If I Did It

Confessions of the Killer

By: The Goldman Family, Pablo F. Fenjves, Dominick Dunne

Narrated by: Kim Goldman, Pablo Fenjves, G. Valmont Thomas, Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1994, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were brutally murdered at her home in Brentwood, California. O. J. Simpson was tried for the crime in a case that captured the attention of the American people, but he was ultimately found not guilty of criminal charges. The victims' families brought civil cases against Simpson, in which he was found liable for willfully and wrongfully causing the deaths of Ron and Nicole by committing battery with malice and oppression.

In 2006, HarperCollins announced the publication of a book in which O. J. Simpson told how he hypothetically would have committed the murders. In response to public outrage that Simpson stood to profit from these crimes, HarperCollins canceled the book. A Florida bankruptcy court awarded the rights to the Goldmans in August 2007 to partially satisfy the unpaid civil judgment, which has risen, with interest, to over $38 million.

The Goldman family views this book as Simpson's confession, and has worked hard to ensure that the public will read or listen to this book and learn the truth. This audiobook was produced from the original manuscript approved by O. J. Simpson, with additional insight from the Goldman Family, Pablo F. Fenjves, and Dominick Dunne.

©2007 Pablo F. Fenjves; 2007 Ron Goldman, LLC; 2007 Kim Goldman; 2007 Dominick Dunne (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

True OJ

First I applaude the Goldman family for making sure OJ didn't profit from this very slanted version of what happened in Brentwood California in 1994. He isn't someone prone to taking the blame for his own actions and tried to direct all the problems in their relationship to her door. It's funny how innocent he still wants everyone to think he is, even after admitting he killed them both. Its the classic, she sleeps around she's an unfit mother, he sleeps around and he is a handsome stud. He made fun of Nicole for needing to understand herself and he states rather proudly how all eyes are riveted on him as he enters a room. The guy's ego is almost unbelievable. I think this part of his personality makes all the pieces fall in place. Someone with an ego like his would find it hard to allow Nicole to walk away. Someone with his ego wouldn't want to loose the adulation of the public by going to jail so he puts a gun to his head and goes on a slow Bronco ride as people line up and cheer him on. Seeing signs urging him to run probably made him think, hey, I just might get away with this. And only someone with the EGO of OJ would think he could write a book and make everyone believe he was this great guy who did everything for his family and was somehow forced to kill his ex-wife and an innocent young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Outstanding narration! Guy sounded just like OJ.

Chilling

This book is a must listen for anyone who has interest in this tragic double murder. I've never doubted Simpson's clear guilt and this book only reinforced what I already knew. Simpson is a narcissistic sociopath who finally confesses to this brutal crime and calls it "hypothetical". The chapter covering that tragic night is absolutely chilling to listen to while the chapters before it and after it just reinforce that this man has a sociopathic psyche. That chapter practically puts you there at the time of the double murder and Simpson describes the entire event in a way only someone who was THERE could... such shocking detail, revealing things only the killer could know.

It is a sad and tragic event to relive but this is a necessary listen for those who have any interest in this crime or have any doubts about Simpson's guilt.

Can you say narcissistic?

The main thing this book does is show how incredibly narcissistic OJ is. Good on the Goldman family for using his own words to show his true colors.

If you're looking for a description of the murder, he kind of blacks out during that part. It's mainly about how he views his relationship with Nicole.

If I did it

I applaud the Goldman's for putting this book out there, I would never have bought it if O.J. was getting any of the proceeds. The book is only interesting because it is a confession of sorts, most of his drivel is typical O.J. taking no responsibility for anything. Interesting how he can't make Nicole or Ronald look bad no matter how hard he tries. Sad to realize that those two wonderful people are no longer here to grace our earth.

One For The Goldmans

What did you love best about If I Did It?

There's not a lot to love about a person getting away with murder. I never would have read this book if even one cent of the proceeds went to Simpson, but I applaud the Goldmans for their perseverence in going after the murderer in any way possible. They have been criticized for trying to capitalize on Ron's murder, but they make it clear that their intent is not monetary gain, but to expose Simpson for what he really is and what he did. God bless you, Goldman family. I'm behind you 100%.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect of this story is that Simpson is trying to manipulate the reader into seeing how superior, wonderful and grand he is. He only succeeds in revealing how sick he is. Those who can't see past his glory days on the gridiron need to read this book and get a good look into the depraved mind of the person you admire.

