The Run of His Life: The People vs. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin

I purchased The Run of His Life: The People vs. O.J. Simpson back in 2016, around the same time that the TV show based on the book premiered on FX. Although I was interested in seeing the TV show, I typically make an effort to read the source material prior to viewing any derivative adaptations. (This also explains why I never watched Game of Thrones, as I hoped to wait until the entire series of novels was released.) In the intervening years I listened to an analysis of the case on the podcast Real Crime Profile, further piquing my interest. Finishing my graduate studies finally afforded me the opportunity to return to the book, and I hope to watch the TV show before too much longer.

The Run of His Life is a nonfiction account of the murders of Ms. Nicole Brown Simpson and Mr. Ronald Goldman, and the subsequent criminal trial of Mr. Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson, Nicole’s ex-husband. Mr. Jeffrey Toobin wrote the book contemporaneous to the trial, compiling notes and interviews via his work with The New Yorker magazine. Mr. Toobin’s proximity to the principal players for the duration of the case is clear, as (for example) he was the first journalist to report on the defense’s strategy of employing the so-called “race card.” This journalistic viewpoint translates to an intimate experience for readers of the book that followed.

As I read The Run of His Life, I could not help but think that Mr. Simpson’s acquittal stemmed from “death by a thousand cuts” – in other words, a series of oversights/errors that while innocuous alone, proved devastating when combined together. For example, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office conducted research into the viewpoints of potential jurors prior to the trial. Deputy District Attorney Ms. Marcia Clark learned that African American jurors, especially women, tended to sympathize with Mr. Simpson and deride Ms. Simpson as a lowlife. Instead of capitalizing on this acquired knowledge during jury selection, Ms. Clark operated in court according to her own intuition. A majority of jurors turned out to be African American women, many of whom responded to the evidence just as the preliminary research had suggested.

My one criticism of the work is that although Toobin dedicated some pages to Mr. and Ms. Simpson’s abusive marriage, this underlying motive seemed underrepresented compared to discussion of media coverage and legal antics. Ms. Laura Richards, a criminal behavioral analyst specializing in stalking behavior, stated on the Real Crime Profile podcast that the attention endlessly paid to Mr. Simpson detracted attention from Ms. Simpson and Mr. Goldman, the actual victims of homicide. I tend to agree with Ms. Richards’ assessment of the case, and even Toobin himself makes mention of how the victims’ murders “got lost” in the public consciousness compared to Mr. Simpson himself.

Despite this critique, I recognize that the work provides an authoritative, generally impartial account of the criminal trial of Mr. Simpson, including extensive insight into the states of mind of both the prosecution and defense teams. I would recommend the book to any reader interested in learning more about the case and its impact on the American psyche.