In Contempt

This book was better than I expected, not because of the insight into the trial but because of the insight into race relations from a black professional. I was extremely impressed with Mr. Darden's ability to explain the emotions and thoughts that blacks have about whites. From the beginning , Mr. Darden expresses his beliefs that blacks think differently than whites, but are fair, honest, and hard-working, despite the fact that many whites think otherwise. Mr. Darden's early optimism that the jury would deliver a verdict based on the evidence led me to think that he really believed it. I believed a mostly black jury would acquitt Orenthal James Simpson but I was hopeful they would not. The verdict left me wondering if blacks can move past their own racial biases. It appears that they percieve injustices to individual blacks as an injustice to their race. Though I have not read "The Darden Dilemma," I believe it presents just that ---- that even many prominent black people feel that they are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.
I really enjoyed Mr. Darden's stories of growing up, getting an education, enjoying his family (especially his grandmother) and the other personal experiences he had. I am so sorry that his closest friend, his brother, Michael, is no longer with him.
Mr. Darden, excellent book. It is unfortunate that many blacks are not as open-minded as you. It is also unfortunate that many whites do not respect any race other than their own and are happy to continue to victimize minorities. There is so much ignorance in this country. Thank you for educating me. I am a better person because you shared your life experiences.

Chris Darden's book "In Contempt" impresses me as being an honest attempt to communicate one man's perspective of the Simpson trial. The book reads like an extension of the real man and I could feel his frustration and disappointment as well as his integrity and ideals on every page of the book. This was not meant to be some dry treatise on the fine points of law and indeed it isn't and I for one am glad of it. Darden speaks as an individual, from his viewpoint and he does it in his own unique style. Isn't that what good historical memoirs are about? The legal system and the trial come alive through his eyes and that's what makes this a good book. He gives us one man's honest recollections and opinions, warts and all. He doesn't smooth it over or cover it or himself up. Amidst all the phoniness and empty flash of the 1990's I find that refreshing and more than that, courageous. This review , by the way, was one woman's opinion.

CHRIS DARDEN TRIES TO EXPLAIN THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THE ACQUITTAL OF O.J. SIMPSON. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TO BLAME- JUDGE ITO, THE JURY, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, ETC- DARDEN IS RELUCTANT TO ADMIT ANY SHORTCOMINGS ON THE PART OF THE PROSECUTION. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS WHEN HE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS MISTAKE IN HAVING SIMPSON TRY ON THE GLOVE.
ASIDE FROM THIS, THE BOOK IS WRITTEN WITH GREAT SINCERITY AND HONESTY AND IT DOES A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING TO THE READER SOME OF THE HAPPENINGS THAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT FEW WOULD KNOW ABOUT. DARDEN PROBABLY COULD HAVE LEFT OUT MUCH OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK WHERE HE DETAILS HIS LIFE STORY. THE BOOK SHOULD HAVE CONCENTRATED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE TRIAL ITSELF

There are a number of reviews here that talk about this books outline and no shortage of comments on the main subjects guilt or innocence. I, therefore, will just tell you my impressions of the book. All I wanted was details on the trial; I really did not care about his upbringing, college days, or pre trial work experience. As far as the trail info went, it was worth wading through the aforementioned items. The book just had a ton of good old fashion, gossip style details and facts that kept me interested until the end. The writing style was good and fast paced. The author also did a very good job of explaining his feelings throughout the book. To lose on such an important manner and in such a public way can be sole destroying and the author does a very credible job of describing it. Overall the book is interesting and well worth the time to read it.

Chris Darden is a very good story-teller. The trial in question didn't even show up for several chapters, but who cares? The story of an "everyday joe", Darden's life is interesting, enlightening, heartwarming and well-written. As we got into the trial, it subtly turned into an apologia from a man on the defensive, thrust into the cruel glare of public and media hindsight. As expected, his spin on the unfolding events of the trial differ from others'. Everyone blamed everyone else and Darden was no different. But after getting to know him throughout the book, it's easy to want to believe him as he unburdens himself. Either way, it's a good read.

In contempt by Christopher Darden is an essential read for anyone interested in "The Trial of The Century." While the author spends the first 100 or so pages on his upbringing, it is an engaging and enlightening look into how and why this man has the personal convictions he has. I have read Marcia Clarks "Without a Doubt" and Robert Shapiros "Searching for Justice" All are amazing looks into the ENTIRE case, oddly enough Shapiro fills in the juicy details left out in this and MC's book.

