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Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson
Untouchable portrays Michael Jackson’s life and death in unprecedented depth. Beginning with his last departure from Neverland, Sullivan captures Jackson's final years shuttling around the world, and plans to recapture his wealth and reputation with a comeback album and planned series of fifty mega-concerts.
Sullivan delves deep into Jackson’s past, depicting a man both naive and deeply cunning, a devoted father whose parenting decisions created international outcry, a shrewd businessman whose failures nearly brought down a megacorporation, and an inveterate narcissist who desperately wanted a quiet, normal life.
Sullivan has never-before-reported information about Jackson’s business dealings, the pedophilia allegations that besmirched his reputation, and the fate of his billion-dollar-plus estate, and exclusive access to inner-circle figures including Jackson’s former attorneys and managers. Untouchable is a remarkable portrait of the man who still reigns as King of Pop.
"A dishy Michael Jackson biography that makes the exhaustively covered King of Pop fascinating all over again."—People
“The first deep-dive narrative by a veteran journalist covering the King of Pop’s convoluted final years on earth . . . [Untouchable] helps cast Jackson in a new light.”—Los Angeles Times
“A tale of family, fame, lost childhood, and startling accusations never heard before.”—ABC Nightline
Sullivan delves deep into Jackson’s past, depicting a man both naive and deeply cunning, a devoted father whose parenting decisions created international outcry, a shrewd businessman whose failures nearly brought down a megacorporation, and an inveterate narcissist who desperately wanted a quiet, normal life.
Sullivan has never-before-reported information about Jackson’s business dealings, the pedophilia allegations that besmirched his reputation, and the fate of his billion-dollar-plus estate, and exclusive access to inner-circle figures including Jackson’s former attorneys and managers. Untouchable is a remarkable portrait of the man who still reigns as King of Pop.
"A dishy Michael Jackson biography that makes the exhaustively covered King of Pop fascinating all over again."—People
“The first deep-dive narrative by a veteran journalist covering the King of Pop’s convoluted final years on earth . . . [Untouchable] helps cast Jackson in a new light.”—Los Angeles Times
“A tale of family, fame, lost childhood, and startling accusations never heard before.”—ABC Nightline
776 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
108 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 22, 2013
I want to make clear that the author Randall Sullivan was not a fan of Michael Jackson's when he started to write this book. He was a past Rolling Stone editor and that magazine judged MJ rather harshly at times. He became sympathetic to this great entertainer and man during his research for this book as he publicly stated. This book often delves into Michael Jackson's business and management issues in detail. Sources cited often had been fired or eventually sued MJ. There are some inaccuracies. The author rehashed some very stupid and silly tabloid stories in this book unecessarily. Was that part of the agreement between him and his publisher? I've heard stories of some who wanted to write a pro-Michael book and could never get published. That said, the one outstanding part of this book is that is covers the accusations and 2005 trial. Even this author came to feel, as many before him have discovered since 2009, Michael was not guilty of these crimes and accusations. In fact, many of the accusations truly border on the ridiculous. If you didn't know that, then you might want to read this part of the book. This is a very interesting conclusion coming from a author who was not a fan of the man and deserves noting. There is no single book, and I have read many, that truly captures the spirit of Michael Jackson, the man. You can only hope to get glimpses of who he was by reading many books and stories from those who knew him. He was very intelligent, loved to read, and had a huge heart. I'm glad some have felt this book was sympathetic. I never assume one source is definitive on any issue. As there are parts of this book that are one star, five star, and three star, it's hard to rate. I'll give it a 3 star I guess.
April 24, 2013
Poor Michael Jackson. The man spent his entire life being picked apart in the public eye, only to recapture the deification he craved so deeply - in death. Sullivan's reporting of Jackson's life helped me understand, from a significant distance, his personality and the circus that surrounded him, which is one of the book's big positives. In the last years of his life and even to the present, reporting on Jackson's life, actions and whereabouts usually took the form of breathless Perez Hilton posts about ditching this or that house, camping out in this or that hotel, being sued by this or that associate. Sullivan does an admirable job of assembling information that was originally reported in brief flashes and expanding it into a more comprehensible narrative.
That said, there were times when the reporting didn't match the pacing of the narrative - most obviously in the last quarter of the book, which was wholly devoted to the characters seeking control of Jackson's estate. This is all valid and helpful information, of course, but my eyes glazed over in the last hundred pages and it was a slog to the finish. A few bright spots emerged from this clumsy final section, namely Sullivan's descriptions and portraits of Jackson's children, who were rarely reported as anything other than "the keys to the estate" in the media - and among lawyers and some family members, it turns out.
And furthermore, there were a few times when Sullivan got sloppy with his facts. In his description of Jackson's appearance at James Brown's funeral, Sullivan wrote an intriguing description of Michael's expression of grief, so I sought out the YouTube video - and found that Sullivan's quotation of Michael's remarks was almost totally off. That sort of cast a pall over the rest of the book for me - it's one thing to have to paraphrase or reconstruct a quote from memory from an artist who doesn't allow recording devices, like Prince; it's another thing entirely to do that to Michael Jackson, who had cameras trained on him and microphones in front of his mouth his entire life.
This story was compelling for a time, but I'm left to wonder how much of it was accurately reported and edited. I walked away with a painfully close description of Jackson's legal proceedings and finances - presumably obtained from documents, court reports and other cut-and-dried sources - but a workmanlike history of his life and art. I remain hopeful (and confident) that a better, more vibrant book will appear.
