Before You Judge Me
The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson's Last Days
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Narrated by:
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Leo Coltrane
About this listen
A powerful chronicle of the 16 weeks leading up to King of Pop Michael Jackson's death
Michael Jackson's final months were like the rest of his short and legendary life: filled with deep lows and soaring highs, a constant hunt for privacy, and the pressure and fame that made him socially fragile and almost - ultimately - unable to live.
With the insight and compassion that he brought to his best-selling telling of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s final year, Tavis Smiley provides a glimpse into the superstar's life in this emotional, honest, yet celebratory audiobook. Listeners will witness Jackson's campaign to recharge his career - hiring and firing managers and advisors, turning to and away from family members, fighting depression and drug dependency - while his one goal remained: to mount the most spectacular series of shows the world had ever seen. Before You Judge Me is a humanizing look at Jackson's last days.
©2016 Tavis Smiley and David Ritz (P)2016 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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- By: Frank Cascio
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Everyone knows Michael Jackson - the myth. This is the revealing true story of Michael Jackson - the man. To Frank Cascio, Michael Jackson was many things - second father, big brother, boss, mentor, and teacher, but most of all he was a friend. Though Cascio was just a few years old when he first met Jackson in 1984, at the peak of the pop star’s career, Jackson was at the center of his life for the next twenty-five years.
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A Love Story
- By Kathleen on 02-14-18
By: Frank Cascio
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Robin Williams
- By: Emily Herbert
- Narrated by: Marston York
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Through roles in cherished films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Aladdin and Hook, he became the genial face of family comedy. His childlike enthusiasm was infectious, sweeping viewers away. Allied to his lightning-quick improvisation and ability to riff lewdly off any cue thrown at him, Robin was that rare thing - a true comic genius who appealed to adults and children equally. He could also play it straight, and empathetic depth came to him naturally.
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Good... but too many quotes
- By DDub on 11-09-18
By: Emily Herbert
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Take Me Home
- An Autobiography
- By: John Denver
- Narrated by: John Denver
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Abridged
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In a career that spanned decades, John Denver earned international acclaim as a singer, songwriter, actor, and environmental activist. Songs like "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Rocky Mountain High", and "Annie's Song" have entered the canon of universal anthems, but at his start John Denver was a young man with little more than a fine voice, a guitar, and a dream. Growing up in a conservative military family, he was not expected to drop out of college and head to Los Angeles, where the music scene was flourishing. Nor was he expected to succeed.
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Loved hearing John Denver telling his story
- By Brenda M. on 02-03-17
By: John Denver
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The Whitney I Knew
- By: BeBe Winans, Tim Willard
- Narrated by: BeBe Winans
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is the Whitney only family would know.... Somewhere outside the glare of the concert spotlights...behind the tawdry entertainment news headlines...beyond the crush of the scandal-seeking paparazzi...lies the truth about Whitney Houston. And few individuals are better qualified to show us that complicated, funny, generous, troubled, extremely loyal Whitney than the friend she called "brother", Bebe Winans.
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BeBe's love for Whitney
- By Kyana on 02-22-24
By: BeBe Winans, and others
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The Ballad of Bob Dylan
- A Portrait
- By: Daniel Mark Epstein
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a vivid, full-bodied portrait of one of the most influential artists of the 20th-century - a man widely regarded as the most important lyricist America has ever produced. Acclaimed poet and biographer Daniel Mark Epstein frames Dylan against the backdrop of four seminal concerts - all of which he attended. Beautifully written, The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a unique, eye-opening portrait of an artist who has transformed generations and continues to inspire and surprise today.
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Excellent book, excellent narration
- By L chandler on 12-22-11
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Bright lights dark shadows
- The real story of Abba
- By: Carl Palm
- Narrated by: Adrian Mulraney
- Length: 26 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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An exploration of all aspects of the Abba member’s lives and careers. Amazingly detailed, it examines the group member’s family backgrounds, the pre-Abba days, the legendary 70s, the marriages, the divorces, the business ups and downs, and the post-Abba solo careers.
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Awesome! -- All the Swedish words pronounced!
- By Howard_a on 06-18-12
By: Carl Palm
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Somebody to Love
- The Life, Death and Legacy of Freddie Mercury
- By: Matt Richards, Mark Langthorne
- Narrated by: Tim Bruce
- Length: 15 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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When Freddie Mercury died in 1991, aged just 45, the world was rocked by the vibrant and flamboyant star's tragic secret that he had been battling AIDS. That Mercury had even been diagnosed came as a shock to his millions of fans, with his announcement coming less than 24 hours before his death. In Somebody to Love, biographers Mark Langthorne and Matt Richards skilfully weave Freddie Mercury's incredible pursuit of musical greatness with Queen, his upbringing and his endless search for love with the story of a terrible disease.
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Stunning dual biography of Freddie and AIDS
- By tru britty on 07-19-18
By: Matt Richards, and others
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Brian Jones
- The Making of the Rolling Stones
- By: Paul Trynka
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Brian Jones is a forensic, thrilling account of Jones' life, which for the first time details his pioneering achievements and messy unraveling. With more than 120 new interviews, Trynka offers countless new revelations and sets straight the tall tales that have long marred Jones' legacy. His story is a gripping battle between creativity and ambition, between self-sabotage and betrayal. It's all here: the girlfriends, the drugs, and some of the greatest music of all time.
