Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days

I've had a deep admiration for Michael Jackson since the early '90s. No other artist has ever given the same excitement or joy that he did, and no one has inspired me the way he has. That's why a book written honestly about his life, without the motive of making money, means so much to me. As the authors themselves has said, this is not one of those books rushed out right after Michael Jackson's death, chasing six-figure paydays and feeding prejudices just to stir up sensation. It's the one authors funded themselves, persevering through countless obstacles to publish. And it was worth it, because it's one of the greatest books I've ever read. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and finished it in just a few days. The book is beautifully written, powerful and engaging. It's a book truly worthy of a legend like Michael Jackson. With most celebrities, the more you learn about them, the more the mystery fades and they become boring. But with Michael Jackson, it's the opposite. Every honest account or detail I read only deepens my admiration and longing for him. This book did exaclty that. Although it focuses on his final years, it also sheds light on the people around him and the way he managed his affairs, helping you to understand the false accusations he faced. Reading how he struggled with everyday challenges that ordinary people deal with- things he had never encountered before- was really interesting and moving. Beyond that, the book teaches a lot about life and human nature. His last years were incredibly difficult, but meeting with Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard was a blessing. They became true friends he could trust, easing his suffering and standing by him despite everything. For that, I'm deeply grateful to them.

I throughly enjoyed this one! Gives honest viewpoint on MJ from people who just wanted to protect him. Truly heartbreaking but uplifting

I am deeply grateful to Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard for documenting their two-and-a-half years with Michael Jackson in such a genuine, grounded, and unembellished way. As I read, it feels as though I am experiencing everything they describe firsthand. I am completely drawn into their world, almost as if I have become part of it, able to fully feel their emotions and inner states. At the same time, they present Michael Jackson’s struggles with striking honesty. Every detail is deeply moving, and my emotions rise and fall with the story—at times I find myself smiling, but more often I feel tension, and even heartbreak. What stands out most is the immense pressure Michael Jackson endured. It becomes clear that he lived in a reality far more distorted and unimaginable than I had ever conceived, shaped by the people and circumstances surrounding him. Learning this fills me with a deep sense of sorrow for him. As Bill himself reflects, there was a reason for his departure. A world filled with exploitation, insincerity, and hypocrisy simply did not deserve him; perhaps only in leaving could he finally find true peace. Once again, I sincerely thank Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard for revealing the most authentic side of Michael Jackson and helping restore justice to his story.

This book honestly unveils so many aspects of a famous life that regular people have no idea about and some might not even be able to fully grasp it after reading the whole story. I am really grateful to the authors for putting the time and effort into releasing this piece of art for us. ❤️

Reading ’Remember the Time – Protecting Michael Jackson in his final days’ was a real emotional rollercoaster; swinging from anger, to sadness, to smiling and laughing’ at a wealth of stories, some funny, some sad, some annoying. I loved the part when Bill meets him, and thinks ‘Oh s…t’ as Michael walks towards him and shakes his hand. His heart was pounding in his chest and the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up! He finds himself saying he is a huge fan! It was surreal! One thing that jumps off every page is the love, respect and strong protective mission urge you can feel, the perplexed loyal hardworking bodyguards trying to understand this man, who was two men on two levels, the enigmatic, exciting, fascinating, mysterious King of Pop, and Michael Jackson, the normal loving father lounging around in pyjamas watching movies with his children, or making breakfast, doing their own laundry or setting off fireworks. He was just a regular guy desperately trying to be a regular guy, who could go into a bar and order a beer, but so many people in his life always had other ideas, organising and manipulating, making, sometimes unwelcome, decisions for him, taking care of his affairs for so long, he had become reliant on them. They figured the part of his ‘lost’ childhood that he missed out on was learning to be an adult, to grow up to deal with the world. His mind was fully aware of what was going on at some levels, ‘very switched on, clued up’, but didn’t function on a comfortable adult personal relationship basic everyday face to face level. It was hard to blame him as he had been left exposed, paranoid, distrusting and vulnerable by the media lies and accusations; it was not his fault. They couldn’t be mad at him for long, say ten minutes, because later he would say something in his sweet gentle way, with his soft-spoken good spirit and energy. The best part that came from all the craziness and hysteria, they said, was when he entered a room the energy changed due to this bright light/inner being inside him, the top people all deferential to him, and agreed he was the most sensitive, gentle and kind, loving and giving person, who saved lives. They got goose bumps when he danced or posed for photographs or heard him working out a tune and singing through the wall of a nearby studio. But they were puzzled why he didn’t grasp that if they weren’t paid for months that would ‘mess them up so they couldn’t take care of their families’. However he would grab $1000 from a stack of hundred dollar bills on a table to give them to buy a i’phone for Bill’s daughter, or Christmas decorations! Michael Jackson was neither saint nor sinner, a complicated human being, a deeply religious man, who struggled with personal pain few can really understand, in extraordinary circumstances. Bill and Javon talked about the ‘ugliness of his world’. ‘Once you were around him on a personal level, you realised that all those rumours and allegations just weren’t possible. Your perspective changed completely once you knew him up close’, they said. They talked of their shock and grief when he died, their anger at his memorial service with all those celebrities suddenly there on show, when they were not there for him when he needed them. One happy point is when ‘Friend’ made it all the way from Europe in a day to say goodbye at his memorial service. Javon gave her his ticket. Bill concluded that Michael really wanted to be free, not to do those ‘This Is It’ concerts. ‘Now he is free, and will not have to have necessary protection for the rest of his life.’ .

