The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson

After over two decades, I still recall the shock of hearing the Simpson jury had returned a verdict almost immediately after a year long trial.

Crossing a hotel lobby, I, along with everyone else, stood rooted to the spot, eyes on the television. Almost before the foreman read the verdict, I knew that it could only mean one thing. No jury seriously studying evidence that would send someone to prison for life, could possibly return a studied verdict in less than a day. Even so, it was shocking to see the reactions of those in that hotel lobby. Most were dumbstruck - some were giving high fives.

Jeffrey Toobin wrote the book, not only on where the criminal trial went off the rails, but why. The prosecution was so confidant in the overwhelming physical evidence proving Mr. Simpson's guilt, they refused to consider any strategy, nor to construct a cohesive narrative for presenting that evidence.

The jury simply didn't care about the evidence. O.J. was a black American hero and Nicole was the white bimbo who stole him away and got exactly what she deserved. Period. An event perpetrated within a forty minute window should not take thousands of hours to recreate.

This book is no less absorbing than it was more than 20 years' ago. It is as much a story about how race as a tool, in the right circumstances, can cause people to make terrible decisions as it is about a trial. That O.J. will probably spend the remainder of his life in a Nevada jail for something he might have walked away from in his former life is delayed justice but it's doubtful anyone is rushing to defend him this time as he probably can't pay.

Really good book. I bought this book after the FX series started. Love to compare the series to what's in the book. Interesting to hear about what happened behind the scenes during this period in time. Highly recommend, especially if you're into true crime reading.

Jeffrey Toobin is an excellent author. I try and read everything he writes because it is interesting and informative. Nobody is as tired of he O.J. story than me, but Toobin (a former attorney), explains what happened in this bizarre drama, much of which either did not come out, or which was not explained. Toobin has a way of putting things in perspectives that is understandable to those of us without legal background. That is not to say that it makes anything about this case less disturbing, but It does provide insight.

Jeffrey Toobin is an excellent author. I try and read everything he writes because it is interesting and informative. Nobody is as tired of he O.J. story than me, but Toobin (a former attorney), explains what happened in this bizarre drama, much of which either did not come out, or which was not explained. Toobin has a way of putting things in perspectives that is understandable to those of us without legal background. That is not to say that it makes anything about this case less disturbing, but It does provide insight.

Suppose you have given only superficial attention to the Simpson murder case, but now you want to get your feet on the ground. You want a firm understanding, and you want to feel satisfied. But also suppose that you do not want to read more than one book. Searching for such books, you discover more than a dozen that might be suitable. So you ask, "Which one should I read?"

Sorry, I do not have an answer. The question is misleading. It assumes there IS one such book. Having read eight Simpson-trial books and examined without fully reading a few others, I believe you need at least two.

Jeffrey Toobin's THE RUN OF HIS LIFE presents an easy-to-read, professionally written, narrative chronicle. After a Prologue he gets right into the scene. Brentwood, Nicole Brown, and O. J. Simpson. He walks you through the discovery of the bodies, the investigation, trial preliminaries, the trial, and the immediate aftermath. He is not too comprehensive--the trial filled about 48,000 pages of transcript--but there are plenty enough names, details, and events for any beginner. Johnny Cochran for the defense. Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden for the people. Remember Judge Ito? Remember the limousine driver, Allan Park? You will not forget them after reading this book, at least not for a while.

What about the issues? Planting of evidence was a big one, and Toobin covers it well. But of course the biggest one was racism. That's the one that stole the show. Or maybe I should say it MADE the show. Literally racism stole the court of its fundamental purposes: The determination of truth and the administration of justice.

But despite Toobin's details, significant matters are unresolved. Would a more knowledgeable, more analytically objective jury have reached a different verdict? Would a competent judge make a difference? Could more learned DNA experts refute the accusations that blood was planted? Surely there were many photos of OJ wearing shoes. Did any show him wearing the ones that left the bloody footprints? What if OJ took the stand?

Will a reading of THE RUN OF HIS LIFE leave you satisfied? It left me VERY unsatisfied. Or maybe a better word would be "depressed." That's why this book should be considered only Part I of your reading. Fulfillment lies with Part II, TRIUMPH OF JUSTICE by Daniel Petrocelli. It resolves those unresolved questions.

Unbelievable degree of detail concerning the events involved in the crime itself and the subsequent investigations and legal proceedings.
All this coverage is combined with major insights regarding the personalities and character of all the major players.

An excellent read, impeccably researched and crammed with insider knowledge. A real insight into the case against Simpson, and why he walked....despite the weight of evidence. Easy to read style without ever veering into melodrama or hyperbole. Strongly recommended

After watching the television series I wanted to read the book and was quite please with it. There was more detail that was not in the show and so much more info on the trial, and so much more on OJ himself.