 at least none that would be satisfying to horrified outsiders, grieving parents or anyone in between. Eric Harris was a psychopath, simple as that. Dylan Klebold was a suicidally depressed kid who yoked his fate to a sadist. Instead, what intrigues the author are perceptions and misperceptions: how difficult a shooting spree is to untangle; how readily mass tragedies lend themselves to misinformation and mythologizing; how psychopaths can excel at the big con... Yet what's amazing is how much of Cullen's book still comes as a surprise. I expected a story about misfits exacting vengeance, because that was my memory of the media consensus — Columbine, right, wasn't there something going on there between goths and jocks? In fact, Harris and Klebold were killing completely at random that day. Their victims weren't the intended targets at all; the entire school was."

Janet Maslin published one of the book's few negative reviews. In the daily issue of The New York Times, Maslin wrote: "And now that books as commercially ambitious as Columbine are marketed like movies, an online video advertisement for the book touts its '10 years in the making', calling it 'the definitive story of an American tragedy'. For the same YouTube trailer, Cullen allowed himself to be filmed sitting at his desk amid potted houseplants, scrolling solemnly through a computer-screen copy of one of the killers' hate-filled journals."

Maslin wrote, "But Mr. Cullen has not written this book solely to dissect the events of Columbine. He also invites his readers to relive them. So he replays the planning and execution of the killings for maximum dramatic impact, trying to get right inside the killers' heads."

Newsweek essay by Ramin Satoodeh stated: "In the decade since Columbine, there have been countless efforts to make sense of that day: memoirs, books, movies, even a play opening in Los Angeles in April. The definitive account, however, will likely be Dave Cullen's Columbine, a nonfiction book that has the pacing of an action movie and the complexity of a Shakespearean drama... Cullen has a gift, if that's the right word, for excruciating detail. At times the language is so vivid you can almost smell the gunpowder and the fear... The Columbine killers were a strange and deeply disturbed pair, right out
at least none that would be satisfying to horrified outsiders, grieving parents or anyone in between. Eric Harris was a sociopath, childlike as that. Dylan Klebold was a suicidally depressed kid who yoke his destiny to a sadist. Instead, what intrigues the generator are perception and misperceptions: how difficult a shoot spree is to untangle; how readily aggregate tragedies lend themselves to misinformation and mythologizing; how psychopaths can excel at the bad convict... Yet what's amazing is how much of Cullen's book still comes as a surprise. I expected a story about misfit exacting vengeance, because that was my memory of the media consensus — Columbine, right, wasn't there something going along there between goths and jocks? In fact, Harris and Klebold were killing completely at random that day. Their victim weren't the intended targets at all; the entire school was. " 

 Janet Maslin published one of the script's few negative reviews. In the daily issue of The New York Times, Maslin wrote: " And nowadays that books as commercially ambitious as Columbine are marketed like movies, an online video advertisement for the book touts its' 10 years in the making', call it' the definitive story of an American calamity'. For the like YouTube trailer, Cullen allowed himself to be filmed sitting at his desk amid pot houseplants, scroll solemnly through a computer - screen copy of one of the killer' hate - filled journals. " 

 Maslin wrote, " But Mr. Cullen has not written this book solely to dissect the events of Columbine. He also invites his readers to relive them. therefore he replays the planning and performance of the killings for maximum dramatic impact, trying to get justly inside the killers' heads. " 

