I Want to Tell You by O. J. Simpson

Overview of I Want to Tell You
O.J. Simpson's mid-trial memoir answers 300,000 public letters, becoming an audiobook phenomenon despite controversy. When a 12-year-old fan wrote, "Even if you did kill them, I'd still be your fan," it revealed America's disturbing obsession with celebrity over justice.
About its author - O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James Simpson (1947–2024), author of I Want to Tell You, was a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and polarizing cultural figure. The book—a memoir penned during his 1994 murder trial—documents his perspective on media scrutiny and public judgment, themes rooted in his experience as a celebrity defendant.
Simpson’s athletic prestige included the 1968 Heisman Trophy, an unbroken NFL record of 143.1 rushing yards per game (1973), and roles in films like The Naked Gun franchise. His later controversial work, If I Did It, offered a hypothetical account of the events central to his trial.
Despite his 1995 acquittal, Simpson’s legacy remains inextricably tied to the trial that captivated global media. His football achievements, including induction into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, contrast sharply with his later legal troubles, which included a 2008 armed robbery conviction. I Want to Tell You endures as a primary-source narrative from one of America’s most debated public figures.
Key Takeaways of I Want to Tell You
- O.J. Simpson's "I Want to Tell You" presents jailhouse responses to public letters during his trial.
- Simpson denies murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman while professing love for Nicole.
- The book reveals Simpson's financial motivation for writing amid his legal battles.
- Over 300,000 public letters shape the book's narrative of Simpson's incarceration experience.
- Simpson portrays Nicole Brown as an exceptional mother without acknowledging past abuse allegations.
- Linguistic analysis shows Simpson avoided direct denials like "I didn't kill them."
- The book contrasts sharply with Simpson's later hypothetical confession in "If I Did It."
- Simpson frames media coverage as a "third murder" destroying his reputation.
- Robert Kardashian appears as Simpson's steadfast friend in the narrative.
- Simpson addresses systemic racism and judicial flaws in his self-portrait.
- The work omits trial strategy details while emphasizing personal relationships.
- Simpson's pledge to testify at trial remains unfulfilled despite his assertions.