Questions About Columbine

by Dave Cullen (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

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Answered Questions (5)

Are any of you high school teachers? How do you feel about teaching this book at the accelerated sophomore level in school? Or, if you're a parent, how would you feel about your child reading this at the high school level?

Mariah J. As a student (senior moving on to college), I would love to study something like this in school. It's raw, it's real, it's unsheltered. While I'd love…moreAs a student (senior moving on to college), I would love to study something like this in school. It's raw, it's real, it's unsheltered. While I'd love to study this topic of Columbine or book in particular, real and callous subjects like this in general would be beneficial. It doesn't always have to be about school shootings and horror and gore, but I don't want to keep reading things like Inferno and Gatsby written a time ago and adapting them to my life today. I want more books that are ACTUALLY from my life today, and I don't want them soaped up to be "nicer" either. (less)

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A well liked book going over the details of what really had happened on April 20, in the high school full of kids. What had really pushed the shooters to the edge? Were the acts they had committed justified by their mental illness?

Janessa Mental illness does not justify an act a person commits, it can offer insight to the why's. It can also help people be more aware of the true traits t…moreMental illness does not justify an act a person commits, it can offer insight to the why's. It can also help people be more aware of the true traits that psychopathy entails. Books like this can make an "average" person more aware and informed, which are the first steps to prevention. While April 20th, 1999 will forever be a tragic day in our history, it did allow us to gain knowledge to help prevent further tragedies. (less)

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If Cullen thinks Harris was a psychopath, why is he arguing for gun control instead of psychopath control? After all, the poor little dears were going to blow up the school with propane bombs... Shouldn't we have propane canister control too, then? But maybe I just Don't Understand... As usual...

Janet I think you understand but so many others don't. Gun control is NOT the answer. Like you said, they had bombs also. When a wicked heart desires to kil…moreI think you understand but so many others don't. Gun control is NOT the answer. Like you said, they had bombs also. When a wicked heart desires to kill, they will find a way. Innocent people need to be able to protect themselves. (less)

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I'm wondering how the Cassie/Val mix-up could have happened. They were on opposite sides of the library. Craig was near Cassie and nowhere near Val. And I'm wondering why others reported the same thing. Maybe it was a rumor that spread fast. Just strange since the girls were nowhere near each other, and I wonder if Craig could even hear Val?

Jason Obviously he could hear her because otherwise the story wouldn't have been told, wrong or otherwise. The library isn't that big and it's easy to get c…moreObviously he could hear her because otherwise the story wouldn't have been told, wrong or otherwise. The library isn't that big and it's easy to get confused when people are getting killed around you and you don't know if you're next or not. Eyewitness testimony, like they say in the book and a ton of other places, is the worst type of evidence.(less)

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Does anyone know if there were any repercussions against the media and LEO for all the release of misinformation, speculation and how they handled notifications; or does it say in the book? I'm interested b/c even today, almost 20 years after this event, the media still reports on rumors / speculations as opposed to fact when a tragedy occurs.