No Easy Answers

The Truth Behind Death at Columbine High School (20th Anniversary Edition)

By: Brooks Brown

Narrated by: Tyler Christos

On April 20, 1999, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, two seniors at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, walked into their school and shot to death twelve students and one teacher, and wounded many others. It was the worst single act of murder at a school in U.S. history.

Few people knew Dylan Klebold or Eric Harris better than Brooks Brown. Brown and Klebold were best friends in grade school, and years later, at Columbine, Brown was privy to some of Harris and Klebold’s darkest fantasies and most troubling revelations After the shootings, Brown was even accused by the police of having been in on the massacre—simply because he had been friends with the killers.

Brown with journalist Rob Merritt tells his full version of the story. He describes the warning signs that were missed or ignored, and the evidence that was kept hidden from the public after the murders. He takes on those who say that rock music or video games caused Klebold and Harris to kill their classmates and explores what it might have been that pushed these two young men, from supposedly stable families, to harbor such violent and apocalyptic dreams.

Shocking as well as inspirational and insightful, No Easy Answers is an authentic wake-up call for all the psychologists, authorities, parents, and law enforcement personnel who have attempted to understand the murders at Columbine High School. As the title suggests, the book offers no easy answers, but instead presents the unvarnished facts about growing up as an alienated teenager in America today.

This edition contains a new afterword that describes what has happened in the United States since Columbine, and provides updates on the aftermath of the massacre.

©2022, 2002 Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt (P)2024 Lantern Publishing & Media

Insight of Columbine

I like hearing the perspective of a student grown up as an adult now vs. to them being younger.

Pure honesty

I have read many books on Columbine and this is truly the only honest, pure, straight from the heart book. The pain and damage these shootings still have on today’s society is pathetic. We as a nation need to do better for our kids.

Interesting perspective

It was different to here how it was like from the killers friend. I have read so many others, a lot of same content. Tragic police did not take seriously all the thinks Brooks family told them and others. Listen to the very end, great to hear what has happened since he wrote the book.

Poorly written

First, let me acknowledge that the Columbine massacre was obviously terrible. I can’t imagine the absolute terror and grief that the author went through. Surely, his perspective is unique and important. I do not mean to discount that at all. His story is worth telling and worth reading.
However, this book reads like it was written by an over confident seventeen year old. He seems to really believe in his victimhood in all of this. It’s a bit much, and comes off as immature. Also, why is he constantly switching between first and third person? Didn’t he have a writer working with him? It drove me nuts.

Amazing and thought provoking

Book covers a lot of ground, and does not focus just on columbine. A good read with for sure.

Insightful, Honest and Heartbreaking.

I just finished “No Easy Answers” by Author Brooks Brown on Audible narrated by Mr Christos… Well Done ! … This book blew me away. I was 19 years old when this happened and don’t remember all the details. This book is very insightful, honest and heartbreaking. The hard truth of how hard high school was at Columbine for some kids and what lead up to the horrific event. It opens your eyes to mental health in teens. As well as how everyone reacted afterwards, parents, law enforcement, school staff, etc… prayers for continued healing for everyone affected by Columbine.

Eye opening

This is a great book that forms how the murderers evolved over time with Brooks observing and being victimized by the perpetrator.

Libertarian edgelord.

I knew I was in for a rough ride the first time Brown name dropped Ayn Rand. We get it, you’re the worst. First DNF on Audible in two years. Can’t even slog through this while walking my dogs.

Boring

Story is more about Brooks Brown's childhood - which is a pretty typical and boring childhood. He talks at length about how gifted he was in grade school and that the world is full of bullies and he grew up a victim. Could not listen to more than a couple boring chapters.