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Kevin Cook
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Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias Kindle Edition

by Kevin Cook (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
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Named one of The New Yorker's "Best Books of 2023"

A news-making account of the war between David Koresh’s Branch Davidians and the FBI, and how their standoff launched today’s militias

In 1993, David Koresh and a band of heavily armed evangelical Christians took on the might of the US government. A two-month siege of their compound in Waco, Texas, ended in a firefight that killed seventy-six, including twenty-five children. America is still picking up the pieces, and we still haven’t heard the full story.

Kevin Cook, who revealed the truth behind a mythic, misunderstood murder in his 2014 Kitty Genovese, finally provides the full story of what happened at Waco. He gives readers a taste of Koresh’s deadly charisma and takes us behind the scenes at the Branch Davidians’ compound, where “the new Christ” turned his followers into servants and sired seventeen children by a dozen “wives.” In vivid accounts packed with human drama, Cook harnesses never-reported material to reconstruct the FBI’s fifty-one-day siege of the Waco compound in minute-to-minute detail. He sheds new light on the Clinton administration’s approval of a lethal governmental assault in a new, definitive account of the firefight that ended so many lives and triggered the rise of today’s militia movement. Waco drew the battle lines for American extremists—in Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh’s words, “Waco started this war.” With help from sources as diverse as Branch Davidian survivors and the FBI’s lead negotiator during the siege, Cook draws a straight line from Waco’s ashes to the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol and insurrections yet to come.

Unmissable reading for anyone interested in the truth of what happened in Texas three decades ago, Waco Rising is chillingly relevant today. Here is the spark that ignited today’s antigovernment militias.

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  1. Print length
    277 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Henry Holt and Co.
  5. Publication date
    January 31, 2023
  6. File size
    22438 KB
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From the Publisher

Waco Rising Kevin Cook Fred Burton quote

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Waco Rising

"Cook's striking history connects the standoff to political violence today."
―The New York Times

“I learned early on as a counterterrorism special agent that it takes tragedy to force change in the U.S. government. Kevin Cook’s masterful story of what truly happened in Waco in 1993 should be read by every American.”
―Fred Burton, former special agent and New York Times bestselling author

“In describing the standoff with exquisite detail and care, Cook masterfully portrays the scope of the violence and heartbreak on all sides. The author’s meticulous history and character portraits also serve as timely reminders of the danger of homegrown militias and the cultlike figures who often lead them. Unfortunately, this material is still fertile ground in America. A thorough, engaging work that reminds us of the humanity behind the tragedy.”
―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An engrossing and original new book [with] heroic detail and depth.... Cook's account transports readers from the Davidians' early days to the prolonged standoff.”
―New Republic

“Cult leaders are fascinating creatures, not only for their undeniable charisma but also for their powerful hold on their followers and their tendency to self-destruct…. In chilling detail, Cook describes Koresh’s descent into religious paranoia, putting him on the path that would lead to his confrontation with the FBI.”
―Booklist

”With both its narrative and its marketed thesis, Waco Rising overwhelmingly succeeds.... Waco Rising is an unparalleled work of narrative.”
―The American Purpose

“[T]ense re-creations of the 51-day siege...a fast, taut read.”
―Washington Post

“Cook digs into how Koresh’s heavily armed evangelical Branch Davidians and the war they waged against the U.S. government, culminating in a firefight that killed 76 people, paved the way to today's militia movement.”
―USA Today

“[F]ast-paced…. Drawing from extensive interviews with surviving group members, Cook is at his strongest when discussing the day-to-day life of the Davidians under their unstable, self-appointed prophet, David Koresh.”
―Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Kevin Cook is the author of over ten books, including The Burning Blue, Ten Innings at Wrigley, and Kitty Genovese. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, GQ, Smithsonian, and many other publications and has often appeared on CNN, NPR, and Fox News. An Indiana native, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09X42L7TM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt and Co. (January 31, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 22438 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 277 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1250840511
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

About the author

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Kevin Cook

Kevin Cook

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The award-winning author of Tommy's Honor has written ten books including Titanic Thompson, Kitty Genovese, Ten Innings at Wrigley, and The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
110 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

EVA M VANDENBOS
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for doing a great job!
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thanks for doing a great job!
One person found this helpful
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Joshua
4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5/5 Stars - Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars!

As a history buff, I was really enthralled by this book, start to finish. The author does a fantastic job taking the reader through the entire period of time during the siege at Waco with the Branch Davidians. They are careful to try and lay out information as factually accurate as possible. There is even points where information is unclear and the author denotes that as opposed to writing assumptions.