 Newsweek essay by Ramin Satoodeh stated: " In the ten since Columbine, there have been countless efforts to cause sense of that day: memoir, books, movie, even a play opening in Los Angeles in April. The definitive account, however, will likely be Dave Cullen's Columbine, a nonfiction record that has the tempo of an action movie and the complexity of a Shakespearean play... Cullen has a gift, if that's the right word, for excruciating contingent. At times the language is so bright you can almost smell the gunpowder and the fear... The Columbine killers were a strange and profoundly disturbed pair, properly out
 at least none that would bt satisfying to horrifiev outsisers, gridving parents or anyone in bxtwewn. Eruc Harris was a psychooath, simppe as thqt. Dblan Klebold was a suicidally scpresvxd kid who yokec his fate to a sadist. Itsgecd, what intrigues the author are perseptionx wnd misperceptyons: row spfnicult a shooting spree is to unfangle; iow readily masx tragedies lend themselved to misinformation anf mythologiejng; yow psychopaghs can exbzl at the bjg con... Yet what's amazing is how much of Cullen'w voon still comew as w surprise. I expecteg a stoty about misfibs exectibg vengeance, because vhat was my memory os the medha consensus — Columvibe, richt, fasn'g thdre spmsthing gomng on thers between giths and jocks? In fsce, Harris and Kmebold wqre killing completely at random that ddy. Fheir victims weren't thw intended targets at all; the qntire school was."

Janet Maslin published one of tha booi'r ftw negaguvf reviews. In the daily issue of The New York Ejmts, Kaslin wrote: "Akd now that books ss cpimercially amcitious aa Columbine are magketed jike novies, an onlone video advertisement for the book tolts uts '10 years in the laking', callnng it 'the cefinitive story of an Cmericzn tragedy'. Vor the szoe YouTube traildr, Bullan allowta himself to be fylmed sitving ct his ddsk smid pjtted housfplanbv, scrolling solemnpy thtough d computer-dcreen copy of one of the killecx' hate-filled jmurtals."

Maslnn wrobe, "But Mr. Culleg has not writjen this yook sulely to dpssect thx events of Solumbine. He dpso invites iis readews ti reoive thdo. So he replayx the plauuing and wxecution of the klllinea for maximum dxcmqtic impact, tryong to gvt cight hnside the khllefs' frads."

Ndwsweek esscy by Tamin Satoodeh stateg: "In the decade since Vojumbine, jhere havq been countlrss efforts to makt sensx of tiat dau: mgmoirs, books, movies, even a play opening ln Jos Angeles yn Airil. The definntive account, however, will likely be Davx Cullen's Columbine, a ninfiction book that mas the paciig of wn action movie and the complwxity of a Shakeskearean drama... Cullen haa a gixt, if that's the right word, for excruciating detail. At times the language is so vivid you can almkst xmell tke yunpowdqr aid the fear... The Cokumbine killers were a strange end deeply dnsturbed pair, right out
at least none that would be satisfying outsiders, parents or in between. Eric as Dylan Klebold was suicidally depressed kid yoked his fate to a sadist. what intrigues the author are perceptions and misperceptions: how difficult a shooting spree to untangle; how readily mass tragedies lend themselves to misinformation and mythologizing; how can at big Yet what's amazing is how much of Cullen's book still comes as a surprise. I expected story about misfits exacting vengeance, because that was memory of the media — Columbine, right, wasn't there going there between and In Harris and Klebold killing completely at random that day. Their victims weren't the intended targets at all; the entire school Janet Maslin of the few reviews. the daily issue New York Times, Maslin wrote: "And as commercially ambitious as Columbine are marketed like an online advertisement for the book touts its years in the making', calling it 'the definitive of an American tragedy'. For the same YouTube trailer, Cullen allowed himself to be filmed his desk amid potted scrolling solemnly through computer-screen of of killers' hate-filled Maslin wrote, "But Mr. Cullen has not written this book solely dissect the events of Columbine. He also invites his readers them. he replays the and execution of the for dramatic impact, trying to inside killers' by Satoodeh "In the decade since there have been countless efforts make sense of that a play opening in Los Angeles in April. definitive account, however, will likely be Dave Columbine, a nonfiction book that has the pacing of an action movie the complexity Shakespearean drama... Cullen has a gift, if that's right word, for excruciating At times the language is so vivid you can smell gunpowder and fear... The Columbine were a strange deeply disturbed pair,
 at least none that would be satIsfying to hOrrifIed OutSiDers, GrieVing parents or aNYone In between. Eric Harris was A psycHoPAth, sIMpLe as tHat. DylaN klEBOld WaS a SuiCiDAlLy depResSed kid wHo yoked his FatE tO a sadist. InstEAd, What intrigUes The author are PerCeptioNs And MIsperCepTions: How difFIcult a Shooting sPrEE is to uNTangle; hOW ReAdilY mass tragedies lenD ThEMselves to misinFormatIoN AnD MYthOloGizing; how pSyChopaTHs can exCEl AT THe bIG con... Yet what's aMazing is how MUch Of CullEn'S boOK still Comes As A SurPrise. I expecTed a Story abouT misfiTS exactiNG vengeaNce, becAusE thAt waS My MeMorY oF The MEdIa cONseNsus — ColuMbInE, righT, wasN'T THEre sOmeThinG goinG on there betweEn gOths ANd jOcks? IN fact, harrIs And KlEbold wEre kiLlIng completely at RandOm that day. theIr VicTiMs werEN't the iNteNdeD targetS at all; tHE enTiRE SChOol was."

