Dave

As a person who lives minutes from Columbine High School here in CO - I am still stunned after listening to this book. Like many around these parts, I had initially followed the reporting intensely - then after some months - just turned away due to overload. So it was with a lot of hesitation when I started listening - but after I started - I just couldn't stop listening. I admit that I was one who held onto many of the original myths of the tragedy. I have now shaken loose these myths, thanks to a very miticulous piece of writing here from Mr. Cullen. And I was vagually aware of some of the miss-steps taken by my county - JeffCo, but now I am especially embarassed. After listening, I was compelled to stop by the Columbine Memorial the other day for the first time - I had to read the Rohrbough inscription. It was a stunningly, bluebird summer day and Clement park was a happy place. Don't laugh, but this book is like a little therapy for me.

So after many years of Audible books, this choice was by far, my BEST choice. Thanks Dave Cullen and thanks Audible.

It is interesting to read this book in light of the recent Gulf oil spill and Minerals Management Service (MMS) incompetence. I see similar parallels. Maybe there will be a similar book on MMS. As a former Fed Gov employee at the Dept of Interior (I escaped after 3 years), I am not totally surprised at the SEC problems which is one of the main ideas in this book. It is much worse to have incompetent government agencies that APPEAR to be regulating some industry, and just like the Gulf oil spill - find out they don't do their job. So I'm always left to wonder why everyone seems to have so much faith in government and appears to want to give government more and more responsibility. I wish everyone could have a summer job of working for a government agency - I think the political landscape would change for the better. Many of the issues the author brings to light at the SEC were the same issues at the Fed agency I worked. I think this is a good book (but not a masterpiece) and I recommend it.

Dave