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Great story, exceptionally well narrated
- By M. Graham on 11-17-15
By: Paul Trynka
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Dig If You Will the Picture
- Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince
- By: Ben Greenman
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Ben Greenman, New York Times best-selling author, contributing writer to The New Yorker, and owner of thousands of recordings of Prince and Prince-related songs, knows intimately that there has never been a rock star as vibrant, mercurial, willfully contrary, experimental, or prolific as Prince. Uniting a diverse audience while remaining singularly himself, Prince was a tireless artist, a musical virtuoso and chameleon, and a pop-culture prophet.
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Reads like a indepth career review & analysis
- By herb on 05-18-17
By: Ben Greenman
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The Sound of Music Story
- How a Beguiling Young Novice, a Handsome Austrian Captain, and Ten Singing Von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time
- By: Tom Santopietro
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Now Tom Santopietro has written the ultimate Sound of Music fan audiobook with all the inside dope, from behind-the-scenes stories of the filming in Austria and Hollywood to new interviews with Johannes von Trapp and others. Santopietro looks back at the real-life story of Maria von Trapp, goes on to chronicle the sensational success of the Broadway musical, and recounts the story of the near cancellation of the film when Cleopatra bankrupted 20th Century Fox.
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A must for super-fans
- By Simone on 07-29-17
By: Tom Santopietro
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Something Wonderful
- Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution
- By: Todd S. Purdum
- Narrated by: Todd S. Purdum
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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They stand at the apex of the great age of songwriting, the creators of the classic Broadway musicals Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, whose songs have never lost their popularity or emotional power. Even before they joined forces, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had written dozens of Broadway shows, but together they pioneered a new art form: the serious musical play.
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Fabulous book about Rodgers & Hammerstein!!!
- By BigWally on 06-27-18
By: Todd S. Purdum
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John Lennon
- The Life
- By: Philip Norman
- Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Abridged
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Philip Norman turns his formidable talent to the Beatle for whom belonging to the world's most beloved pop group was never enough. Drawing on previously untapped sources, and with unprecedented access to all the major characters, here is the definitive portrait of John Lennon. This biography takes a fresh and penetrating look at Lennon's much-chronicled life, including the songs that have turned him, posthumously, into almost a secular saint.
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Really Bad Abridgement Job (slash job)
- By Let's Be Reasonable on 12-04-08
By: Philip Norman
What listeners say about Before You Judge Me
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- CHarris
- 07-12-16
Underwhelming
To be fair, and Tavis speaks to this in the afterward, the distance between Michael and us makes the production of a quality biography of him near impossible. I enjoyed the book it it didn't really further inform my opinion of him. However, and thankfully, I do think the details of the book are true.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Shandi Gage
- 03-03-17
This was a wonderful book.
It succeeded in its mission to reconnect us to Michael. Even here in 2017 I still teared up in hearing of his passing. Thank you for giving us some background of the greatest artist of all time
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1 person found this helpful
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- Annick Thun
- 08-21-22
Before you Judge me Try hard to Love me!!
The narrator was excellent. Level of writing is absolutely amazing. Like a song we listen and leave the flow of words sliding in our ears.
The book gives us an overall picture of what may had happened during MJ last days and the madness of MJ end of life.
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- Trenton Johnson
- 08-30-22
Wonderfully written insight into Mj final days
Absolutely love this book in the insight it provided into Michael's real data day situation here situation he had to be dealing with in his mind and soul prior to his untimely death.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jai Dev Singh
- 07-09-16
Beautiful book
Continued to be impressed by Tavis Smiley's writing. Loved 'Death of a King', 'My Journey with Maya', and loved this one as well.
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3 people found this helpful
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- tabitha jones
- 03-22-18
A good book.
Truly enjoyable book. I listened to it twice and each time get a different view. Although a sad story in whole, I can't help but love the way Tavis Smiley and David Ritz gave Michael Jackson's story a peaceful dignaty that shines in they're mutual respect for Michael. Other authors want to relish in his misfortune, but you two brought a sense of reflection good and bad. I love that.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Sandra Ivy
- 08-25-20
Review
I loved this book, I could feel the emotional side of Michael as Tavis describes him in different parts of the book. I grew up listening to them and my heart still aches when I think of how he ended up. Thank you Tavis for this beautiful book.
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- The Alchemist
- 07-08-16
Facing Our Demons...
The title is so very appropriate and Tavis has done another superb job in grappling with the complexities of another icons last days leading up to their death. I felt MJs pain and was forced to reflect on my own demons that drive me and so many of us. They force us to wear so many different mAsks that don't just take on the shape of drugs but sex work abuse
Etc. Well worth the read.... and I love the ending....
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3 people found this helpful
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- R. G. Pickering
- 01-23-18
Eye opening Insight
I enjoyed this audio book which exposed me to things about Michael that I did not know. I have a much better understanding of his personality and challenges.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mary F.
- 05-24-19
Just Okay!
I could feel the author's affection for MJ, but kept wondering how he knew what Michael waz thinking all the time. Good book. but I still think the bodyguard's book is better, because they were actually with him almost until the final 2-3 weeks. If THEY had been with him, he would still be alive. RIP MJ! You are missed!
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