No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine High School (20th Anniversary Edition)

Imagine that your best friends, people you thought you knew, suddenly commit an act of mass murder, also on persons you know and in some cases, like, and you're stuck dealing with the aftermath - while you're still in high school. This is Brooks Brown's story and it rings very true, with that truth that is unfortunately stranger than fiction sometimes.I had previously read Dave Cullen's "Columbine", which I strongly disliked. By contrast, I very much liked Brooks Brown's book. Interestingly, I noted that the books are in agreement on most of the major points of the story: that the police response to the crime, as "correct" as it might have been at the time, was in hindsight inadequate and cost lives; that during the ensuing investigation, law enforcement at best withheld key information from the public and at worst outright lied with impunity; that Brooks Brown's family had earlier reported Eric Harris to police for making detailed death threats against Brooks on Harris's website, which the police ignored; that following the crimes, Brooks himself became a suspect, perhaps in an attempt to discredit the Brown family and minimize fallout from the lack of law enforcement response to their past reports about Eric Harris's violent tendencies; that Dylan Klebold had loving, caring parents, while Eric Harris's family, a military family who had moved many times and come to the community later, were a cipher; that Eric Harris was a master manipulator who drew depressed, disillusioned Klebold into his orbit; and that Harris and Klebold hid their mass murder plans so well that no one, incluing their good friends like Brooks Brown (who had made peace with Harris shortly before the killing spree), suspected what they were up to. I don't doubt that any of these facts are the truth.The main ways in which the stories differ are that Cullen insists that neither Harris nor Klebold were bullied, while Brown tells a different story and claims that the bullying somehow helped bring about the crime; and that Cullen portrays the school administrators and school atmosphere in a much more positive light than Brown, who by his own admission was never happy in school since grade school and in fact was on the verge of flunking some graduation requirements at the time of the Columbine killings. I tend to find Brooks Brown's story on these points more believable and human, for the simple reason that he was there in person and had the inside view, even if he has an agenda now - perhaps to show his own innocence and explain, as much as he can, the actions of his friends, particularly his dear childhood friend Dylan Klebold. That is not to say I agree with every one of Brown's opinions. While bullying probably did go on - seriously, is there any big high school, or maybe even small high school, in the USA where some form of bullying does NOT go on? - I tend to agree with Cullen that Eric Harris, the mastermind, was a psychopath who craved control and hated people, rather than a basically good kid who was driven to his bad acts by bullies. I also noted that no one as yet has been able to paint a decent picture of Eric Harris's homelife, as his parents (unlike Klebold's) refused to speak without immunity, which they were not granted. With little or no insight into Harris's upbringing, crucial parts of the story are missing.Despite these flaws, Brown's book is a compelling read that I couldn't put down for two days until I finished it, in contrast to Cullen's book which bugged me so much with its whitewashed portrayals of an unrealistically supportive and communal school that I could barely get through. It should be noted that Brown's book was clearly written by someone in high school or with the perspective of a recent high school graduate, which makes the book very honest even where it seemingly contradicts itself or blazes an ironic path. Brown is being himself, and unlike Cullen, not trying to tell multiple stories or be all things to all people. For example, Brown criticizes the school administrators for creating an atmosphere where jocks were allowed to bully other students, and for being unfeeling to him after the tragedy, but when the principal approaches him on graduation day wanting to know why Brown is so upset and basically asking where the school failed him, Brown doesn't want to discuss it and turns away. I couldn't have asked for a better illustration of the gap in understanding between adults and school kids, and the principal's concern, even if he didn't get a good response, did more to show me that he was a caring man than the pages of fake-sounding praise that Cullen put in his book. Brown further whines about the school asking him not to return after the killings for his own protection, even though he states that he hated school anyway and that when he did visit his friends at their new school, they were leery of him and didn't want him around. It's unclear why missing a small amount of school (basically a few weeks) between the killings and graduation was such a big upset to him, but that's how high schoolers think.Brown also complains that investigators considered him a possible suspect after the killings. Yet, Brown also notes that he was among the first, if not the first, to tell the police about Harris and Klebold on the day of the crime; that he had posed for school pictures with Eric and Dylan pointing pretend guns, that he was close to both of the killers and had just eaten lunch with them the day before, and that one of their other school friends was eventually found to have helped them procure guns used as murder weapons. He further describes writings that investigators found in his school notebooks as referring to patricide, reportedly a reference to a different classmate who earlier killed his father. While it does appear that the police wanted to discredit Brown due to their own failure to act on his family's previous reports about Harris, and that Brown in the end was innocent, it also appears that police would have been lax in NOT looking into all of the potentially inculpatory evidence against Brown, even though he turned out to be innocent.In the end, it seems like Brown's issues with Columbine High School, and even to some extent with law enforcement, are reflections of his natural idealism, which is also shown by his disillusion with a Congressional lobbying trip he and other young gun-control advocates make. Brown, a child of privilege, believes things should be better and gets upset or disappointed when they are not. The good part is that he seems to be channeling this disappointment into positive energy and action. And, the fact that he had the emotions of a very typical idealistic high-schooler in response to his best friend's becoming a mass murderer makes Brown even more of an everyman, with a very relatable tale to tell. It doesn't detract at all from the value of the story, especially the recounting of events and emotions by one who actually lived through them at close range. This book should be read by all who are interested in Columbine, or in American high schools in general.