That said, there were times when the reporting didn't match the pacing of the narrative - most obviously in the last quarter of the book, which was wholly devoted to the characters seeking control of Jackson's estate. This is all valid and helpful information, of course, but my eyes glazed over in the last hundred pages and it was a slog to the finish. A few bright spots emerged from this clumsy final section, namely Sullivan's descriptions and portraits of Jackson's children, who were rarely reported as anything other than "the keys to the estate" in the media - and among lawyers and some family members, it turns out.
And furthermore, there were a few times when Sullivan got sloppy with his facts. In his description of Jackson's appearance at James Brown's funeral, Sullivan wrote an intriguing description of Michael's expression of grief, so I sought out the YouTube video - and found that Sullivan's quotation of Michael's remarks was almost totally off. That sort of cast a pall over the rest of the book for me - it's one thing to have to paraphrase or reconstruct a quote from memory from an artist who doesn't allow recording devices, like Prince; it's another thing entirely to do that to Michael Jackson, who had cameras trained on him and microphones in front of his mouth his entire life.
This story was compelling for a time, but I'm left to wonder how much of it was accurately reported and edited. I walked away with a painfully close description of Jackson's legal proceedings and finances - presumably obtained from documents, court reports and other cut-and-dried sources - but a workmanlike history of his life and art. I remain hopeful (and confident) that a better, more vibrant book will appear.
December 20, 2012
For those who aren't Michael Jackson insane but definite fans, Untouchable was chock full of gossipy tid bits and the real medical, psychological, and monetary Michael Jackson suffered with his entire life. The author is a fan and doesn't seem to believe Michael molested the kids, but is far enough to be critical of many of his moves.
Since his life is so overly-covered, I was really happy that this work tried to focus on post 2003 since it allowed you to get a more in depth look at his downfall better than the regular tabloid fodder allowed.
Many reviews on amazon freak out about the content and sources but I have to say a. half the time they get it wrong and base their review on an incorrect press release and b. it's Michael Jackson, there is no such thing as a reliable source. As the book shows, his family members are motivated by pure greed and change their stories based on where money is coming from and Michael Jackson's "handlers" changed so often due to his own issues that every Michael Jackson source is someone who was at one point suing and/or fired by Michael Jackson.
also- love that someone finally called out Kathrine Jackson for being just as money grabbing as the rest of the family.
Since his life is so overly-covered, I was really happy that this work tried to focus on post 2003 since it allowed you to get a more in depth look at his downfall better than the regular tabloid fodder allowed.
Many reviews on amazon freak out about the content and sources but I have to say a. half the time they get it wrong and base their review on an incorrect press release and b. it's Michael Jackson, there is no such thing as a reliable source. As the book shows, his family members are motivated by pure greed and change their stories based on where money is coming from and Michael Jackson's "handlers" changed so often due to his own issues that every Michael Jackson source is someone who was at one point suing and/or fired by Michael Jackson.
also- love that someone finally called out Kathrine Jackson for being just as money grabbing as the rest of the family.
January 19, 2013
I had a very hard time reading this, and I've read many, many Michael Jackson books. Sullivan mixes a whole lot of fiction with a little bit of fact. There are some enjoyable parts, most notably, his details of Michael's time in Ireland after the not guilty verdict in the 2005 molestation trial. I really don't see how a 'non fan' can read this without their head spinning with all the events and people swirling around Michael during this time period. Sullivan also ends this interpretation of the last years of Michael's life in such an odd way in the final chapter. It's unfortunate and aggravating that most people will read this as definitive truth and more puzzling to me that Thomas Mesereau stands behind it.
December 2, 2012
I debated whether I should admit here to reading this book, partly because I generally don't list the, well, less-than-highbrow books that I read (and I do read some) and partly because I've seen the scathing reviews of the book posted here and elsewhere by what I can only assume are MJ's devoted fans. But here's the thing: I would never have picked up a 776-page book about Jackson if I was not myself a fan of his, albeit one who has never known quite what to believe about the last 20 years of his life. And I certainly would never have kept reading it (all through Thanksgiving weekend, and every free moment since) if Sullivan hadn't provided a deeply compelling story that grapples with the same uncertainties I've had and attempts to sift through the contradictory, obviously self-interested stories of the people who surrounded Jackson. But it is Sullivan's research--particularly the wide range of interviews he conducted--that gave me reason to trust his conclusions (seriously: any reviewer who claims this author didn't do any research has no credibility whatsoever).
As for the other common reader-reviewer criticisms: sure, it gave me pause that many of Sullivan's sources outside the interviews were in fact tabloids, but those were the main publications covering Jackson in the latter stages of his life, and TMZ's scoop of CNN (and everyone else) on 6/25/09 speaks for itself. And I myself noted a few small errors of fact (Paris's birthdate is incorrect in some source notes), though all on peripheral matters. But again: how many celebrity biographies include 173 pages of detailed source notes? Sullivan is no hack; he clearly wants to get the story right, insofar as such a thing is possible in Jackson's deeply murky world.
The one criticism I do agree with (generally made in the published reviews) is that sometimes Sullivan gets too bogged down in the details of the Jackson's seemingly endless legal and financial skirmishes, which are difficult for even a careful reader to keep straight, especially without an index. Sullivan was obviously adding material up to the last possible moment before the book went to press, as the Jackson family battles over MJ's fortune continue. For better or worse, there is no end in sight.
