Moonwalk (book)
LC Class ML420.J175 A3 1988 | | |
Followed by | Dancing the Dream |
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Moonwalk is a 1988 autobiography by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was first published by Doubleday on February 1, 1988, five months after the release of Jackson's album Bad in 1987, and was named after Jackson's signature dance move, the moonwalk. The book contains a foreword by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was the First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963.
Moonwalk reached number one on the
Production
Kennedy, who was an editor at Doubleday, secured the book deal and paid Jackson an advance-fee of $300,000. As part of the deal, Jackson wanted Kennedy to write a foreword, which she initially refused, as she did not want her name on any books, but later agreed to write three paragraphs. She also edited the book.[1] The first manuscript of the book was written by Robert Hilburn, and was refused by Doubleday because it lacked "juicy details".[2] A second manuscript was written by Stephen Davis, which Jackson drastically edited.[2] Jackson finally resolved to write the book himself, with help from Shaye Areheart.
Due to Jackson's globally high profile, Moonwalk's publication-process was secretive. Relatives of Doubleday employees were hired as couriers in order to deliver portions of the book from the company's head office in Manhattan to the printing plant in Fairfield, Pennsylvania.[3] At the printing plant, the book was given the code name "Neil Armstrong", after the first "moonwalker".[3]
Narrative
Dedicated to
In the book, Jackson tells of the beatings he received from his father,
Reception
Moonwalk debuted at number one on both the British newspaper The Times' and the Los Angeles Times' bestseller lists. Reaching number two in its first week on The New York Times Best Seller list, Moonwalk reached number one the following week.[2] Within a few months of its release, Moonwalk had sold 450,000 copies in fourteen countries.[7]
Ken Tucker, of The New York Times, stated that if the book had been written by anyone else, it would be dismissed as "an assiduously unrevealing, frequently tedious document." However, he adds that "these are precisely the qualities that make it fascinating".[4]
Re-release
Moonwalk was re-released on October 13, 2009, as a result of Michael Jackson's
Notes
- ^ Goodman, Dean (July 4, 2009). "Michael Jackson book a headache for Jackie O". Reuters.
- ^ a b c Campbell (1993), p. 197
- ^ a b c McDowell, Edwin. "Michael Jackson writes his story", The New York Times, April 18, 1988.
- ^ a b c d Tucker, Ken. "Firing your father isn't easy.", The New York Times, June 5, 1988.
- ^ a b Jackson, p. 229–230
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 395
- ^ "Michael's Last Tour". Ebony. Chicago, Illinois. April 1989. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ Balls, David (July 28, 2009). "Jackson autobiography to be reprinted". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
The reprint will include a new introduction by a "figure close to Jackson", publishers have claimed. The afterword is expected to be written by Shaye Areheart, who edited the original book.
References
- Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden. ISBN 0-8283-1957-X.
- Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. ISBN 0385247125.
- ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
- Music Book review