If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by The Goldman Family Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer
Book Review: If I did it
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a story of an egocentric phycopath who has no idea, and does not care what other people think or feel. He takes no responsiblity for anything and blames his victims for his actions, meaning they made him do it.Book Review: Insightful
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/07)
When I first heard about O.J. Simpson's planned book, I was utterly confused. Why would anybody want to confess to a crime that he was acquitted of? Why would O.J. go to all that trouble to earn money, since he so diligently avoided paying the judgments levied against him in the civil court? What in the world could possibly be his motive?
Then I heard about the Goldmans fighting to take control of the rights to the book. a book that by now was being described as a hypothetical "how I could have committed those murders" and not a confession... a book that was dropped by HarperCollins, the publishers who originally announced its publication... a book that created a humongous controversy... Should it be published? If so, why? What purpose would it serve?
The original manuscript, ghostwritten by Pablo F. Fenjves, is preceded by two extraordinary sections. In the first one, the Goldman family talks about their loss and about their fight for justice. Having read that, I can see why they wanted the book published, and I find no fault with that. The next section was written by Mr. Fenjves, who was hired to ghostwrite O.J.'s story. It is a most intriguing account of collaboration between himself and O.J. as well as an insight into O.J.'s personality. To me, it would be worth reading this book just for the first two sections alone.
Then there is the main attraction, the "is it a confession or is it just fiction?," the original manuscript approved by O.J. Simpson. I am not an attorney, so I will not pass my judgment on whether O.J. is guilty of this crime or not. But I do not have to be a shrink to read between the lines of his story. He has never done anything wrong. He has never - not once! - hit Nicole. He tried everything and then some, but Nicole was way out of control and abusive. Hmmmm, makes one wonder... Granted, I was not there, but this account reads like smoke and mirrors - and carnival mirrors at that. The crowning glory of this account is probably "The Night in Question," a chapter on how O.J. could have "perhaps maybe possibly theoretically and if so, why" done it. Before you read this chapter, you might want to re-read Mr. Fenjves' Prologue; just to refresh your memory. Describing this chapter as chilling is truly putting it mildly. Equally as powerful is chapter 7, "The Interrogation," containing actual transcript of a 32-minute initial interview conducted by two police officers. One has to ask oneself exactly what was O.J. trying to achieve by including it in the book. O.J.'s convenient lapses of memory and the ambiguous answers did not exactly endear him to me.
The final two sections, an Afterword by Dominick Dunne and Resources, round up this book nicely. Dominick Dunne, an investigative journalist and writer, whose daughter was murdered in 1982, fully endorses the Goldmans' actions and explains his reasons why. The Resources list nine organizations that provide support for traumatized and victimized persons, with concise descriptions of those organizations and contact information for all of them.
Having read the book, I am still confused as to why O.J. would have wanted this published. I certainly do not think it portrays him in a positive light. O.J., clearly very much in love with himself, would probably disagree with me though...
Overall I found "If I Did It" insightful, if immensely sad. I hope it provides some measure of comfort and hopefully a closure to the Goldmans, who will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice. As for myself, I am happy that I am not a celebrity, nor married to one.
Book Review: WHAT A FRAUD!
Summary: 1 Stars
O.J. wants everyone to believe he is the victim. I bought this book to put some money in the hands of the Goldman's. O.J. will die believing that he is the victim and I feel that purchasing the bok and burning it is the only way any justice may be served in this case.Book Review: Left Wondering.....
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading the book, I am left wondering where the rest of the story is. I wish there was Nicole's side of the relationship to read about and then one could make a better judgement as to guilt or innocence, although I still believe that OJ was involved in the murders. This is definitely a one-sided story but it has its conflicted statements made by OJ. He wants us to think he was the victim instead of Nicole and Ron. Overall, an okay read, but I am left wondering.....Book Review: The things the public never new
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is an easy read. I was astounded at how much information was never made public. If you ever thought OJ was innocent you will change your mind by the end of this book! The part of the book that he wrote with a ghost writer and approved himself is astonishing in itself. But then you listen to how he talks and you realize what an uneducated nut case he really is. If nothing else read it to find out how he's avoided paying all of the millions he owes to the Goldman family! In this book he shows just how smug and arrogant he really is. The Goldman's deserve your money if you buy this book and it will certainly be and eye opener for any reader.