As for the other common reader-reviewer criticisms: sure, it gave me pause that many of Sullivan's sources outside the interviews were in fact tabloids, but those were the main publications covering Jackson in the latter stages of his life, and TMZ's scoop of CNN (and everyone else) on 6/25/09 speaks for itself. And I myself noted a few small errors of fact (Paris's birthdate is incorrect in some source notes), though all on peripheral matters. But again: how many celebrity biographies include 173 pages of detailed source notes? Sullivan is no hack; he clearly wants to get the story right, insofar as such a thing is possible in Jackson's deeply murky world.
The one criticism I do agree with (generally made in the published reviews) is that sometimes Sullivan gets too bogged down in the details of the Jackson's seemingly endless legal and financial skirmishes, which are difficult for even a careful reader to keep straight, especially without an index. Sullivan was obviously adding material up to the last possible moment before the book went to press, as the Jackson family battles over MJ's fortune continue. For better or worse, there is no end in sight.
November 28, 2012
This book is just MORE TABLOID TRASH in my opinion, Vanity Fair published excerpts from this book in their October 14th 2012 issue. There was more fiction than fact. It also did NOT make the New York Times Best Sellers List either. There are 114 Reviews rating this Book a 1 star on Amazon. Sullivan says in his book that "A bandage covers MJ's nose which is so cut away that, without a prosthetic, it looked like little more than a pair of slightly ridged nostrils." That is totally false! The Full Autopsy Report is ONLINE for those readers who want truth not speculation from a tabloid journalist. The New York Times review says this book is "Bloated and Dispensable". The Website Michael: And Justice for Some has detailed information disproving Mr. Sullivan's book. Sullivan's comments about Princess Diane are nothing but gossip not facts! If you want to read facts about Michael Jackson read The Michael Jackson Conspiracy which has a five star rating, or Joseph Vogel's 4.5 star rated book Man in the Music, or even Frank Casio's book My Friend Michael. Frank knew Michael.
December 22, 2020
Nearly 800 pages (including more than a hundred of footnotes and bibliography) might seem excessive for someone who only lived 50 years, but Michael Jackson was a household name for most of the time he was alive, and his life was one of the most documented and the most hotly debated. Randall Sullivan is a staff writer for Rolling Stone, a publication known for balancing its celebrity worship with hard journalism, and he painstakingly lays out the details of MJ's chaotic business dealings, his legal woes, and his many, many scandals. Sullivan approaches his subject with empathy, but he doesn't seem to be much of a fan. MJ's greatest musical triumphs are only mentioned in passing. There's no discussion of what made his music so appeal, what his creative motivation might have been, or why, despite all of his success, he was only able to produce three great albums in his lifetime. Sullivan doesn't see Michael Jackson as an artist but only as a public figure. Perhaps it's fitting, since, in the second half of his life, Jackson came to be seen primarily as a tabloid entity. "JACKO'S NOSE DYING" screamed a particularly memorable headline from my childhood. Unfortunately, it happened to be true. After six or more misguided rhinoplasties, "Jacko" was in the Gogolesque position of not having a nose on his face. He had been wearing a prosthetic since the mid-90's. Among other medical horrors, Jackson had become so habituated to receiving industrial quantities of sedatives by IV that he collapsed most of his veins and developed necrosis on his leg. As for the accusations of pedophilia, the book was published a few years before HBO's Leaving Neverland more or less settled the matter, at least in the court of public opinion. Sullivan leaves the question open. The kindest thing that could be speculated in that regard is that Jackson's development was so catastrophically disrupted by years of abuse and the isolation of fame that he truly lived in a world of his own making, unaware that the standards and consequences of the real world applied to him. What's not up for debate is that the child prodigy should have been removed from his horrific family as a ten year old, taken somewhere quiet and subjected to intensive therapy - perhaps then he would still be alive, and still making music, with his biological face intact. As it happened, Michael Jackson never got the help he needed, never had anyone in his life who didn't see him as a cash generating machine, never found happiness, and never lived up to his full potential.
May 8, 2017
If there’s ever a soul I wish to ‘rest in peace,’ its Michael Jackson’s. The loneliness, the heartache, the pain, the betrayal, the deceit, the demands that this brother felt allowed him no peace while on this earth. A shame. A shame since he’s brought the world nothing but joy, happiness and hope; sharing his gift with us up until his untimely death.
Michael wasn't a freak, he wasn't a pedophile, he wasn't crazy or a monster. He was a gifted artist; a man hidden behind his other worldly talents. It's a shame that he had no confidant or just a friend that was out to protect his best interests and be a guidance in his hectic life. I always wondered, would he be as great without his eccentricities? And how selfish we are to enjoy his music but chastise his ways of life.
Like any work of literature based in the tabloid realm, it's hard to believe what's printed. But this, for the most part, seemed right. Some far truths, he had no nose, died a virgin, etc. I didn't believe, but the loneliness and the not having anyone to turn to Michael experienced feels true. Even his last concert he was training for, he didn't want to do it, had no one to speak up for him to not do it and this ultimately lead to his death.
Again, I loved Michael Jackson, primarily for his artistry and I selfishly miss his earthly presence but since he no longer has to face the turmoil that he experienced since he began performing at a young age, I say; RIP.
