The personal life of Michael Jackson may have grabbed the headlines in his later years, but his career is what left an indelible stamp on American culture.
In song, in dance, in video, Jackson changed some popular art forms for good.
It is this aspect of his life that is the focus of Steve Knopper's book MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson.
Knopper is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone; he digs into the forces and influences that produced Jackson's work.
Knopper racked up 400 interviews creating his book; he sits for one with The Exchange.