Her unforgettable image is seared into the minds of fans everywhere, and her private life continues to inspire headlines and controversy, but Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous—and misunderstood—women in the world who remains a mystery to most people. On Marilyn cuts through the rumors and myths to present the real person behind the queen of movies and pop culture.

From her chaotic childhood in Depression-era Los Angeles to her rise in the world of Hollywood and finally her untimely death—On Marilyn explores the legendary star’s family history, connection to the movies from childhood, her personal life as an adult, and her interest in continually educating herself.

On Marilyn is compulsively readable—instead of chronological dates and dry accounts of events, there are chapters about specific aspects of her life and career. What did Marilyn like to eat? What types of books did she read? Was she really plus size? Did she nearly bring down a political empire? And how did she actually die? This book explores everything—and vividly brings to light the truth about the world’s greatest movie star.