In light of the shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary, I began to hear mention of Columbine again on the news. I was intrigued by the mention of this. I have always known about Columbine, however, I was only 7 at the time it happened so I never really understood the full story behind it. I am a college student now, and I am always disturbed by the crime reports that my university is required by law to send us whenever a crime occurs on or near campus. I have always felt saddened to hear about the Virginia Tech shooting- if it could happen there, why couldn't it happen at my college in Cincinnati? I started to feel the need to do some deeper reading on the motivations and the story behind the Columbine shooting. This book is easy to read and is written in simple prose. I believe this book would be a good source for anyone that wants to actually understand the killers, since it is written by someone who was a peer and was actually their friend.I believe one of the biggest things to take from the book should be the message to spread change through love and logic. I don't care what some other authors might say, there is bullying at every high school. I remember incidents of bullying in high school as a freshman. I especially saw it happen to some boys who were openly gay, or might just be called gay because they do not play sports. Again, not every "jock" is a bully, but the author does a good job of illustrating the cliques and social dynamics of the typical American high school.What really intrigues me about Columbine is the fact that the two boys who committed this atrocity slipped through the cracks of society. I am not saying that anyone should ever kill anyone else. I do know that people can be driven to anger by events in their life, and if they do not receive help then they can seriously hurt people with their anger. The saddest part of this to me were the many symptoms that Eric Harris displayed of violence. This was seen specifically on his website, where he often had violent rants and discussed making bombs, as well as openly threatening to kill one of his peers. When this was reported to the police, nothing was ever officially done about it. This type of violent writing should require some form of mental counseling to address it. Yet again, when the two murderers are caught breaking into a car, they are not counseled.The culture of the typical American high school is also discussed. The two murderers were described as their friend to be considered outcasts. They liked to listen to angry music, they rejected the norm of religion, and they were ostracized in their school. I do not think the things some people do made these boys kill others. Some blame music, video games, and others even blame their parents. Again, if you read this book you can at least see the real view od Dylan Klebold's family situation and make your own judgement. I think bullying and mental illness did play a roll in the behavior of these two, and I think it is something we should learn from.We should all remember Columbine and the other tragic shootings that have occurred. I beg all of you parents out there to teach your kids love and acceptance. I would also ask everyone to take time to say kind words to anyone that seems troubled. It really might change the world to treat someone with kindness and make them feel loved. This book is controversial because it really paints a picture of a vicious school system that may not be fair, as well as a legal system that proved incompetent when it could have potentially stopped a violent massacre just by using a search warrant. We should read this book and remember those that have been lost. I think this book presents a view of how to potentially stop future tragedies like this from occurring, and for that reason I would recommend it to anyone who is open minded enough to read something that not everyone will agree with. I would recommend it to teachers, students, mental health workers, and parents alike.

This was such a horrifying tragedy. My heart goes out to Brooks and the nightmare he had to endure from Police. Their job should have been to protect him, not attack him, and their behaviour is unforgivable. My daughter is your age and the thought of what you had to go through saddens me beyond words. Losing friends and people you know is shocking at any age and to have implied you were to blame just because you were friends is - there are just no words. My sympathy and best wishes to you and your family and respect to you all for the way you have handled and coped with this nightmare. A thought provoking and engrossing book to read

The book examines several areas regarding answers for the happenings of Columbine massacre: the police, school bullying culture, etc. The key information is there and well-put together, but the writing is somewhat confusing. The text flows along the chapters and is well structured. The book also includes personal images from the mothers of the authors of the mass shooting, and of the authors' lives.It is a good book for beginners, initiating research on this topic or just wanting to fulfill curiosity about the Columbine incident.

Compelling book. Brooks Brown writes an account of the Columbine massacre and how he experienced it through his eyes. He gives an in site into the personalities of the two teenagers involved that you don't get from anyone else. He was himself a similar age to Dylan and Eric. For instance he tells you much more about the school for gifted children and what it was really like there compared to Sue,s few sentences on the subject. He left that school, tired of the bullies and toxic nature of the place but Dylan felt compelled to stay. For such a shy boy it must have been hell..... Reading the book made you think that he had a much more real relationship with his parents compared to Dylan and Eric. They bickered and fought and laughed and talked, it wasn't all rosy but it was real and it grounded him. It also gives you an in site into the relationship of his parents with the Kiebalds, Dylan parents. Judy, his mother used to pick Dylan up from school while Sue was still at work, which was how they got to know them. It was tragic how the relationship between the two mothers cooled in the later years when the children became teenagers. Otherwise Dylan's parents might have found out about Eric website before the shooting took place. ...Tragic.. It's a very concise account and well written I think it's important to hear from someone who knew both Eric and Dylan through their childhoods through to their deaths and how it impacted on him and his family. About other friends who all in their own small way knew something was up but choose to do nothing. It gives some in site into why two teenagers felt compelled to carry out such an appalling crime with such a lasting impact