Getting to read about the backstory of who David Koresh was, the cult of personality that he created and the lengths they went to to protect “their messiah” was quite fascinating. On the other side of combatants, it is fairly well laid out and explained how the ATF and FBI organized their moves. Having firsthand accounts from both sides of the siege ensures a detailed account of one of the deadliest domestic assaults in our countries history.

Further, the explanation of the impact Waco had on Timothy McVeigh, Alex Jones, QAnon, and so many other modern topics made the book that much more fascinating. If you have any interest in US history, religious extremism, cults, or military/law enforcement operations, this is a must read.
4 people found this helpful
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Mark Risley
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is well-written and well-researched
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
I just finished reading Waco Rising. It was informative, well-written, and captivating. The author presents the facts in an even-handed fashion. It is obvious, based on the content and the footnotes, that this book is well-researched. As the book illustrates, there is plenty of blame to go around. It is disturbing how Koresh and his followers distorted Scripture. And, it is alarming how government officials mishandled things so much. As the book makes clear, the after-effects of what happened at Waco are major, and we are suffering the consequences to this day. I highly recommend the book. Mark Risley
10 people found this helpful
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Lee Murray Brazos Booksellers
4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing read
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2023
This book fills in some gaps for me. As someone living in Waco at the time, the basic story was familiar. Good detail and the additional research was invaluable, as well as first hand information from those still alive who were involved.

The tie in to the modern militia movement is intriguing I think, because so few of us are familiar with militias and only take the word of the media for their beliefs and motivations.

Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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Robert L. Genat
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
Many facts I've never heard before. Well researched. My only problem was putting it down for dinner.
3 people found this helpful
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RL
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be read
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Seems like a very well balanced treatment. Koresh needed to be stopped for his actions with underaged girls, but no one needed to die. Janet Reno was provided misleading information. Such an unfortunate handling of the entire situation.
6 people found this helpful
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Kelsey
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy read to learn more about Waco
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
I was two when Waco took place, so I only know the broad strokes about what took place there. Waco Rising is a great book to learn more about the events without being inundated with too much information. The ending also ties together how Waco has influenced present-day militia movements and their rise, and how they often see Waco as the beginning of government overreach. Overall, a interesting book to learn more about the events that took place at the Branch Davidians compound and it's lasting effects today.
3 people found this helpful
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SeattleBookMama
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched and Readable
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
Waco is a disaster that will be remembered for a very long time, one of the most egregious uses of excessive force against a group of people in the history of the United States. Kevin Cook’s new book, Waco Rising, is well researched and documented, yet is also written in a way that is accessible to a general audience. My thanks go to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

The religious compound at Waco was headed by the charismatic David Koresh, and Cook takes us there, through the evolution of this sect, various splits and skirmishes among the faithful, and its final structure. Unlike many cults and other religious offshoots, this one was largely middle class, and numerous members brought their assets into the group. But the most distinctive aspect of it, compared to other such oddball organizations, was its fondness for munitions. The compound at Waco was armed to the teeth.

Koresh’s organization drew the attention of the Federal government when a disaffected former member leaked the news that Koresh was practicing polygamy—nobody else, just him—and that many of his wives were children:

“One Davidian remembered [Koresh] ‘approaching Michele in the dead of night.’ The word “approaching” was a euphemism. Describing the encounter later as if he found it amusing, [Koresh] told some of the men that he’d invited Michele, who had recently celebrated her twelfth birthday, into his bed “to get warm.” When he tried to pull down her underwear, she resisted. He kept going, he said, because God told him to.”

Initially, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) saw this situation as an opportunity to redeem themselves after the debacle at Ruby Ridge. This time, they would get it right, rescue the little girls, and their reputation would be restored. It didn’t shake out that way. The ATF, and eventually the FBI and the armed forces were deployed, surrounding the Davidians from the land and even the air in a siege of fifty-one days. When it was over, the compound was a smoldering ruin, and seventy-six people, including twenty-five children, were dead.

I was initially unsure if I wanted to read this thing. I knew how it was going to end, after all, and did I want the details in my head? However, Cook paces the story expertly, punctuating the first two-thirds with the occasional darkly funny vignette. But the ending is nothing but grim, and that’s because there’s no other honest way to tell it.

The conversational way it’s written makes it a quick read, and there are a lot of excellent quotes. Cook uses material that hasn’t been reported previously, and he does a fine job. I highly recommend Waco Rising to anyone that is interested in this topic.
5 people found this helpful
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