Columbine by Dave Cullen is both equal parts fascinating and terrifying. Most of what I remembered hearing about the school shooting is not even accurate. News outlets clung to rumor instead of fact and I bought it hook, line, and sinker. I still remember when it happened. I was in 11th grade. I remember being terrified that something like that would happen at my school and then thinking, "No... that would never happen here!"
But that's what everyone says...
The most interesting tidbits were about the media. Cullen himself is a journalist and he talks unashamedly of his profession and the bias and spin out there. He talks about lazy journalism and lazy cops. He is brave in his telling. He has done his research and his list of sources dares to reader to question his authority. He's done his homework.
I learned about psychopathy and the difference between a sociopath and psychopath. For example, did you know that 80% of psychopaths are male? I think I've met one or two of the 20% that are female.
I would love to teach this book for many reasons, but mostly for the discussions about trusting what you hear and taking everything fed to you with a HUGE grain of salt.
Think about being a teenager: where do you get most of your information? School, home, and the internet, right? YIKES. Just because you hear it at school doesn't make it true. Same goes for home (sorry, folks) and same goes for the internet (obviously -- and the irony is not lost on me -- you're reading this on the internet right now!)
I always encourage my students to question EVERYTHING they hear and read. Check your sources... in fact, check them twice. This book would reinforce that and teach them some very important life lessons in the meantime.
But that's what everyone says...
The most interesting tidbits were about the media. Cullen himself is a journalist and he talks unashamedly of his profession and the bias and spin out there. He talks about lazy journalism and lazy cops. He is brave in his telling. He has done his research and his list of sources dares to reader to question his authority. He's done his homework.
I learned about psychopathy and the difference between a sociopath and psychopath. For example, did you know that 80% of psychopaths are male? I think I've met one or two of the 20% that are female.
I would love to teach this book for many reasons, but mostly for the discussions about trusting what you hear and taking everything fed to you with a HUGE grain of salt.
Think about being a teenager: where do you get most of your information? School, home, and the internet, right? YIKES. Just because you hear it at school doesn't make it true. Same goes for home (sorry, folks) and same goes for the internet (obviously -- and the irony is not lost on me -- you're reading this on the internet right now!)
I always encourage my students to question EVERYTHING they hear and read. Check your sources... in fact, check them twice. This book would reinforce that and teach them some very important life lessons in the meantime.
Recommended by my very funny, quirky, morning-loving coworker, The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty is the WILDEST of rides.
First of all, there are no chapters. So you just keep reading and reading and reading.... and you don't want to stop anyway because it's so compelling, but then you quite literally can't stop because there is no break like a chapter ending.
Also, this is in second person point of view. I don't think I've ever read a book that is in second person POV. I allows you to completely put yourself in the story -- you become absolutely immersed. You ARE the main character. You are making HUGE MISTAKES AND SCREWING UP EVERYTHING WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING YOU IDIOT GIRL!!!??!!??
Read this book.
Until next time...
By the way, I'm not even going to mention or draw attention to the fact that this is my first blog post since September.
I'm just not going to do it.