Which scene was your favorite?

Simpson turned against his ghost writer when he revealed too much and tried to blame him for making it up. You got the sense that Arrogant Simpson wanted brag that he got away with murder, but Celebrity Simpson worried about damage to his public image. Never at any time, though, did he express even a moment of remorse. He was good at blame, though. Always blaming everything on Nicole.

If you could give If I Did It a new subtitle, what would it be?

I'm O.J. Simpson. Enough said.

Any additional comments?

Publicly, he was bigger than life. Privately, he was a horrid little man.

He did it!

...he convinced me. It was all Nicole's fault. She badgered him into marrying her. She badgered him into divorcing her, then she badgered him into killing her. It's all so clear now. And Ron Goldman? He irritated The Juice with his karate moves. Had to kill him! None of this is a surprise - the narrative, the 'reasoning', the victimization of OJ by OJ: Simpson comes off as a pitiful, self-serving narcissist. Every time he says "to be honest..." you think, 'yyyeah. Here it comes...' and he launches into another intricate rationalization of why he's such a nice guy. Why he did his best! But it was everyone else's fault. SHe contradicts himself at almost every point. And some of his points are believable, even credible. But even if you granted him everything about Nicole - drugs, hysteria- it never adds up. Obviously not to murder, but...his own behavior doesn't make sense! He sounds like a child! - throwing up anything possible to justify what he didn't do but if he did he had reason to but he didn't so, uh, there. The narrator does a spooky imitation of Simpson. The writing is good and well-paced. The introduction by Kim Goldman feels unnecessarily long, however real and sincere. Almost as interesting as the text itself is the forward by the Pablo Fenjves - that memorable witness who heard the 'baleful moaning' of the Akita, and the ghostwriter of this book. He comes off as more than credible and fair. For me, this book put a sound 'period' on the end of the OJ chapter. Listening to the intricate elaborations of a bad liar took that "IF" right out of the title. He Did It.

The freak show continues. . .

In true form to one of the weirdest criminal trials in history, this book is equally as bizarre, unsettling and cryptic. The work is a seething nest of inconsistencies: Simpson's rage, during that infamous moment of passion is fueled by Nicole's flagrant disregard for their children's welfare, (engaging in sexual and illicit activity with the children under the same roof). Yet did he consider leaving her partially decapitated corpse on the front steps responsible? Every chapter, except one, attempts to explain, why O.J is a misunderstood, mercilessly vilified and profoundly innocent man. But the key chapter (and the one reason why anyone would ever read the book) is clearly confessional, even if written in a cliche, 'Film Noire' style, i.e. "my mind went completely blank and only when the fog lifted, did I realize that my hands were covered with blood. . . "

By far the most disturbing aspect of the book is its' outrageous inference that the murders are a mere footnote to a far greater 'crime'. To Simpson, that injustice lies in the fact that we have all been hoodwinked by the lies of the media and the prosecution and blinded to the real reason why he would ever dream of committing such a heinous act. The evidence presenting him as a paranoid psychopath trying to rekindle a dead relationship was maliciously false. In reality it was Nicole who was badgering him. He, on the other hand, was completely over her and trying to move on with his life. Ultimately he was the true victim, trying to escape her and her crazy, obsessive, drug fueled lifestyle (at times Simpson barely conceals his utter contempt for her). While there may well have been some truth to these assertions (we will never know), in the end it really doesn't matter nor does it make the killings any less horrific.

The book offers little if any contribution to literature but hopefully it will be the final nail in the coffin of a subject that should have been long buried.

O.J. SPEAKS!!

I was hesitant to get this book because I don't agree with the Goldman family profiting from it, however, I couldn't resist. The narrator was absolutely wonderful! He "became" O.J. both in sound and temperment. My feelings about the outcomes of both the criminal and civil trials weren't changed at all.
The book IS a bit one-sided, but that's because it is from O.J.'s perspective. There are other books that skew to Nicole's side...the truth lies somewhere between the two (we'll never truly know).

The introductory "thanks" were annoying!! Just start the story already!!

I would definitely recommend this book. No matter how you feel about the trials, the fact still remains--two people were shamelessly murdered--here's a look into the "innocent" or "guilty" O.J. Simpson's mind.

