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Dave Cullen

Goodreads Author

Born

in suburban Chicago, The United States

June 03

Website

https://www.davecullen.com/gay-soldiers-book

Twitter

davecullen

Genre

Gay and Lesbian, Romance, Nonfiction

Influences

Vladimir Nabokov, William Faulkner, Lucia Berlin, Warren Zevon, Patti ...more

Member Since

May 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/davecullen

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I wrote the New York Times bestsellers COLUMBINE and PARKLAND: BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT.

This fall (2026), HarperCollins will publish my gay soldiers book, which I’ve been working on for 26 years. (11 concurrently with the other books, shadowing Army buddies ‘Brett’ and ‘Drake’ the whole time.) It’s the biggest project I’ll undertake in my life.

DON'T FALL IN LOVE is the tumultuous story of two active duty combat arms soldiers fighting for love and happiness against all odds. They served 23 years and deployed to three wars in hiding — before, during, and after Don't Ask, Don't Tell. They're courageous, insightful and wickedly funny, and it's been one hell of a ride.*

Columbine won several major awards, including the Edgar, Goodreads Choice Award ...more

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Dave Cullen’s books

Average rating: 4.26 · 111,036 ratings · 12,289 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	Columbine 4.29 avg rating — 103,355 ratings — published 2009	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Parkland 3.96 avg rating — 7,612 ratings — published 2019 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Soldiers First 3.87 avg rating — 71 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Handling Your Finances Perfectly 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fish As Pet: Keeping Fish at Home in Aquarium 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cloud Over Columbine: How the Press Got It Wrong and the Police Let It Happen 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dave Cullen in Conversation with David L. Ulin (2009): Los Angeles Times Festival of Books by Dave Cullen (Goodreads Author), David L. Ulin (Goodreads Author) (Narrator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Don't Fall in Love 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dave Cullen Columbine, an illustrated edition 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Columbine: El libro definitivo sobre la tragedia de Columbine. by Dave Cullen (Goodreads Author), Gabriel Cereceda (Translator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Dave Cullen…

377 posts
Dave Cullen's Blog: Conclusive Evidence of Dave Cullen's Existence--The Goo

Slate names COLUMBINE 1 of 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the quarter century

Slate just set about creating a canon of major nonfiction books, by naming The 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Last 25 Years. Staggered to see Columbine there, with a lovely write-up.*It's currently their cover story, and an awesome list. I have read quite a few, and loved nearly all of those, including Lost City of Z, A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow Read more of this blog post »

View more on Dave Cullen's website »

18 likes · Like • 4 comments • flag

Published on November 20, 2019 12:00

View all 377 posts »

Because the Goodreads Editors love books just as much as our readers do, we decided to share some of the titles we can't stop talking...

