In this first-ever biography of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, Ian Halperin, author of the New York Times #1 Bestseller, Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson, takes you from the humble origins of this former French Canadian street performer, through his years of trial and struggle, to his brilliant success in bringing the extraordinary Cirque du Soleil to sold-out audiences worldwide.

Experience the relentless drive of this unique visionary, his passion for life, the Cirque, and women. Halperin takes you inside Laliberté’s world, with its never-ending cycle of hyper-intense work by day, followed by over-the-top partying by night. Sex, drugs, alcohol, partying—all fuel Liberté’s creative genius. Laliberté means “freedom” in French, but Laliberté gives freedom new meaning. Barriers to artistic creativity are ignored and limits don’t exist, whether its limits on his art or the norms of social conventions, like marriage.

Ian Halperin details hows this former accordion player, stilt-walker and fire-eater made it to Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest billionaires. In 2008, he was recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. LaLiberté is on the countdown to become the world's seventh space tourist on September 30, 2009. He will enjoy a 12-day visit to the International Space Station for his "poetic social mission" at a personal cost of $35 million during the same month he turns 50 years-old.