Michael wasn't a freak, he wasn't a pedophile, he wasn't crazy or a monster. He was a gifted artist; a man hidden behind his other worldly talents. It's a shame that he had no confidant or just a friend that was out to protect his best interests and be a guidance in his hectic life. I always wondered, would he be as great without his eccentricities? And how selfish we are to enjoy his music but chastise his ways of life.
Like any work of literature based in the tabloid realm, it's hard to believe what's printed. But this, for the most part, seemed right. Some far truths, he had no nose, died a virgin, etc. I didn't believe, but the loneliness and the not having anyone to turn to Michael experienced feels true. Even his last concert he was training for, he didn't want to do it, had no one to speak up for him to not do it and this ultimately lead to his death.
Again, I loved Michael Jackson, primarily for his artistry and I selfishly miss his earthly presence but since he no longer has to face the turmoil that he experienced since he began performing at a young age, I say; RIP.
October 18, 2014
This is a book that took me awhile. I had plowed through half of it months ago, then put the bookmark in it and it sat on my living room table for two months. I made headway on vacation, but only earlier in the week did I have the impetus to finish it. It's a lot of reading, a lot of business transactions that are both startling and puzzling, and a lot of Michael Jackson being taken advantage of. Yes, the child molestation charges are addressed, as is his death at the hands of that charlatan Dr. Conrad Murray. What you feel at the end, if you didn't feel it before, is empathy, sympathy, and alternately horrified. I don't care if you are or aren't a fan, the man didn't deserve to be taken advantage of to that extent- and upwards of 20 years before he even passed. That shit started with Thriller, man. Overall, I can say that I had an idea from press reports that MJ had serious financial issues; I had no idea to what extent until I read the book. But like most, childhood trauma and a fragmented family history gave way to adult issues, and sadly, this was the case. At least we all had and continue to reap the benefits of Mr. Jackson's talent for generations to come.
June 23, 2018
This is NOT the definitive biography of Michael Jackson, I can state that for certain. In fact, this might be one of the worst biographies I've had the misfortune of reading. Randall Sullivan definitely produced a tome of a book (a pretty hefty 500+ pages) .and there were a few parts that were insightful, such as the coverage of Jackson's 2005 trial as well as the last few months of his life. Unfortunately the bulk of the material was tabloid fodder, and although Sullivan admits he was not the biggest fan of Jackson, his writing makes that confession a complete understatement with how overly critical it is throughout, permeating the book. Michael Jackson was an immensely talented yet deeply troubled individual. In my opinion his story deserves to be handled with depth, nuance, and respect; carefully crafted to present the complete picture. This book failed miserably at all attempts to do so.
March 26, 2014
This book loses stars to its insane length. Most of the focus is on Jackson's later life, and I was hoping to read more about his early/teen years, as bad as they were. Jackson started out life with 14 strikes against him.
It has served to rehabilitate Jackson's image in my mind a bit - not to say that he wasn't batshit crazy, that much is well-known. The book reveals some of the causes of Jackson's manias and how he could never seem to escape the demands of his extremely fucked-up family. The book also does a good job of pointing out unsubstantiated rumours and tabloid garbage that was flung around - dissecting it from fact. There were a few things I had accepted as facts about Jackson's life that were made up out of thin air.
This book is worth reading but you might want to skim the financial parts.
It has served to rehabilitate Jackson's image in my mind a bit - not to say that he wasn't batshit crazy, that much is well-known. The book reveals some of the causes of Jackson's manias and how he could never seem to escape the demands of his extremely fucked-up family. The book also does a good job of pointing out unsubstantiated rumours and tabloid garbage that was flung around - dissecting it from fact. There were a few things I had accepted as facts about Jackson's life that were made up out of thin air.
This book is worth reading but you might want to skim the financial parts.
February 23, 2013
Since I've read just about every well- researched story on Michael Jackson, I read this book, too. Most of the information has been previously reported or documented in other print media and on the cable news and entertainment shows. However, there were some new (to me) details about the inner dysfunctional workings of Jackson family members and these details salvaged what would otherwise have been a long, repetitive and mediocre book.
July 24, 2013
sadly this had the potential of a phenomenal book- loaded with interesting (and some tragic ) facts. Many things that no one knew- a true inside look at a fascinating life cut short. However, the author threw it together like a sloppy mess. it seemed as if he wrote each chapter as he acquired the information and never bothered to go back to put it in chronological order. I guess you can say the book died tragically with MJ. If you are patient and/or good at skimming it is interesting.
February 18, 2013
This was a challenging read because of its minute details and zealous analysis of the Michael Jackson myths and realities. I skipped through a lot of the legal issues that comprise a good part of the book, and tried to keep track of the scattered timeline.
February 14, 2013
This book exhaused me. At nearly 750+ pages, it detailed every single detail of Michael Jackson's last four years of life. While I appreciated the attention to detail, it was overwhelming.
May 4, 2013
He was not a pedophile. He was a good entertainer. The entire Jackson family is messed up. Jackson was a caring soul, He will not be remembered like Elvis. The book is good but too, too long
June 22, 2018
This became really repetitive at the halfway mark, so I skimmished.
This would be a great bio for someone who has yet to read an MJ bio! It's dense and covers his life from birth to death in great detail.
This would be a great bio for someone who has yet to read an MJ bio! It's dense and covers his life from birth to death in great detail.