Dave is Currently Reading

Dave Cullen is currently reading

The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis

by José Saramago

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 09, 2025 11:45AM

Dave Cullen is currently reading

Giovanni’s Room

by James Baldwin

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 18, 2022 09:08AM

Dave Cullen is currently reading

Madame Bovary

by Gustave Flaubert

bookshelves: currently-reading, gave-up

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Mar 01, 2022 07:35AM

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Dave’s Recent Updates

Dave Cullen entered a giveaway London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe 20 copies available, ends on April 07, 2026 Enter to win »
Mar 16, 2026 07:09AM · 1 like · like · see giveaway
Dave Cullen entered a giveaway Vigil by George Saunders 30 copies available, ends on April 14, 2026 Enter to win »
Mar 16, 2026 07:08AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Vigil by George Saunders. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Vigil by George Saunders <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dave Cullen is now following Cybil and Sharon
Jan 24, 2026 02:55PM
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2) by Rachel Reid	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Astonishing. About a week into the TV series, I plunged into the book, only reading up to where the show had reached. It killed me to stop, but I did each week, through the end, and gobbled it up the same day I watched Ep 6.* I can rarely get through ...more
Jan 20, 2026 08:52AM · 17 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2) by Rachel Reid	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Astonishing. About a week into the TV series, I plunged into the book, only reading up to where the show had reached. It killed me to stop, but I did each week, through the end, and gobbled it up the same day I watched Ep 6.* I can rarely get through ...more
Jan 20, 2026 08:41AM · 17 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing The Long Game (Game Changers, #6) by Rachel Reid	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Loved this! It dragged for a while -- stretching the material -- but once it ramped up to the climax, nearly as powerful as Heated Rivalry. Still 5 Stars, because HR was off the charts. Binged this in 1 day.
Jan 20, 2026 08:40AM · 8 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Long Game by Rachel Reid. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Long Game by Rachel Reid <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing The Long Game (Game Changers, #6) by Rachel Reid	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Loved this! It dragged for a while -- stretching the material -- but once it ramped up to the climax, nearly as powerful as Heated Rivalry. Still 5 Stars, because HR was off the charts. Binged this in 1 day.
Jan 20, 2026 08:39AM · 8 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Long Game by Rachel Reid. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Long Game by Rachel Reid <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* [But Were Afraid to Ask] by David Reuben (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Still a classic. At least as a record of the 1970s
Jan 20, 2026 08:38AM · 3 likes · like · see review
Dave Cullen rated a book it was amazing Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* [But Were Afraid to Ask] by David Reuben (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Still a classic. At least as a record of the 1970s
Jan 20, 2026 08:38AM · 3 likes · like · see review

More of Dave's books…

Quotes by Dave Cullen (?)

“You can't really teach a kid anything: you can only show him the way and motivate him to learn it himself.”
― Dave Cullen, Columbine

tags: teaching

110 likes

“The final portrait is often furthest from the truth.”
― Dave Cullen, Columbine

tags: deception, misconception

60 likes

“Psychopaths don't act like Hannibal Lecter or Norman Bates. They come off like Hugh Grant, in his most adorable role.”
― Dave Cullen, Columbine

46 likes

See all Dave Cullen's quotes »

Polls

September 2019 True Crime Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion should your choice win.

Which True Crime book would you like to read in September?

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

22 votes, 41.5%

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn

10 votes, 18.9%

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

9 votes, 17.0%

Columbine by Dave Cullen

8 votes, 15.1%

American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst by Jeffrey Toobin

4 votes, 7.5%

53 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Challenge: 50 Books: Lucy Y's Books!	1	254	Jul 23, 2009 12:33PM
Cover to Cover Ch...: Aths' Race to 144 in 2010	13	116	Jan 12, 2010 04:49PM
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks	2717	2515	May 31, 2010 09:00PM
Book Nook Cafe: Dinner with Friends ~ July 2010	32	47	Jul 23, 2010 12:18PM
Q&A with Dave Cullen: * COLUMBINE Q&A w/ Dave Cullen June 10-24, 2009	145	563	Aug 09, 2010 02:02PM
The Seasonal Read...: Summer Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread)	3022	3288	Aug 31, 2010 10:39PM

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Dave’s Quotes

“Down the hall came the wife. She was glorious, burning. She didn't know yet that her husband was dead. We knew. That's what gave her such power over us. The doctor took her into a room with a desk at the end of the hall, and from under the closed door a slab of brilliance radiated as if, by some stupendous process, diamonds were being incinerated in there. What a pair of lungs! She shrieked as I imagined an eagle would shriek. It felt wonderful to be alive to hear it! I've gone looking for that feeling everywhere.”
― Denis Johnson

38 likes

“We made mad love
shadow love
random love
and abandoned love.
Accidentally like a martyr.
The hurt gets worse, and the heart gets harder.”
― Warren Zevon, The Warren Zevon Guitar Songbook: Enjoy Every Sandwich

tags: accidentally-like-a-martyr

10 likes

“Passion is no ordinary word”
― Graham Parker

4 likes

“An I'll never forget the smile on my face
cos I knew where you would be
An if you're in the Crown tonight
Have a drink on me
But go easy...step lightly...stay free
-- "Stay Free”
― Mick Jones, The Clash Songbook

7 likes

“Once upon a time there lived in Berlin, Germany, a man called Albinus. He was rich, respectable, happy; one day he abandoned his wife for the sake of a youthful mistress; he loved; was not loved; and his life ended in disaster.