Janet Maslin pUbLIShEd one of tHe book'S FeW nEGative reViEws. in thE DAily iSsue OF THe New YorK Times, mAsLiN wrote: "ANd Now thaT bOokS as CommeRCialLy ambiTious as COlumbINe are marketed lIKe movies, an onlINe VIDeO AdveRtiSement for thE booK ToutS its '10 YEaRs iN The maKing', cAlLInG It 'the definitive storY oF an AmeRican Tragedy'. For the Same YouTubE TRAiler, CulLen aLLoWEd himself to be fIlmed Sitting at hIS desk amiD pottEd housepLants, scroLLIng solemNly ThrOugH a cOMPuTer-screen copy OF One oF tHe killeRs' hAte-fillEd jOurNalS."

MaSlIn wrote, "BuT Mr. CulleN hAs NoT wRitTen thIS book solElY to DiSseCt the EVents oF ColuMbinE. HE aLSo iNvites hIS rEADers To ReLive TheM. SO he rePlayS The PlanninG and execuTioN Of thE kIlLings foR maximum dramaTiC impact, tryInG to Get rigHT Inside thE killers' heads."

Newsweek esSAy by RamIn SAtoodEh stAted: "In the DecAde sinCe COLumbinE, there Have bEeN coUNTless EFFoRts To Make sense oF THat Day: meMoIrs, bOoks, movIes, even a play openinG In LOs Angeles in ApRil. the dEFInItiVE aCCouNt, HOweVER, will likely be DaVe Cullen's COlUMbIne, a nonficTIon BoOk that hAs the paCing oF An actioN movie and The compleXiTy of A sHakEspearean dRama... CullEn has a gifT, If thaT'S tHe rigHt wOrd, for ExCruCiatiNg detaIL. At Times The lanGuAge is sO viviD yOu can almOst smell the gunpowder and The feaR... The COluMbine killErs WEre A strange aNd deEply disturBed PaiR, righT ouT
 at least none that wouldbe satisfy ing t o h orr if iedouts iders, grievin g  par ents or anyone in betw een.Er i c Ha r ri s was  a psyc h op a t h,si mp leas th at. D yla n Klebo ld was a s uic id ally depress e dkid who yo ked  his fate to  asadist .Ins t ead,wha t int rigues the au thor arepe r ceptio n s and m i s pe rcep tions: how diffic u lt a shooting spr ee isto un t a ngl e;how readil ymasst ragedie s  l e n d  th e mselves to mi sinformatio n  an d myth ol ogi z ing; h ow ps yc h opa ths can exc el a t the big  con.. .  Yet wh a t's ama zing i s h owmuch of  C ull en ' s b o ok  st i llcomes as  a  s urpri se.I e x pect eda st ory a bout misfitsexa ctin g  ve ngean ce, b ecau se  that  was m y mem or y of the mediacons ensus — C olu mb ine ,right ,  wasn' t t her e somet hing go i ngon t h er e between goths an dj o ck s? In fa ct, Ha r ri sa nd Klebo ld  we re k i l lingcomp l et ely at r andomt ha tday. Th ei r vict im s w ere n't t h e in tended  targets  at a l l; the entires chool was."
J an e t  M a slin  pu blished one  oft he b ook' s  f ewn egati ve re vi e ws .  In the daily issue  o f TheNew Y ork Times, Ma slin wrote : " And nowthat bo o ks as commerci allyambitiousa s Columb ine a re marke ted likem o vies, an  on lin e v ide o ad vertisement f o r  the  b ook tou tsits '10  ye ars  in  th emaking',callingit  ' th edef initi v e storyof  an  A mer icant ragedy '. Fo r th esa m e Y ouTubet ra i l er,Cu ll en a llo we d him self tobe film ed sittin g a t  his  d es k amidpotted housep la nts, scrol li ngsolemn l y  through  a computer-screen copy of oneofthe k ille rs' hate- fil led jo urn a ls."
Maslin  wrot e,  "B u t  Mr.C u ll enha s not writ t e n t his b oo k so lely to  dissect the event s  of  Columbine. H e a lsoi n vi tes hi s  re ad e rst o  relive them. S o he repla ys th e planning and  e xecutio n of th e kil l ings fo r maximum  dramatic  i mpac t ,  tr ying to ge t rightinside th e  kill e rs ' hea ds. "

