Written by author and journalist Dave Cullen, Columbine (originally published in 2009), examines the mass shooting at Columbine High School and the shooting's perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Primarily, the book covers the killers lives and how they devolved into mass killing (i.e. how the two became killers and the duos mental illness' -- Cullen called one "the depressive" and the other "the psychopath"). Columbine also covers how Harris and Klebold's heinous act affected those who survived the incident and the families of those who lost -- and those who survived.
Cullen spent the better part of ten years researching and writing the book. His preparation showed. Not only was Columbine a massive critical success, it was a big financial success too. A number of reviewers favorably compared Columbine to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, which is widely regarded as the best nonfiction/true-crime book ever written. Stephen Amidon of The New York Observer called Columbine "[a] gripping study... To his credit, Mr. Cullen does not simply tear down Columbine's legends. He also convincingly explains what really sparked the murderous rage... disquieting... beautifully written." The book also spent eight weeks on the prestigious New York Times bestseller list, indicating it sold exceptionally well.
