Columbine

About this book

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

Censorship history

In 2025, "Columbine" by Dave Cullen was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to its graphic depiction of violence. The ban was initiated following complaints from parents and local advocacy groups concerned about the book's potential to influence students negatively. Notably, the decision was upheld in a school board vote in a district in Texas, where officials cited the need to maintain a safe educational environment. As of late 2025, the ban remains contested in various districts, with ongoing discussions about the appropriateness of the book in school curricula.

Bans

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