Columbine

By Dave Cullen

Columbine - Dave Cullen
  • Release Date: 2009-04-06
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 802 Ratings

Description

Ten years in the works, a masterpiece of reportage, this is the definitive account of the Columbine massacre, its aftermath, and its significance, from the acclaimed journalist who followed the story from the outset.
"The tragedies keep coming. As we reel from the latest horror . . ."

So begins a new epilogue, illustrating how Columbine became the template for nearly two decades of "spectacle murders." It is a false script, seized upon by a generation of new killers. In the wake of Newtown, Aurora, and Virginia Tech, the imperative to understand the crime that sparked this plague grows more urgent every year.

What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.

Expanded with a New Epilogue

Reviews

  • Incredible

    5
    By areyoufinkiddingme
    Dave Cullen did an incredible job. I also read Brooks Brown book, and I would describe it as having extreme tunnel vision compared to Cullen’s book. Extremely thorough and well written. I was shocked to learn ‘Active Shooter Protocol’ was enacted following Columbine 20 years ago. There was absolute no reason for the cops at Uvalde to do nothing for over an hour. Disgusting!
  • Worthy

    5
    By Hjinfgur
    Definitely worth the read. This did not glorify or point fingers. A book of thoroughly researched facts. May the 13 victims rest peaceful and the survivors be able to move in faith.
  • My review

    5
    By Brandontrejo806
    I really like how the book gives a deeper insight into what happened and it was a very interesting book to read especially since I wasn’t alive when columbine happened.
  • There will never be an answer to “why?”...

    5
    By Just me in Texas on Xmas
    and the author acknowledges that early and often. Instead, we get a well researched “how?” that draws on a variety of perspectives to piece together the timeline of events leading up to and following the tragedy. The blame is placed squarely on the killers, where it belongs, without glossing over the warning signs that were missed and/or misunderstood.
  • He knows nothing true about this case.

    1
    By dbauhnmdeyr44
    One of the worst interpretations of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. This book is awful.
  • Shocking

    5
    By gocubs1213
    Great storytelling and emotions are conveyed well. Some of the killers POV entires or thoughts are jarring and horrifying while also mystifying. A longer read, but worth it nonetheless.
  • Great novel

    5
    By Blakesnt
    Easy to digest and very thorough. 👍🏼🤓👍🏼
  • Fiction at it's finest

    1
    By Gypsy_Witch
    Shame on Cullen for selling out for 15 mins of fame. THIS IS NOT THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON COLUMBINE. Cullen sold out to mainstream media to hush up the bullying rumors, period. He claims the killers were not bullied because they didn't write it in their journal, of course they didn't they knew their journals would be read and they wanted to portray a certain image and I resent that he makes light of this fact. They were not popular and were picked on, also the assessment that Eric was some Casanova and got laid is a joke he and Dylan died virgins, for the truth about Columbine read Brooks Brown's book. Simply put in a court of law do you believe people who had first hand knowledge ( Brooks Brown & many others that actually knew both boys ) or some fiction author who makes things up and wasn't even there? There are soo many lies told in this book it is unfortunate that Cullen is a coward and decided for a little fame he would lie about these boys in death, so disgusting. Anyone interested in reading the truth don't buy this book, educate yourself before you buy and research. I also strongly disagree with the portrayal of Eric as a psychopath he was angry yes, very angry but he felt emotion and psychopaths have no emotion. Dylan was the one that fooled everyone because he hid his emotions and it also angers me that he places most of the blame on Eric portraying Dylan as some hapless follower unable to think for himself give me a break! Both are equally responsible. April 20, 1999 was a tragic day in history and there were 15 victims. I blame the school and the people that bullied these two, there is never a time it is ok to look the other way when someone is being bullied and CHS can make believe it didn't happen and so can Cullen with his fictional tale but the friends of Eric & Dylan told the truth.
  • -420 stars

    1
    By Cellp at
    this is fiction. fake. a mistake. misinformed. misinterpreted. you don't understand or know enough about columbine to write a book about it. half this books is just simply lies. tragic.
  • Amazing

    5
    By christinenorris1
    With such a terrible tragedy that occurred, I am honored to have been able to have read this. I'm from charleston, SC and we recently had a terrible tragedy of our own with the mass church shooting. Prayers are still going up for every family, including the two shooters families.