the ending was beautiful. bill and Javon showed true loyalty to michael in spite of michael maybe not always returning the favor. i wish he was strong enough to stand up for himself back then. either way, it’s nice to hear he was a great dad, that he was mostly the person we thought he was. great and easy read

I couldn't put this book down. It was so well written. So many things us,as the public did not know about Michael and what went on in his life. Some people feel celebrities have all the money and live lavish lives.Others think that being a celebrity, not being able to live a normal life is part of what you give up being famous. I didn't feel that way after reading this book. Michael may have trusted to many people but I can understand because he was faced with being famous at an early age. I feel sorry he couldn't have the childhood he so desperately wanted.

Wow an amazing book. I was not a big fan of Micheal Jackson at the time. I loved his music but not in a crazy way like a lot of people were. And my heart broke so many times when I saw so many people just after his money. He just wanted to be normal. And it settled in my mind he never ever did anything to hurt a child. And I will tell others also. Thank you for writing this book. I have a-whole different outlook now. And I do hope he is now resting in the peace he so wanted on this earth.

I couldn't put this book down from start to finish.

This book is to be cherished. This is the kind of book once you read it, you will go back and read it again and again.By sharing their experience and the way they perceived every moment they spent in protecting and serving Michael gives you the feeling of being part of those days of Michael's life. You can feel the love,loyalty, respect and honesty from the bodyguards along with their dedication to protect their "boss". I enjoyed the style that makes you laugh at some parts but cry at others. Reading this book and seeing Michael through the eyes of these guards just made me love Michael even more if that is possible. It gave a little window into his private life, how he was with his children, his relationship with his fans and the people around him, how much he cared and wanted to help people and also how isolated and trapped he was. I am grateful for this book, it is an authentic, honest and straight forward description of what these body guards lived and understood of that time they spent around him. I can recommend it for all who keep Michael in their heart. I read all the books that was worthy of reading about him and this book made the list.

A wonderful book about a sensitive man and incredible artist, who was often misunderstood and broken by lies, press and false allegations. These two guys draw a very different picture of MJ than the published one. Highly recommended!

Apesar de ser escrito em inglês e de eu ainda estar aprendendo o idioma, fiquei curiosa após ver a Paula, do Falando de Maico, falar muito bem sobre o livro. Mesmo em inglês, consegui entender bem. Gostei bastante do livro e recomendo a todos os fãs do Michael Jackson. Os autores foram respeitosos com o legado dele e dá para perceber o quanto gostavam dele. Espero não me decepcionar, como aconteceu com outro autor que, depois de anos, o traiu por dinheiro. Durante a leitura me emocionei, chorei, senti raiva e quis estar lá para abraçá-lo e protegê-lo.

Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days by Bill Whitfield & Javon Beard This was the first book I picked up after watching Michael, and I went in hoping to feel closer to a version of him I hadn't seen before. What drew me in was the sense that this account felt genuine — not another retelling of the icon, but a window into the man behind him. That's exactly what I found. Whitfield and Beard write about Michael at home, as a father, in the ordinary hours that never made headlines — and it's in those small, quiet moments that he becomes most human. Watching him fumble through the mundane, worry over his kids, laugh, second-guess himself — it strips away the "superstar phenomenon" and leaves someone recognisably like the rest of us. What struck me just as much was who was telling the story. These were two men who spent years standing closest to him, in a position where it would have been easy to cash in on that access. Instead, what comes through on every page is that their loyalty was never about themselves — it was about protecting him, guiding him, and keeping his best interests at heart, even in his most vulnerable moments. If you want to understand Michael Jackson the person rather than Michael Jackson the myth, this is where to start.