderful man that did SO much for those in need. I highly recommend anyone who wants to know the TRUTH of who Michael Jackson was in his everyday life to read this book.
I enjoyed learning more about Michael Jacksons humanitarian efforts throughout his life from this book, he was a very private man. I recommend this book as a fan of MJ the artist because it gives great insight on who was as a real personal.
4/5⭐️ Def worth the read. Great photos in it as well.