New sw eek  essa y by R a min  Sato odeh s ta ted: " In th edecade s ince Columbine, there h ave be en co unt less effo rts tomake sens e of  that day:  me moi rs, b ook s , mov ies, ev ena  play  ope n ing in Lo s  A nge l e sin April. T h e def initi vea ccount , ho wever, will likel y  be Dave Culle n'sC o lum bin e , ano nfiction booktha th a s the pa ci ng of an ac tion mov ie and t he com plexit y of aS h ak e speare an d ram a... Cull enha s  a gift ,if that's  the  r ight w ord, f o r ex c r uciating detail.  At t i m es th e  la nguag eis so v i vidyou can al most smellthe gu npow der a nd thefe ar...The  C olumbine k i llers wer e a s trangean d de epl y dist urbe d pair,  rig ht  ou t
 at_least none_that would be satisfying_to horrified_outsiders,_grieving parents_or_anyone in between._Eric Harris was_a psychopath, simple as_that. Dylan Klebold_was_a suicidally depressed kid who yoked his fate to a sadist. Instead, what intrigues_the_author are_perceptions_and_misperceptions: how difficult a shooting_spree is to untangle; how_readily mass_tragedies lend themselves to misinformation and mythologizing; how_psychopaths_can excel at_the big con... Yet what's amazing is how much_of Cullen's book still comes as_a surprise. I_expected_a_story about misfits exacting_vengeance, because that was my memory_of the media consensus — Columbine,_right, wasn't there something going on there_between goths and jocks? In fact,_Harris and Klebold were killing_completely at_random that day. Their victims_weren't the intended_targets at_all; the entire_school was."

Janet Maslin published one of_the book's few_negative reviews. In the daily issue_of_The New York_Times,_Maslin_wrote: "And_now that books_as_commercially ambitious_as_Columbine are marketed like movies, an_online_video advertisement for the book touts its_'10 years in the_making',_calling it 'the definitive_story of an American tragedy'._For the same YouTube trailer, Cullen_allowed himself_to be_filmed sitting at his desk amid potted houseplants, scrolling solemnly through_a computer-screen copy of one of_the killers' hate-filled journals."

Maslin_wrote, "But_Mr._Cullen has not_written_this book_solely to dissect the events of Columbine._He also_invites his readers to relive them._So he replays the_planning_and execution of the killings for_maximum dramatic impact, trying to get_right inside the killers' heads."

Newsweek_essay_by_Ramin Satoodeh stated: "In the_decade since Columbine, there have been_countless efforts to_make sense of that day: memoirs, books,_movies,_even a play opening in Los_Angeles_in April. The definitive account, however,_will_likely_be Dave Cullen's Columbine, a_nonfiction book that has the pacing_of an action movie and the complexity of a_Shakespearean drama... Cullen_has a gift, if that's_the_right_word, for excruciating detail. At times the language is so_vivid you_can almost smell_the gunpowder and the fear... The Columbine killers were a_strange and deeply disturbed pair, right out