Madonna: A Rebel Life

This book is incredible. It’s not only a fascinating , in depth exploration of one of the greatest artists in history but also of the broader global culture, politics and the arts . It’s amazing how much of the late 20th century’ culture Madonna either created or was a lightening for . Bravo

To be honest, I had zip interest in reading about Madonna, but I was enthralled by Mary Gabriel's previous book, "Ninth Street Women," so I was curious to check this out. The megastar's ascent is exhaustively--but not exhaustingly--documented from her childhood in Michigan through the macho morass of the music business. Her resilience, talent, courage, and occasional hubris are fully explored, and the book will send you to her videos and movies to find out more. She's one for the ages, and Gabriel nails her story.

IGNORE the offense New York Times review of Madonna: A Rebel Life by Alexandra Jacobs. Through her review of Gabriel's biography, Madonna is again attacked by the Times. Their last salvo was "Madonna at 60." Would the Times print "Billy Joel at 75," "Bruce Springsteen at 75," or "Mick Jagger at 81?" Of course not. Gabriel is a Pulitzer Prize finalist who admits she was no Madonna fan when she chose to author this tome but was drawn to the life and times of this woman, this powerful woman. Yes, as usual, no one from Madonna's inner circle participated. M (as nicknamed by friends) holds a tight leash and demands loyalty by everyone in her stratosphere. So how can this biography be worthwhile? Yes, we go through the well trotted stories of M's youth, her Mother's death, her move from Michigan to New York and her days of living in roach infested apartments in the City she now calls home. We all know the details up to the triumphant Blonde Ambition tour. Then Madonna: A Rebel Life makes a fascinating turn. The author begins to detail the artist's life further past what we know starting with the number one sought after American rare book, SEX. Gabriel brings to life and reminds the reader of the amazing cultural impact that Madonna held in the palm of her hand. Her shuttered Pepsi commercial, the scandal of Mary Lambert's Like a Prayer video (stigmata!), the nude photos in Penthouse and Playboy, ("I'm Not Ashamed"), the "Poison Penn's," "Shanghai Surprise, (which watched from a 2025 lens is an interesting and well-made film), MTV's banned Justify My Love and so on. Gabriel takes the reader through every step of Madonna's career, details her decision-making process then analyzes the critical impact and attacks on her work. Then she moves on to M's next artistic statement be it recording, film, or video-- and repeats the formula of M's next career move, her motives, then the now expected critical attacks. As earlier stated, beginning with the SEX book, Madonna's lesser known motives and output is assessed, discussed and detailed from why she made this statement then the critical response which was 99% scathing. Madonna was attacked at every turn yet she always triumphs in the end. She achieved her massive success and cultural impact by "working harder and smarter than everyone else,"-- Justin Timberlake. For example there would be no Beyonce' Renaissance without Ray Of Light. Bey acknowledged this fact by commissioning "The Queens Mix" of Break My Soul mixing her first single with Madonna's Vogue. Check it out. It's wonderful. This book should be titled Madonna: A Rebel Life EXPLAINED because put together in one source is a 40 year career made clear in statements of continuous ardent feminism, unapologetic political statements, philanthropical acts that never made headlines, the torture, ravages and personal toll of AIDS on her soul, the controversy of adopting her son David Banda from Malawi at which point she was accused of fostering a PR stunt, the disaster that was Hard Candy, the amazing tours explained and messages we missed on how she brought sometimes mediocre material to life in an amazing live display ("Spanish Lesson" Madonna? You'll never be forgiven for performing that live), finally her exit from Warner Records to the Live Nation 360 deal which was at the time groundbreaking. Album track meanings are sometimes explained, Erotica is given it's due an amazing record lost in the SEX and Body of Evidence trio. There's so much of Madonna's content explained, detailed, and America's critical response noted it's impossible the write a truncated review of Gabriel's work. When I'm asked why I see every Madonna show three times my response is "when Madonna throws a party, you go." Her live shows are AMAZING and recently when everyone on social media was calling her a "hag" and "has been" M shut them up with the stunning Celebration Tour. A personal criticism is when Madonna did sign her Live Nation 360 deal it was seen by many as pumping out an inferior albums just to tour on them and break financial records to get her in the history books. Not included is William Orbit's criticism of MDNA saying Madonna was spread too thin by other projects other than that music, that he didn't have enough time to complete his production, that she worked by files sent back and forth, not having Madonna in the room as was done with Ray Of Light and even suggested a repurposed later release of properly mixed tracks like she was forced to do with American Life. There is so much to cover and Gabiel does her best to put Madonna's career together and make sense of it all. I am a Madonna fan and never put together the messages behind her film "secretprojectreveloution." I saw it once, thought it was whatever, and never looked at it again. In Rebel it's explained and shown how it fits into a lifetime of Madonna's art and political statements. A fascinating note. I could not put down this book as it soldiered to the end. Madonna's more recent era's explained, explained and more explained. The Rebel Heart tour and its depiction of The Last Supper during Devil Pray is lauded. If you missed that tour you missed Madonna at her best. Gabriel does miss the mark on Madame X. I can not listen to this album in one sitting. Critics described it was weird and a Madonna experiment but fell short in truly criticizing the music. I have no qualms in saying it's a terrible record, a statement that is purposeless, and a waste of her talent. To be honest Madonna, your fans want more dance and Confessions On A Dance Floor type work. It's M's last stunning musical statement. Your fans, are well-read and up on the mess the world is. Please just make great dance music we can use to Get Into The Groove and dance our troubles away. Make your statements but please make more songs like Popular. (In addition, the remix of Erotic included on the 50 hits record was a bizarre choice). Madonna's career is sandwiched between Ronald Regan and Donald Trump. This must make her insane that things in her mind have gone downhill after all her tireless efforts to instruct and inform the world (Google "Madonna" "The Vice Interview" for a stunning look at Madonna's view of the world). In the end, I appreciated Gabriel's book, without Madonna's closest sources, as MADONNA EXPLAINED. It's a vast knowledgeable insight into what she's done, tried to do, succeeded at and failed in messaging. Until M comes out with her own autobiography (which I pray she does before a film of her life) Rebel is a fine step in that direction. I have no doubt that Madonna's team is reading this review. They are relentless in their work for "The Queen" and miss nothing. Rosie O'Donnell threw at party at New World Stages in New York City displaying her art. Guests included Cyndi Lauper and Margaret Cho. I was delighted to be among them. No one other than myself was tipped off that Madonna was arriving after the party partly to see Rosie but also to attend the Celia Cruz musical at the venue. Three black SUV's pulled up, Madonna along with Carlos got out and I stood quietly by the elevators where I knew she would pass. You do not get into Madonna's face. As Madonna walked in casually I was alone in the lobby save the front desk attendant. As she passed I said "I love you Madonna" and she responded "that was nice." I kicked myself for saying such a ridiculous thing as a grown man. However, after reading Madonna: A Rebel Life and the sheer crazy and brutal criticism this woman has endured over 40 years I now know it was the perfect thing to say. Madonna deserves love and bravos from those who truly understand her. Gabriel's book sheds light on a lifetime of work put together purposely and sometimes by lucky accident that informs readers of her complete life of artistry.