The system finally gets OJ!

but, you cannot blame the system. You can only blame him. He kept putting itself in the way of the system until it finally ran him down!

Idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Good listen though for a Sunday afternoon.

Crazy...

The basically confesses. I think he did it. But, having said that, I also tend to have a very different view of the entire thing. If this had been ten years ago I would have said most of it is bs. But, I believe a good portion of what he is saying having lived through something very similar. Don't get me wrong, the man's a killer. But, you have to take both sides into account in circumstances such as these if you SINCERELY seek the truth. Even when it means hearing things you wish you hadn't... I would lime to say thank you to the Goldman Family for releasing this book. My heart goes out to you. Father to father, son, and sibling. I hope you have managed to find some peace in the years since. Be it no replacement for a son taken. Keep fighting the good fight. People do think about, and support you and your efforts even now. And to the Browns, my condolences. I hope your pain has diminished over the years. Peace to all of you....

Bizarre!

Probably one of the most bizarre books I've ever read/listened to. The whole way up until the point where he discribes the murders, he paints the portrait of an innocent man. Making himself out to be a loving, caring, patient husband, and making Nicole out to be the erratic, violent one. He then describes how he carried out the murders, reminding the listener that this chapter is "hypothetical". Then he goes back to claiming he had no idea about the murders and would never have done such a thing. I don't think anyone will ever be able to understand how this man's mind works and why he chooses to act the way he does.
This is a thoroughly interesting book to listen to, I must admit that he even has you fooled at times, but then you remember all the evidence and that an innocent person would never write something like this!

Intriguing and baffling

This book is baffling in so many ways.

Either OJ Simpson:

1- is stupid
2- thinks we are stupid and gullable
3- is cocky and did this purely for the money.

I say this because the entire book is a recollection by OJ of his relationship between him and Nicole. Of course it has a slight lean in OJs favour, so that he looks like an all round nice guy, but you can tell by all the tiny details that he has written this from recollection of his own memories and well documented events.

And then you get to the 'murder chapter'. This is the only chapter where OJ talks about a hyperthetical situation (the murder of Nicole) and yet he tells the lead up to it and aftermath with such precision and with such detail that it makes you believe it is the truest account of what really happened that night, that we are likely to get. He does however, become very vague about the actual killing and describes it as he 'came out of a daze and didnt understand where he was'.

After this chapter it switches back to 'real life again'.

The interesring thing about this book is that it provided detail from a different perspective. Not that of the media or the prosecution, but of OJ.

The narration was fantastic and really made it feel like OJ was telling his story.

Mindblowing

This books is just shocking! I feel so sorry for Goldmans. And the killers story of the night is chilling, horrific.

as close to confession as it could get

I felt sick to my stomach when I was listening the first couple minutes of OJ. what an ego! I don't want to spoil it too much but it does not surprise me now in the first trial he was not allowed on witness stand, his lawyers knew the outcome would have been different if he had opened his mouth.

Go Juice.

I hadn’t realised Nicole Brown Simpson was so messed up.
RG seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Pity the killer was never caught/tried/convicted.
I’m further convinced of OJ’s innocence.

excellent and chilling, chapter 6 is particularly

amazing. excellent performance by the reader doing OJ. I was hooked and learned a lot

This was a difficult listen

It’s hard to fathom the size of the ego behind this book. The Goldman’s were right in having it published. OJ is a manipulative monster. But the worst people of all are those that got him off

Surreal

I find it almost unbelievable this book exists.

Imagine being charged and found not guilty of killing two people (one of which being your ex-wife) and writing a detailed "hypothetical" account of how it would have gone down "if" you did it. I can't comprehend how O.J. Simpson begins to explain this travesty to his children.

The book - "hypothetical" or not, is a good insight into O.J's mindset in terms of his relationship with Nicole if nothing else. "The Night In Question" i.e the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman, is the chapter that most people will be interested in. Simpson says contradictory things in terms of the evidence of the murders, I suspect on purpose.

The narration is excellent but overall, a very surreal story, as close to a confession as you'll get.

Excellent performance

The performance of of the narrator is excellent. An interesting and bizarre story. It really gets you thinking about why anybody would produce this book if they were innocent, it just wouldn’t happen.

Chilling

A chilling story I wish the Simpson and the Goldmans well and thank them for their dedication in getting the rights to the book