This book is an interesting first hand account of a man who personally knew the killers, and was the last person to speak with them before they carried out their atrocities.The book begins with Brown recalling the day of the killings. As he waited outside the school gates, his two friends approached him, and advised him to leave. Seconds later, his friends began opening fire on students, and he ran for cover. There are touching, harrowing accounts of how he frantically searched for his brother and his school friends, some of whom were later found dead.Brown then tells us the story of his association with the two killers. Dylan Klebold was a childhood friend, whilst Eric was a recent friend he knew through Dylan. The killers later committed suicide. There is a touching moment late in the book when Brown recalls playing computer games with Klebold, and states whenever he plays computer games now, he often wonders what Klebold would have thought of it.Brown also tells of how there were warning signs of Eric's violent temper that the authorities ignored. One day after an argument, Eric vandalised Brown's car, and as tempers escalated, Eric began placing death threats against Brown on his website. Complaints were made to the police, but no decisive action was taken.Brown attacks the police on several fronts. Firstly, because they implicated him as an accomplice in the massacre, leading to considerable stress on him and his family. He was eventually cleared, but without an apology. The second reason for his attacks on the police is their failure to take Eric's murderous threats on his website seriously, despite the Brown family's constant warnings. Brown suggests that had they done so, and taken Eric into custody, the attack may never have occurred.Brown also attacks the culture of his high school. He argues that cruel, violent bullying was routine, most of it carried out by school athletes. He argues that the teaching staff (many of them former athletes) refused to crack down on this due to favouritism. Brown states that this blatant neglect considerably fuelled Eric and Dylan's rage. Brown scoffs at the attempts of the school authorities to present pre-massacre Columbine as an idyllic place.By contrast, Brown is very kind to the media. He argues that in the days after the massacre when he was being implicated as an accomplice by the police, the media were the only outlet he had for setting the record straight and he was/is grateful for this. He also mentions how he ended up doing work for Michael Moore on the film "Bowling for Columbine".Perhaps Brown's most controversial claim is that the massacre was largely due to Eric and Dylan's frustration with wider society, rather than clinical explanations which feature and Eric's/Dylan's mind set, or legal explanations which focus on the availability of hand guns.The book is a useful companion to other books about the massacre, as this is the only book written by someone who actually knew the killers. This therefore provides a fascinating view into the world of the killers.

Brook's writing style is wonderful - engaging, intelligent, compassionate, insightful, thought provoking and above all utterly convincing. As someone from the same generation as Brooks, everything he says has such a clear ring of truth to it. All the way through it, I kept thinking, "If only Eric and Dylan had had the same level of awareness and confidence that Brooks did..." Any of us who were 'outsiders' at high school will recognise so much of what he describes. Having said that, for all the parallels I was able to draw with the atmosphere at my own high school, the horrendous degree of physical bullying, and the elevation of one specific group over another (which was encouraged by teachers and staff) was not one which I recognised, and therefore shocked, angered and saddened me. The fact that this was allowed to go on and accepted as 'the norm' is appalling.This book offers a real insight into the atmosphere which contributed heavily to the psychological development of two young men who became killers. It is by no means an attempt to excuse their actions, nor even offer a full explanation for them - of course, there are many complex factors at play during the formative years of a teenager's life, and Eric and Dylan's home life's and individual susceptibility to mental health disorders for example, are also key factors. But if you want to know what their daily life at Columbine High was like, THIS book will tell you the unvarnished truth.Having just finished reading 'Columbine' by Dave Cullen, I knew I had to read Brook's book, because Cullen's book, while full of interesting factual information, left me feeling very uneasy. I detected such a strong sense of bias in his descriptions and opinions of Eric and Dylan's personalities, and his assertions regarding their psychology. Much of his book seemed to be an attempt to paint Columbine High as the land of milk and honey, and some of it's teachers as saintly. He placed far too much emphasis on the opinions and conjecture of one or two people - people from a completely different generation, who were NOT privy to the reality of what the high school experience was truly like for it's students. Having read Brook's true account, I am left extremely confused as to what motivated Cullen to disregard it, and paint his own very misleading picture.Anyway, I won't go on at length about that because other reviewers have already done so for the review section on Cullen's book.If you want to know the truth about what a high school is like, ask the people who really lived it - the students. Brooks was a student, and as a highly intelligent observer, his account cannot be discredited by anyone who was not there.I do feel that Eric may have been a psychopath, and that Brooks was (like everyone else) unaware of this fact. But psychopaths are not necessarily born that way. In fact, leading experts say psychopathy develops as a result of a number of key factors. They are shaped every bit as much by their experiences and environment as the rest of us. One leading psychiatrist described it recently as a case of "genetics load the gun, and experiences fire it." So even if Eric was a "budding psychopath" (a term which Cullen used in his book) that does not simply mean that his life experiences can somehow be discounted. In fact, maybe it makes them even more relevant, and very important in furthering our understanding of how the psychopathic brain comes to be.Thank you for writing this, Brooks. I wish with all my heart that Eric and Dylan had been more like you.