I have been a fan since 1982 when I bought her first single Everybody! This book goes into so much detail and it’s backed up with facts. Amazing story of how Madonna because the most influential female in music and the best selling female musician of all time. Phenomenal read.

I originally bought the audiobook and then bought the book digitally on the Books app on my iPhone. I loved both so much that I wanted to buy the physical book. This book is amazing, the colored pictures and the index in the back. Just wow! Such a great book. Buy this book.

Book is fantastic! Maybe the best bio ever done about Madonna.

What a fawning book. It is written like a incredibly well researched well detailed book with a point of view that Madonna almost never does anything wrong. Always the victim. While I enjoyed learning some interesting details and this interesting woman, I began to moan as one person after another mistreats her. It would be fun to read a balanced look into her incredible life.

Took me a little longer to read this because it is so detailed but definitely worth it!

Bello davvero, scritto bene, senza essere troppo di parte

I bought this book for myself, but it would make a spectacular gift for anyone who loves Madge.

Interesantísimo sobre todo para amantes de esta gran artista. Recomiendo leer despacio para poder ir meditando y no perderse ni un detalle.

Mary Gabriel legt mit beinahe 1200 Seiten eine umfassende und detaillierte Madonna-Biografie vor, die nicht nur spannend ist, sondern neben den bekannten Erfolgen der Queen of Pop immer mit ihm Blick behält, wie sie seit Beginn ihrer Karriere misogynen Anfeindungen ausgesetzt blieb. Für mich persönlich war dieses Buch zugleich eine Zeitreise in meine eigene Jugend und erklärte mir beispielsweise ausführlich, weshalb Madonna zur Ikone der LGBTQ-Bewegung wurde. Meiner Meinung nach absolut lesenswert. Die Biografie bietet in all ihrer Detail-Liebe natürlich vielfach die Möglichkeit, sie multimedial um Musik, Videos, Filme, Interviews zu erweitern, was sie zu einem noch größeren Genuss macht.