Our colleagues at Galleycat explored just about every ethical fault line surrounding Oprah's ethically unwise decision to promote-but-not-really-promote what can only be properly construed as a thoroughly reprehensible book. Ethical wisdom notwithstanding, the ratings, to be sure, will probably bear witness to Oprah's storied business wisdom. The worst thing about yesterday's show, though, is how Oprah used the ironic distance of reminding us -- every so often -- that she hasn't read the book, but her producers have told her such-and-such a piece of information. Oprah covered all the angles.

Bruce Weinstein, PhD, ''The Ethics Guy,'' writes in Business Week -- a magazine all about business wisdom -- the reasons why we shouldn't go anywhere near If I Did It. From Business Week:

''After a delay of almost a year, you now have an opportunity to buy a copy of O.J. Simpson's book If I Did It.

''You have a right to buy it. But you shouldn't. This is an immoral book that should never have seen the light of day.

''Beaufort Books, a small, independent publisher, had a legal right to publish If I Did It, but it was wrong for them to do so.''

Agreed. Now follow the invisible engine propelling Dr. Weinstein's logic to this conclusion.