The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation
Selected Book Details
- Hardcover
- Author: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
- Publisher: Vanguard Press
- Release Date: September 2009
- ISBN-10: 1593156022
- ISBN-13: 9781593156022
- List Price: $25.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryIn 2000-2001, Michael Jackson sat down with his close friend and spiritual guide, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, to record what turned out to be the most intimate and revealing conversations of his life. It was Michael's wish to bare his soul and unburden himself to a public that he knew was deeply suspicious of him. The resulting thirty hours are the basis of The Michael Jackson Tapes. There has never been, and never will be, anything like them. |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Mixed Feelings
Rating:
I have mixed feelings about this book. While it's certainly interesting and hard to put down, I'm really uncomfortable with the strong possibility that these were private conversations between Michael and the author and not meant to be released. Many of the "interviews" appear to be COUNSELING SESSIONS. That bothers me. On top of that, Boteach is annoying with his holier-than-thou commentary and, quite frequently, his comments are so off-the-mark that it's evident he just doesn't "get" what Michael was saying. So will you learn anything from this book? Yes, you will learn more about Michael as a person, there's no doubt about that. Just be aware that you might feel like a peeping tom afterward.
this book sucks should be burned
Rating:
well nothing to talk about cept that mj wishes he could talk to hitler we know that was the drugs talking then mj says some disturbing comments about dying young saying death helped the careers of marilyn monroe and welvis other than mj claiming he's the messiah this book isn't worth reading unless you wanna read about how crazy mj really was and we all knew he was a lunatic.
MJ at his barest
Rating:
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation is a unique look at a larger-than-life celebrity musician in an intimate setting, but portions of the book are written like a thesis or an examination of celebrity and its adverse impact on America and its stars. This is not a book for those looking for pictorial depictions of the star in his home or seeking titillating details about his personal relationships with women, his children, or other family members. While family is talked about, it is not the crux of this book nor of the taped conversations between Jackson and Boteach between 2000 and 2001.
Through these recorded conversations with his acquaintance and spiritual guide -- at least for a time -- Michael Jackson revealed some of his demons, his joys, and his fears. But even for all the explanations by the author of his convictions about Jackson's innocence and sincerity, there are times when readers will uncover something amiss with Jackson -- whether from the drugs or other influences is anyone's guess. Answers to certain questions will start off coherent and then reach the absurd, leading readers to wonder how the Rabbi failed to see something wrong with Jackson (i.e. drug abuse). Boteach knew Jackson for just a few years, and while readers may take issue with his assessments of the celebrity or the closeness of their relationship, readers will see a side of Jackson rarely shown to the public.
Jackson and Boteach discussed religion, family, fame, celebrity, and many other topics, with the goal of creating a book. Jackson at one point espouses the need for celebrities to be responsible for their public displays and shows to ensure they send an appropriate message to their fans, but in many ways acted contrary to that message (i.e. grabbing his crotch during concerts, which he says he did not do consciously).
However, there are times when this book grows tedious with the repetition of Boteach's theories and assessments of Jackson's actions and past; it is almost like he doesn't trust the reader to make his or her own assessments about Jackson and his downfall, which is a major drawback. Readers will absorb and get lost in the conversations between Boteach and Jackson and enjoy the snippet of conversation included with Jackson's mother. The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation seeks to bring out the flaws and the good qualities in a wayward superstar lost in his own image.
He was a human
Rating:
He was a genius when it came to music and entertainment, but he was also human, like we all are. Unfortunately for him, Michael Jackson didn't have the privacy or the space to work on his flaws and subsequently to grow with each lesson learned. Throughout the years, we have seen and read countless interviews that spoke of Michael's kindness and caring. Watching This Is It, we saw how kind and gentle he was with those who worked with him, even when under intense stress, never treating them as inferiors but rather as collaborators.
For those who are avid tabloid readers, this book will definitely be a rich source of information you will be able to inject in future conversations about Michael Jackson. For intense fans, this book is an amazing look into who their idol was.
But for those of us who are concerned with the bigger picture of how a fairy tale can go so wrong, this book provides us with great insight into the relationship between an entertainer and his public, and how the two can feed each other negatively until both collapse.
It is largely due to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's strong pen that this book almost read as a tabloid, as he exploits and embellishes his relationship with Michael Jackson and his family, with fame, and with his fans that were affected by him. It is ironic that Boteach does express admiration for Jackson and acknowledges his massive contribution to pop culture and music.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you can't handle the truth (as seen by Rabbi Boteach, of course), then don't pick it up. This book is not for an adoring fan, intent on seeing Michael Jackson as a saint. Nor is it for the hateful enemy, intent on seeing him as a sinner and nothing but. For like all humans, which was what Michael Jackson was, he had a good side and a bad one. This book explores the man Michael Jackson and the shades of grey that defines all humans.
"A WOLF IN RABBI CLOTHING"
Rating:
"I think my image gets distorted in the public's mind. They don't get a clear or full picture of
what I'm like, despite the press coverage I mentioned earlier. Mistruths are printed as fact, in some cases,
and frequently only half of a story will be told. The part that doesn't get printed is often the part that
would make the printed part less sensational by shedding light on the facts." "Moonwalk" by Michael Jackson
I didn't buy this book ("The Micheal Jackson Tapes")for many of the same reasons those who bought it now wish they hadn't. I've seen interviews with Shmuley and that's been enough for me to discern his true nature. Like all of these people writing books on Michael, and claiming to have been his friend at one point or another, Shmuley's intention was not to show Michael for who he really was. It was simply to write a book on "Michael Jackson" , a surefire money-maker.You know what they say, "An opportunity missed is an opportunity lost."
Even though I would never add one cent to Shmuley's bank account by buying this book, (or any of his other books),I did however skim over a couple pages while in a bookstore, just out of curiousity. This only solidified my initial opinion of him. He is a dishonest, money hungry "wolf in sheep's clothing" ,or better yet, as I state in my title "a wolf in Rabbi clothing." He is not a real rabbi just like he was never a real friend to Michael. If he were truly a friend Michael would've never severed their relationship. Michael valued friendships, and that's evident in the over 20 year spanned relationship he had with Elizabeth Taylor. All of these people now writing books on Michael came and went, yet the friendship between him and Elizabeth endured. The fact that Michael cut Shmuley out of his life speaks volumes!
Michael was love, in the purest form. It's a shame there are those out there, like Shmuley, who had the privilege
of getting to know such a beautiful man, are now willing to cast doubt on Michael's character, in hopes that it will help their books sell. Because after all, it's been proven that we are a society that loves sensationalism and "tabloid journalism".
Shmuley should turn in his "cloth". He is in no way a man of God.
And as for the title of this book: "The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation" -- this is an insult. There was nothing tragic about Michael.
It should've been titled : "The Michael Jackson Tapes: Intimate Conversations With A Beautiful Soul" interpreted by a
tragic rabbi!
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