He did a great prosecution, right up till they lost! They never showed how O.J. Bled enough to leave DNA and bread profusely, but 20 minutes later he had 15 plus witnesses see no cuts on his hands while signing autographs for the next 5 to 6 hours after. A sloppy detail that never got addressed. Nicole feared for her life for years but went on vacations 3 times that year, and 2 weeks before she was murdered!. The gloves didn't fit, and Furhman recanted testimony, The jury had no choice but to delete all the DNA testimony because if OJ isn't bleeding at the airport and plane, how could he leave blood at Nicole's house? They made the time line that it only takes 30 minutes to do 2 gruesome killings, and clean up and change. I cant even get to the 7/11 to get milk in that time. OJ may have went there, but he had no time to do all that. Also, how can the limo driver be waiting for Simpson outside on the street, "smoking his cigarette and not see Bronco headlights or Engine driving up to the house, Court Transcripts reveal the limo driver didn't see the Bronco when he arrived, he could never tell you for sure it wasn't there. On-line transcripts will enlighten hard core anylists, that Simpson was, either innocent, had helped with the murders, or by chance went to go see Nicole and found the bloody seen and was either protecting somebody he thought did the murders, or is afraid of the people who committed the murders! Mr . Darren's father was the only person in this book when he said , this case will bite you in the ass!

I have just finished this book and am totally impressed. Finally there is some bold-faced truth told about the Simpson case - something we all need after the ridiculous media circus of the first trial. Mr Darden sets the record straight about so many things that were warped by the media and the defense. I was impressed, too, that the book was so personal. Reading about his childhood and early adulthood, I could understand his approach to the trial. He has no apologies to make

I must confess, I was an OJ Simpson trial groupie. I often wondered if the facts of this case, without names, race or economic and professional status revealed, there would have been an appropriate verdict.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was not going to be completely devoted to rehashing an obvious miscarriage of justice. I appreciated the story of Darden, himself. As a white woman, I could not possibly begin to understand the culture from which Darden came from, nor appreciate the harrassment he would endure by prosecuting a fellow black man. And, that is only what Darden and Simpson have in common, the color of their skin. I believe Simpson was aquitted due more to the fact that he is a sports celebrity rather than his race.
I am haunted by the fact that a young woman predicted her death and that the killer would get away with it. I used to drive to work past Nicole Brown's graveyard - a daily reminder that women every day are beaten and killed by their "loved" ones.

I could not put this book down. Darden has written a book that clearly shows Simpson's guilt. He goes into great detail about the crime scene, and how there was no way that a racist, extremely evil detective could have planted evidence. This book stirred up several emotions as Darden takes you into the courtroom and speaks of things that only the D.A., defense, and Judge "Ego" would know about. Johnny Cochran fueled the fire against the prosecutor, making him appear as though he were an Uncle Tom, and turning his back on his race. Cochran and the defense turned this case into a joke, making it more about race and trying to use that as a distraction instead of what it was really about, the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. You find out just how brutal these murders really were, as committed by O.J. himself. Darden was a prosecutor, man who was very proud of being an African American. He had to deal with everything from death threats, to the garbage that the defense was pulling.

The evidence, as Darden points out was overwhelming. If you followed this case while it was happening, you already know about the mountain of evidence stacked against Simpson.

Darden talks about where his mistakes were made. He, along with many others, felt that the prosecution took a hit with the so called "glove" incident. But he describes how Simpson was reluctant to put the glove on, and why it appeared not to fit properly.

The prosecutor speaks about his childhood growing up in the Bay area. He talks about the people who helped him along to become the lawyer that he always wanted to be. He also touches on his sick brother Michael, whom he looked up to as a kid.

This book is not only about the Simpson trial. It is about a man who loves his community, loves his family, and believes in the search for justice. I highly recommend it.

In this well written book, Darden gives readers a behind the scene look at what happened at the trial. He tells readers how racism was injected into the trial by the defense team, gives his account of the infamous glove demonstration, and reveals the stress he was under being the focus of the Dream Team's wrath. He does not hold back frank opinions about Judge Ito, the Dream Team, fellow prosecutors, Furhman etc. The book is a very interesting read that provides important context to the most famous trial of the 20th century.

