Moonwalk

Moonwalk was published in 1988, while Jackson was arguably at his commercial peak following Thriller and Bad. Written with the help of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who edited the book at Doubleday, it covers his childhood in Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5 years, his relationship with his father, and the creative decisions behind his most significant work. Like most celebrity autobiographies, it’s selective—Jackson was private by nature and the book reflects that. But there are sections of genuine interest, particularly his account of his creative process and the thinking behind specific songs and videos. For fans, it’s an essential document. For readers interested in the history of pop music, it provides context for how Jackson himself understood his own career at its high point, before the legal troubles of the 1990s changed the public narrative permanently.