December 26, 2025
So long an tedious without any reason. Should be a legal book
October 30, 2014
I'm a fan and had been convinced by other fans' protestations about this book. So much that is written about MJ is poorly researched and judgemental, making sweeping statements just because they have been established through frequent repitition, and not through fact. So I was pleasantly surprised. Sullivan is committed to painting a fair portrait, one that is almost unbearably sad and not totally sympathetic, but accurate overall. Overall. Some details are still sloppy - Sullivan states MJ wore a prosthetic nose, though that is easily debunked by the autopsy on public record, and he gives too much credence to British sources such as Matt Fiddes and Terry George, both of whom have expanded their slight experience of MJ for monetary gain. Some conclusions are personal, but he is clear about that. And I'm still left with the feeling that I have no real grasp of Michael as a person and his relationships, though maybe that's just the way he was. But as an insight into the greed and hypocrisy at work in his sad decline, the portrait Sullivan offers is roughly right: generous without being sentimental, critical without being cruel. Poor Michael.
April 30, 2014
If you ever wanted a comprehensive look at the last few years of Michael Jackson's life, this is it. Randall Sullivan does an amazing job at filling in the blanks, going from the celebrated entertainer's last trial for child molesting and pedophile sex to his mysterious "accidental" death at the hands of an M.D. who broke nearly every rule in the book.
The problem is, Randall Sullivan is not really a man who knows or cares about the world of Michael Jackson. Unlike Randy Taraborelli, he's not a lifelong fan of soul music, or the Jackson Five, and seems to have very little knowledge of the black scene in America. He writes more like a financial analyst from the Wall Street Journal, explaining Michael's bad business choices but maintaining a discreet silence over his plastic surgery, his interest in young boys, and his strange behavior in general.
There are so many uncomfortable things about the story of Michael Jackson. And Sullivan sidesteps every one of them.
The best Michael Jackson book is still THE MAGIC AND THE MADNESS by Randy Taraborelli.
The problem is, Randall Sullivan is not really a man who knows or cares about the world of Michael Jackson. Unlike Randy Taraborelli, he's not a lifelong fan of soul music, or the Jackson Five, and seems to have very little knowledge of the black scene in America. He writes more like a financial analyst from the Wall Street Journal, explaining Michael's bad business choices but maintaining a discreet silence over his plastic surgery, his interest in young boys, and his strange behavior in general.
There are so many uncomfortable things about the story of Michael Jackson. And Sullivan sidesteps every one of them.
The best Michael Jackson book is still THE MAGIC AND THE MADNESS by Randy Taraborelli.
August 5, 2016
This book without a doubt was extremely detailed and to be honest, I still didn't get to read it as fully as I want to and comprehend some parts the way I want to (also because I'm a slow reader) but I read it until the Afterword. I will definitely buy this book. I read it as a library book. I loved how much this book goes into detail about things. So much so that it's almost overwhelming. It's one of those books you would need to read more than once to fully get a good understanding of it and deeper appreciation. There was only one part out of what I read that I didn't agree with and that was at the very end, right before the afterword. There's an entire book that proves that section of this book to be completely false, but that's what I like about reading different books about MJ because the details you don't get from one book, you get from another and sometimes can piece information together. It's like putting different pieces of a puzzle together. Anyway, I loved this book and I would recommend it to any person interested in it.
June 26, 2013
A bit heavy going in places, but with many interesting and a surprising amount of information I hadn't read elsewhere. A lot of negative reviews on Amazon and other places stem from the fact that this isn't 100% all about how great Michael Jackson was although the author does state that for what it's worth Michael Jackson was innocent of any charges against him.
The court stuff is pretty heavy going, and despite being a Jackson fan, I struggled to get through this book in a hurry. Would still recommend.
The court stuff is pretty heavy going, and despite being a Jackson fan, I struggled to get through this book in a hurry. Would still recommend.
April 4, 2021
“For most of his adult life, Michael had been described as ‘strange,’ ‘weird,’ and ‘bizarre.’ Only now, after he was gone, did people realize that he was what they had in common.” —Randall Sullivan
Most of the biographical Michael Jackson media I’ve consumed in the past were interviews (in the form of books and podcasts) with people he personally knew, which meant there was always a pro-MJ bias. This is what I appreciate about Randall Sullivan’s book, as he didn’t set out to write a book defending or maligning Jackson. I’ve read some MJ books that seemed to be the product of a liberal amount of copy and paste, and Untouchable is nothing like them. This book is very well-researched, with about a hundred pages of references. Sullivan conducted a lot of interviews, read through many legal documents, etc.
I never believed Michael Jackson was guilty of child molestation (I have researched the allegations for over ten years, including reading the court transcripts). Every single one of his accusers first consulted with civil attorneys, not police, and Sullivan clearly highlights this fact. This book gives one of the best accounts of the 2005 child molestation trial I have ever read, and included details I didn’t know about before (such as Jackson angrily standing up in the middle of his accuser’s sister’s testimony). That being said, I don’t think a “guilter” would be persuaded by this book, because I felt unsatisfied with Sullivan’s account of the 1993 allegations.
Throughout the book, he doesn’t seem to have an opinion either way, but makes it very clear that he thinks the Arvizo family were a bunch of grifters. How can someone write a book on Michael Jackson, but be ambiguous about Jordan Chandler? It’s especially odd considering how much he focussed on Jordan’s life as an adult (in chapter 30), which isn’t really relevant to the issue at hand. It isn’t until the final chapter that Sullivan explicitly stated that he doesn’t believe Jackson abused children, but most people who pick up this book probably wouldn’t make it that far.