Several reviewers have pointed out the chief positive feature of this book: it may make you disrespect Mr. Darden less.
I had hoped to get more insight into the famous glove incident. The account herein may be exactly what Darden's reasoning was. If so, more's the pity! Darden did not want to let the Dream Team run a scam so he ran it for them? Good thinking!
Dershowitz's account of the glove incident, baffling though I find that account, is superior: F. Lee Bailey impugned Darden's manhood and Darden, like a rube, fell for it.
Of course, the glove demonstration did not much impress anyone (including the jurors, I suspect) beyond showing that the Amateur Hour had returned to television.
Darden's rank speculations about Simpson's motives are no compelling in this book than they were in the trial.
In sum, read this book if you would understand just how incredible the prosecutors were.

In this well written book, Darden gives readers a behind the scene look at what happened at the trial. He tells readers how racism was injected into the trial by the defense team, gives his account of the infamous glove demonstration, and reveals the stress he was under being the focus of the Dream Team's wrath. He does not hold back frank opinions about Judge Ito, the Dream Team, fellow prosecutors, Furhman etc. The book is a very interesting read that provides important context to the most famous trial of the 20th century.

Several reviewers have pointed out the chief positive feature of this book: it may make you disrespect Mr. Darden less.
I had hoped to get more insight into the famous glove incident. The account herein may be exactly what Darden's reasoning was. If so, more's the pity! Darden did not want to let the Dream Team run a scam so he ran it for them? Good thinking!
Dershowitz's account of the glove incident, baffling though I find that account, is superior: F. Lee Bailey impugned Darden's manhood and Darden, like a rube, fell for it.
Of course, the glove demonstration did not much impress anyone (including the jurors, I suspect) beyond showing that the Amateur Hour had returned to television.
Darden's rank speculations about Simpson's motives are no compelling in this book than they were in the trial.
In sum, read this book if you would understand just how incredible the prosecutors were.

The beginning of this book packs a punch that will take your breath away as Darden, one of O.J.'s prosecutors, personally addresses the man he believes to be a savage murderer, and he holds back nothing. Speaking in a tone that tells O.J. he knows just what happened, how he watched Nicole that night from outside the window as she lit the candles around the tub, a ritual the two of them enjoyed together, but not anymore. He bludgeons O.J. with his words as he describes the rage he must have felt to know she had other lovers. Then he goes on to describe the frenzied murder that left Nicole's neck severed to the spinal cord and how an innocent Goldman showed up at the most inopportune time. It left me chilled.
This book is filled with facts. Indisputable facts that will leave you wondering how a murderer walked free. Darden goes into the race card played by Johnnie Cochran and how it threw all chances for justice away, leaving a jury that made a disastrous decision in a matter of minutes. This is a most enlightening book that paints a clear picture of the hours of testimony. The day the verdict was announced in court was the last day Darden would stand before a jury. He has now taken a teaching position where he can share his brilliance with those not yet tainted by the system. Kelsana 1/29/02

Truth is stranger than fiction! This would be a great fictitious story, only one small problem, it's real. lf you came from another planet or were under a rock for the past l4 years, you would think that Darden has an incredible imagination. But he lived it. 0f course this was his side of the story, l'm sure the dream team's version is much different. But hats off to Christopher Darden. And BABAB0OEY to y'all!

A very well written book about Christopher Darden's childhood, working as an adult in L.A. and "trying" to prosecute O.J. ! I did not want to read anything about O.J. - but glad I went ahead and read this book. I would highly recommend it. Loved every aspect of the book.

First off, Jess Walters is a wonderful writer. Very powerful writing.

After reading the book, I have the upmost respect for Darden and his fight for justice. Although he could not achieve justice for Nicole Brown, I admire him for his heart.

This is an easy book to read. Getting an insider look through the eyes of Darden is well worth your time. It inspires emotion and inspiration.

I have nothing but contempt for Chris Darden and Marcia Clark's incredibly inept performance in the courtroom that allowed OJ Simpson to get away with murder.

Who will ever forget Chris Darden allowing OJ Simpson to try the glove on without first ensuring that it was going to fit properly. A first year law student knows that you NEVER ask a question without first knowing what the answer is going to be. The penultimate act of stupidity and lack of preparation / intelligence that marked the prosecutor's case in that "trial of the century".

For those of you who have commented about Darden's capabilities in the courtroom, try reading Vincent Bugliosi's book "Outrage", which addresses the primary reasons why the LA DA's office lost this trial and then you might reconsider your opinion about this thoroughly useless lawyer.