This is the whole of the story and we might have left it at that had there not been profit and pleasure in the telling; and although there is plenty of space on a gravestone to contain, bound in moss, the abridged version of a man's life, detail is always welcome.”
― Vladimir Nabokov, Laughter in the Dark

tags: epitaph

53 likes

More of Dave’s quotes…

Dave’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-14) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 14: by Dave

Oct 04, 2019 12:08PM

Roslyn wrote: "Hey Dave! Are you excited to be a featured speaker at the Blue Hill Word Festival this month? I'm hoping to catch you there on Oct. 25!"

SO excited. I've never been to Maine!

See u there.

reply | flag

message 13: by Roslyn

Oct 02, 2019 02:38PM

Hey Dave! Are you excited to be a featured speaker at the Blue Hill Word Festival this month? I'm hoping to catch you there on Oct. 25!

reply | flag

message 12: by Pukka13

Apr 18, 2014 04:56AM

Dave! Thanks for adding me. I read "Columbine" some years ago and was completely floored by the depth of your research. Your writing is remarkable. I look forward to your next book. Thanks again!

reply | flag

message 11: by Betryal

Dec 06, 2012 02:40AM

Hey Dave, thanks for the accept. I just got your book, which I've been reading a lot of those types recently with the shootings and/or bullying and look forward to reading it.

reply | flag

message 10: by Dave

Dec 28, 2011 03:10PM

Thanks, Linda. A magazine story and then book on gay soldiers. More on it here:

http://www.davecullen.com/read/gays-i...

reply | flag

message 9: by Linda

Dec 28, 2011 01:02PM

Hi Dave,

I'm delighted to connect with such an accomplished writer and fellow author here on GR. What are you working on now?

Happy reading & writing,

Linda

reply | flag

message 8: by Gary

Aug 26, 2011 09:06AM

Thanks for the add DAVE;

My Memoir - TO LIVE OR MAYBE NOT
At Barnes and Noble

My birth in Alabama, youth, high school-Holmes County High School, US Navy Service, music-Hollywood, Memphis, Nashville, Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Investigation, recording and releasing the single record of the song about the MLK assassination, THEY SLEW THE DREAMER and more.

Paperback and for Nook Book-Click Here

reply | flag

message 7: by Beth

Aug 17, 2010 08:26PM

Hi Dave,
Thanks for befriending this fellow author on Goodreads! Living in Colorado, the events at Columbine hit close to home, and being a mystery author, I have heard presentations from Colorado police officers who were involved in the investigation.

reply | flag

message 6: by David

Apr 19, 2010 11:01PM

Thanks for adding me! I'm a big fan since I first heard about Columbine, about 10 years ago. I really wish I could find your book in this book-deprived country!

PS. I won't say "happy" because it's impossible, but have SOME kind of 11-year anniversary since Columbine today.

reply | flag

message 5: by Dáithí's

Dec 23, 2009 11:23PM

Wishing you a deep sense of peace and good fortune this holiday season!!!! Happy reading!!!

Pastor Chris

reply | flag

message 4: by Ryan

Dec 21, 2009 07:14AM

i know you've read black hawk down... right? I ran a "compare books" between you and me and it didn't come up... haha

reply | flag

message 3: by Dave

Dec 03, 2009 10:35PM

Goodreads nominated me for "Favorite NONFICTION book of 2009." That made me very happy. If you liked the book, please consider voting for it here:

http://www.goodreads.com/award/goodre...

My category is #3.

Your votes determine the winners.

Thanks.

Dave

reply | flag

message 2: by Kelly

Aug 04, 2009 02:11PM

Dave,
I suppose that is what happens when you write with honesty and a good heart. :) I hope for all the best in your writing career.
-K.L.

reply | flag

message 1: by Dave

Jun 05, 2009 11:44PM

Hi. I was amazed and touched to see all the interest in my book here: nearly 500 reviews. Wow.

I'm looking forward to figuring out how to connect with many of you on this site. I'm fumbling my way for now.

reply | flag

Dave’s Year In Books

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377 posts
Dave Cullen's Blog: Conclusive Evidence of Dave Cullen's Existence--The Goo

Slate names COLUMBINE 1 of 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the quarter century

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Dave Cullen’s Followers (61,884)

Dave Cullen

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Preview — Vigil by George Saunders

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Preview — Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

See a Problem?

Preview — Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

See a Problem?

Preview — The Long Game by Rachel Reid

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Preview — The Long Game by Rachel Reid

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