I do believe Sullivan tried to write an honest portrayal of the singer’s life, even if I didn’t agree with all of his conclusions (because I don’t think some of the people he interviewed are reliable). I feel that there are only two aspects of Jackson’s life that are up for public speculation—the allegations and his art. What he did to his face, his romantic relationships, health, paternity of his children, etc are really none of our business. I will never understand the public’s fascination with these, and it’s in these areas where I find myself questioning Sullivan’s sources.
My main criticism of this book is that it’s not really about Michael Jackson’s life, but more about the controversies and shady people who surrounded him (especially towards the latter half). I feel I learned more about Dr. Arnold Klein and Marc Schaffel than I did about Michael Jackson. The Jackson family (including Katherine) are painted as greedy and opportunistic, but it’s hard to tell what Sullivan thought about Michael. Nearly five chapters are devoted to talking about Jackson’s death (Murray, the will, estate lawyers, etc). There is a lot more focus on the last few years of Michael’s life, and the one chapter that summarizes his childhood and rise to fame rehashes old information that I doubt anyone over the age of 35 doesn’t already know about MJ. I guess Michael Jackson is the only musical genius whose 800 page biography can dismiss his artistry as an after-thought and still be widely published.
Rather than elaborating upon the peaks of his career, the book explains in vivid detail Jackson’s valleys, spending habits, financial difficulties, legal troubles (litigation, not criminal) more than anything else. This is what gives the book a “tabloid” feel, as it seems to be interested in shedding light on the most private aspects of MJ’s life. I don’t see why someone with just a casual interest in Michael Jackson, or the allegations against him, would want to read this book as they would have to sift through literally hundreds of pages to find something of interest. Nor would an obsessed fan find this book appealing, since the author doesn’t mention things like Jackson’s humanitarian work (an important topic when discussing someone who donated hundreds of millions to charity), and believes Jackson was “pre-sexual.” The oddest part is the afterword which outlines the Conrad Murray trial in arguably more detail than the chapters discussing the 2005 Jackson trial (Sullivan already spent a couple of chapters on Murray), and the “Katherine Jackson kidnapping” incident.
While I have my issues with “Untouchable,” it didn’t warrant the fan protest that Jackson’s former defence attorney Tom Mesereau denounced. I guess what speaks volumes is that after reading this book, my feelings toward Michael Jackson haven’t changed at all (but I can’t help but think less of his family). I don’t like Jackson more or less because of the book, or have any lingering questions. Shouldn’t a good book do that? Inspire some change in belief or opinion, or further inquiry?
In summary, this book lacks focus, and jumps back and forth in the timeline of Jackson’s life, and then ends with several chapters about posthumous events and controversies that don’t shed much light on the man himself. The book rambles quite a bit about uninteresting topics while overlooking aspects of Jackson’s life that the public would find interesting. I’m amazed at how Sullivan managed to make even someone like Michael Jackson seem dull, boring, and merely a supporting character in the story of his own life.
Most of the biographical Michael Jackson media I’ve consumed in the past were interviews (in the form of books and podcasts) with people he personally knew, which meant there was always a pro-MJ bias. This is what I appreciate about Randall Sullivan’s book, as he didn’t set out to write a book defending or maligning Jackson. I’ve read some MJ books that seemed to be the product of a liberal amount of copy and paste, and Untouchable is nothing like them. This book is very well-researched, with about a hundred pages of references. Sullivan conducted a lot of interviews, read through many legal documents, etc.
I never believed Michael Jackson was guilty of child molestation (I have researched the allegations for over ten years, including reading the court transcripts). Every single one of his accusers first consulted with civil attorneys, not police, and Sullivan clearly highlights this fact. This book gives one of the best accounts of the 2005 child molestation trial I have ever read, and included details I didn’t know about before (such as Jackson angrily standing up in the middle of his accuser’s sister’s testimony). That being said, I don’t think a “guilter” would be persuaded by this book, because I felt unsatisfied with Sullivan’s account of the 1993 allegations.
Throughout the book, he doesn’t seem to have an opinion either way, but makes it very clear that he thinks the Arvizo family were a bunch of grifters. How can someone write a book on Michael Jackson, but be ambiguous about Jordan Chandler? It’s especially odd considering how much he focussed on Jordan’s life as an adult (in chapter 30), which isn’t really relevant to the issue at hand. It isn’t until the final chapter that Sullivan explicitly stated that he doesn’t believe Jackson abused children, but most people who pick up this book probably wouldn’t make it that far.
I do believe Sullivan tried to write an honest portrayal of the singer’s life, even if I didn’t agree with all of his conclusions (because I don’t think some of the people he interviewed are reliable). I feel that there are only two aspects of Jackson’s life that are up for public speculation—the allegations and his art. What he did to his face, his romantic relationships, health, paternity of his children, etc are really none of our business. I will never understand the public’s fascination with these, and it’s in these areas where I find myself questioning Sullivan’s sources.
My main criticism of this book is that it’s not really about Michael Jackson’s life, but more about the controversies and shady people who surrounded him (especially towards the latter half). I feel I learned more about Dr. Arnold Klein and Marc Schaffel than I did about Michael Jackson. The Jackson family (including Katherine) are painted as greedy and opportunistic, but it’s hard to tell what Sullivan thought about Michael. Nearly five chapters are devoted to talking about Jackson’s death (Murray, the will, estate lawyers, etc). There is a lot more focus on the last few years of Michael’s life, and the one chapter that summarizes his childhood and rise to fame rehashes old information that I doubt anyone over the age of 35 doesn’t already know about MJ. I guess Michael Jackson is the only musical genius whose 800 page biography can dismiss his artistry as an after-thought and still be widely published.
