Play Book Tag discussion

by Dave Cullen - 5 Stars

On April 20, 1999, both of my children were in school. I remember being frightened about various things when they were growing up. When they were babies it was would they stop breathing in the middle of the night, as toddlers it was chocking on a toy or food, as children it was "stranger danger," then school shootings emerged as a danger. This was particularly scary because it was completely beyond my control. "Columbine" definitely stands out as one of the most vivid incidents of this stage.

“We remember Columbine as a pair of outcast Goths from the Trench Coat Mafia snapping and tearing through their high school hunting down jocks to settle a long-running feud." According to Cullen, a reporter who began covering the incident on noon the day of event, almost none of this is true. I was shocked. I consider myself a fairly well-informed individual and this was my impression starting this read but I would add to those myths two more. One, the killers were products of detached parents. Secondly, a school culture of bullying perpetuated by a "turn the blind eye" school administration. Cullen, systematically and convincingly tears down every single assumption and takes to task his colleagues in the media industry. Instead, Cullen portrays Eric as a psychopath who easily manipulated a bi-polar and suicidal Dylan and planned, rather than "snapping", the mass destruction of the entire student population (as opposed to the targeting of bullies) for well over a year. Can I just say I really came to adore the principal Mr. D? After reading this, while one may take issue with Eric's dad's approach to discipline you certainly cannot attach "detached" parent to him.


Ya'll know I'm an avid non-fiction reader. Kudos to Cullen for writing one of the most objective and analytical books I've ever come across. Most students of history recognize and take into account author biases because all humans are prone to some sort, as well as the reader. However, if Cullen harbors them they are almost undetectable. The only place where it might be found is with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. But, while mistakes could be understandable a systematic cover up cannot. It would still be interesting to dig into the department's account just to compare. I thought we were going to see some bias in the religious community's response early in the book. But Cullen redeems himself with the treatment of the Barnell's and the Kliebold's pastor. That's one of the things I appreciated the most. Cullen doesn't paint pure heroes or villains. He relates the humanity of everyone involved with a great deal of sensitivity, including the killer's parents.

The book is difficult to read at time and sometimes it is inspiring. I appreciated finding out how some of the survivor's lives played out in the years since the incident. But, I think it is an important work in our culture. It goes without saying it is tragic. But, one of the tragedies is in missing the one opportunity to avert, or at least delay the opportunity for, this event to happen. I guess it could be argued that since Eric was a psychopath even if he'd served time for the felony for which he was arrested he would have eventually followed through with a similar event. But, it still feels tragic.

Excellent review. I gave this 5 stars as well.

Also 5 stars from me. I listened to it on audio.

I don't know if I could've handled this on audio.

Again, an extremely well written and well thought out review on a tough subject.

Quite an endorsement - I've invested some of the raffle money for this one.

I love to hear what the raffle winners pick to buy with the Amazon card... good choice given this well done review.

This one is on my "priority" TBR list.