Rather than elaborating upon the peaks of his career, the book explains in vivid detail Jackson’s valleys, spending habits, financial difficulties, legal troubles (litigation, not criminal) more than anything else. This is what gives the book a “tabloid” feel, as it seems to be interested in shedding light on the most private aspects of MJ’s life. I don’t see why someone with just a casual interest in Michael Jackson, or the allegations against him, would want to read this book as they would have to sift through literally hundreds of pages to find something of interest. Nor would an obsessed fan find this book appealing, since the author doesn’t mention things like Jackson’s humanitarian work (an important topic when discussing someone who donated hundreds of millions to charity), and believes Jackson was “pre-sexual.” The oddest part is the afterword which outlines the Conrad Murray trial in arguably more detail than the chapters discussing the 2005 Jackson trial (Sullivan already spent a couple of chapters on Murray), and the “Katherine Jackson kidnapping” incident.
While I have my issues with “Untouchable,” it didn’t warrant the fan protest that Jackson’s former defence attorney Tom Mesereau denounced. I guess what speaks volumes is that after reading this book, my feelings toward Michael Jackson haven’t changed at all (but I can’t help but think less of his family). I don’t like Jackson more or less because of the book, or have any lingering questions. Shouldn’t a good book do that? Inspire some change in belief or opinion, or further inquiry?
In summary, this book lacks focus, and jumps back and forth in the timeline of Jackson’s life, and then ends with several chapters about posthumous events and controversies that don’t shed much light on the man himself. The book rambles quite a bit about uninteresting topics while overlooking aspects of Jackson’s life that the public would find interesting. I’m amazed at how Sullivan managed to make even someone like Michael Jackson seem dull, boring, and merely a supporting character in the story of his own life.
May 19, 2015
Sad and sordid. I *think* it was unbiased. I could not keep up with most of the business stuff, it was so complex and convoluted.
December 20, 2015
If you hate storytelling and love court transcripts, this is the Jackson bio 4 u
August 27, 2024
I've never been a great listener of pop music, but Michael Jackson has always been an artist for whom I've had great respect. Undeniably a genius in composition and dance.
In 900 pages, Michael's life is examined in detail. His enormous talent and success as an artist, from the creation of the Jackson Five to his solo career, reaching the pinnacle of success and popularity with "Thriller".
Her skin bleaching, her numerous plastic surgeries, her marriage to Elvis' daughter, her three children, her early and tragic death. A reading that, in a way, became sadder and sadder. With an extremely aggressive father, Michael practically had his childhood stolen from him in order to become a successful artist. In the future, this would cause deep traumas that would lead to severe problems.
The accusations of child abuse he suffered take up a good part of the book, covering the events from the beginning to the trial and acquittal. And here lies the most critical point of the book. Not being a fanatical fan, this whole part is a mess of feelings.
Yes, Michael had his childhood stolen from him, yes, his own father physically and verbally assaulted him, but you can't put into perspective an adult over thirty sleeping alone in a room with children. Many claim that he had no malice. Perhaps his mind hadn't matured and he was trying to relive his lost childhood, and although the accusations came from extremely greedy parents, it's not possible to give the artist a 100% not guilty verdict.
Another part that causes great discomfort is the post-mortem: the legal battle for his estate, showing the worst in human beings, with his extremely scoundrelly and profiteering brothers doing everything they could to get as much as they could out of the whole situation.
Randall Sullivan has written a perhaps definitive biography of the artist, covering his glories and defeats. A life that, despite the money and fame, was extremely sad.
In 900 pages, Michael's life is examined in detail. His enormous talent and success as an artist, from the creation of the Jackson Five to his solo career, reaching the pinnacle of success and popularity with "Thriller".
Her skin bleaching, her numerous plastic surgeries, her marriage to Elvis' daughter, her three children, her early and tragic death. A reading that, in a way, became sadder and sadder. With an extremely aggressive father, Michael practically had his childhood stolen from him in order to become a successful artist. In the future, this would cause deep traumas that would lead to severe problems.
The accusations of child abuse he suffered take up a good part of the book, covering the events from the beginning to the trial and acquittal. And here lies the most critical point of the book. Not being a fanatical fan, this whole part is a mess of feelings.
Yes, Michael had his childhood stolen from him, yes, his own father physically and verbally assaulted him, but you can't put into perspective an adult over thirty sleeping alone in a room with children. Many claim that he had no malice. Perhaps his mind hadn't matured and he was trying to relive his lost childhood, and although the accusations came from extremely greedy parents, it's not possible to give the artist a 100% not guilty verdict.
Another part that causes great discomfort is the post-mortem: the legal battle for his estate, showing the worst in human beings, with his extremely scoundrelly and profiteering brothers doing everything they could to get as much as they could out of the whole situation.
Randall Sullivan has written a perhaps definitive biography of the artist, covering his glories and defeats. A life that, despite the money and fame, was extremely sad.
May 10, 2019
Title says it all
This is one detailed book and is recommended reading by anyone interested in what really went on with Michael Jackson's life and career. Warts and all were revealed from those who both loved and hated him in a fair and balanced way. The sources and accounts from eye witnesses were clearly and abundently supplied by the author who confirmed that Michael Jackson, although vainglorius, flawed, and admittedly, talented beyond measure, was not and could not ever abuse or hurt anyone, especially a child.
What struck me, was all the mistakes he made, especially with those closest to him, who gave him so much grief and horrible advice. Considering all that he had to face with the false media narrative that surrounded and tried to destroy him, then as now, it's amazing that he still maintains a positive impact on the world in entertainment and social issues. Very telling considering all that is going on with this story today.
Anyway, truth includes a critical telling of facts from all sides, so to anyone who happens to get this far and is interested, I highly recommend this book.
This is one detailed book and is recommended reading by anyone interested in what really went on with Michael Jackson's life and career. Warts and all were revealed from those who both loved and hated him in a fair and balanced way. The sources and accounts from eye witnesses were clearly and abundently supplied by the author who confirmed that Michael Jackson, although vainglorius, flawed, and admittedly, talented beyond measure, was not and could not ever abuse or hurt anyone, especially a child.
What struck me, was all the mistakes he made, especially with those closest to him, who gave him so much grief and horrible advice. Considering all that he had to face with the false media narrative that surrounded and tried to destroy him, then as now, it's amazing that he still maintains a positive impact on the world in entertainment and social issues. Very telling considering all that is going on with this story today.
Anyway, truth includes a critical telling of facts from all sides, so to anyone who happens to get this far and is interested, I highly recommend this book.
July 27, 2019
Some biographies come labelled "warts and all", others go beyond the warts and include details about a never consummated marriage; boxes of plastic nose tips; half-hour make-up sessions; a secret room behind a cupboard false panel, where young boys slept with an adult stranger; the weirdest manipulative demands; a $700million debt in the midst of bankruptcy with a list of creditors that ran several pages long; 25 years of benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants abuse that ended in a propofol addiction; a never-ending carousel of deadbeat relatives trying to take advantage of the money guy; internecine lawsuits of sibling against sibling, parent against parent, sibling against parent and vice versa, plus tens of of other legal proceedings and demands; a staggering amount of cosmetic surgery that resulted in so much rhinoplasty that the nose collapsed to the point of becoming two oversized nostrils surrounded by a tiny ridge of shriveled cartilage.
And, of course, the repeated civil and criminal charges of pedophilia.
Maybe, MJ was lucky and got away with an early death. He would not have been very happy in jail.
And, of course, the repeated civil and criminal charges of pedophilia.
Maybe, MJ was lucky and got away with an early death. He would not have been very happy in jail.
March 18, 2019
The name Michael Jackson has been prominent in the recent months with the Neverland "documentary" that has been released
I've always found MJ to be fascinating, and I've read a few biographies. This is one of the worst ones that I have read.
The biography itself also was not well written. It chopped a lot in the timeline jumping from the months before Michael's death to his days in Jackson 5 rather than following a linear timeline which would make more sense. Things where often rehashed over and over again meaning at least 100 pages of this book could have been cut without it impacting the story. A lot of gossip and tidbits from the media where covered, when they didn't need to be
The place this book shone was covering the molestation trials. I think initially the author did believe that Michael was guilty but reading the evidence came to believe as many did that the accusations where totally bogus. The last 100 pages after Michael's death which covered his estate and the many challenges by family would probably interesting to some but for me where very tedious
I've always found MJ to be fascinating, and I've read a few biographies. This is one of the worst ones that I have read.
The biography itself also was not well written. It chopped a lot in the timeline jumping from the months before Michael's death to his days in Jackson 5 rather than following a linear timeline which would make more sense. Things where often rehashed over and over again meaning at least 100 pages of this book could have been cut without it impacting the story. A lot of gossip and tidbits from the media where covered, when they didn't need to be
The place this book shone was covering the molestation trials. I think initially the author did believe that Michael was guilty but reading the evidence came to believe as many did that the accusations where totally bogus. The last 100 pages after Michael's death which covered his estate and the many challenges by family would probably interesting to some but for me where very tedious
September 4, 2025
I have never cared about Michael Jackson but I like Sullivan’s writing a lot. I now feel very well educated about MJ’s life and the circus atmosphere it fostered. I have a new respect for his artistic gifts and genius, whether I liked his music or not.
I saw the HBO documentary about him and the Jordan Chandler accusations and trial in about 2019. I was convinced that he was guilty. After reading this I am far less convinced. We’ll never know the truth but it is clear that the accusers’ parents were never prohibited from restricting MJ’s access to their children and the outside influences in play, (including immense amounts of money), distorted the situation in many ways.
Michael’s siblings were lucky that their mother had the instincts of a mother and refused to prosecute them or expel them completely from her life. They kidnapped their own mother and held her captive. That’s something only a mother could forgive.
I don’t know who or what might have saved him, but it’s obvious he could’ve lived decades longer if he had had the proper help.
I saw the HBO documentary about him and the Jordan Chandler accusations and trial in about 2019. I was convinced that he was guilty. After reading this I am far less convinced. We’ll never know the truth but it is clear that the accusers’ parents were never prohibited from restricting MJ’s access to their children and the outside influences in play, (including immense amounts of money), distorted the situation in many ways.
Michael’s siblings were lucky that their mother had the instincts of a mother and refused to prosecute them or expel them completely from her life. They kidnapped their own mother and held her captive. That’s something only a mother could forgive.
I don’t know who or what might have saved him, but it’s obvious he could’ve lived decades longer if he had had the proper help.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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