Waco
A Survivor's Story
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Waco
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Narrated by:
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Robert Fass
About this listen
The basis of the celebrated Paramount Network miniseries starring Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch - Waco is the critically acclaimed, first person account of the siege by Branch Davidian survivor, David Thibodeau.
Twenty-five years ago, the FBI staged a deadly raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. David Thibodeau survived to tell the story.
When he first met the man who called himself David Koresh, David Thibodeau was a drummer in a local a rock band. Though he had never been religious in the slightest, Thibodeau gradually became a follower and moved to the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. He remained there until April 19, 1993, when the compound was stormed and burned to the ground after a 51-day standoff with government authorities.
In this compelling account - now with an updated epilogue that revisits remaining survivors - Thibodeau explores why so many people came to believe that Koresh was divinely inspired. We meet the men, women, and children of Mt. Carmel. We get inside the day-to-day life of the community. We also understand Thibodeau's brutally honest assessment of the United States government's actions. The result is a memoir that sounds like a thriller, with each minute taking us closer to the eventual inferno.
©1999 David Thibodeau (P)2018 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Thibodeau, one of only four Branch Davidians to live through the Waco disaster and not be sentenced to jail, has produced a surprisingly balanced and honest account of his time as a Branch Davidian. Neither sensationalist nor defensive, this will make satisfying reading for anyone interested in the April 1993 tragedy." (Kirkus Reviews)
"A disquieting portrait of a religious community and its enigmatic leader." (Kirkus Reviews)
"This book gives a rare glimpse of life at Mount Carmel and an account of how that attack contrasts with the 'official' government version. With the renewed interest in this siege, this book is recommended for public libraries." (School Library Journal)
What listeners say about Waco
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DC
- 16-02-19
Catastrophic
An amazing story. My heart goes out to those who perished at Mount Carmel and the struggle the survivors must endure.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-02-18
Essential reading /listening....
Totally absorbing, totally disturbing and totally contradictory to what we were told by a hysterical media out for blood and the lies of a militarised and incompetent federal agency. I don't agree with some of the core values of The Davidians, but the way there were treated is a massive and illegal travesty.
A dark moment in U.S. history.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- davehuntuk
- 15-08-19
Excellent - Poignant and Well Written
I've spent the last few months digesting every possible piece of media I can find Inthe Waco tragedy and I can safely say David's book was by far the most eye opening.
A must read / listen for anyone regardless of their historical knowledge of Waco.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M Baker
- 18-09-19
Interesting, if you can see beyond the bias
As someone with a genuine interest in the Waco tragedy I approached this book with a degree of caution, and I believe I was right to do so.
Numerous investigations, both official and unofficial have concluded the actions of the ATF and FBI during the original raid, the 51 day siege and subsequent fire were questionable at best, and may have contributed to the devastating outcome. So I'm certainly not here to 'side' with the authorities.
However, this account is filled with bias and contradictions, which while clearly attempting to encourage the reader to feel sympathy for the Davidians, actually have the opposite affect.The author repeatedly claims to have no interest in firearms and no interest in the group's activities relating to firearms, while at the same time stating categorically that they weren't breaking any laws regarding the misuse of firearms. If he wasn't involved, how does he know? When the initial attack begins he states, "I went to get my gun".
He also refers to David Koresh's "statutory rape" of minors as being unfortunate because it contributed to the authorities interest in Mount Carmel and its' inhabitants. It's as if he's saying, I know there was law breaking going on, but why did they come after us?
Finally he objects to the Davidians being referred to as a cult, stating that one of the definitions of a cult is a group that doesn't survive beyond the death of its leader. Well while the Branch Dividians may continue today as a tiny splinter of the Adventist church, Koresh's warped ideology, rejected by both Davidians (outside Waco) and Adventists alike, certainly died with him. Cult? I think so.
The sad fact remains however that over eighty people died as a result of Koresh's megalomania and the failings of the US law enforcement agencies attempts to bring him to justice.
I recommend this book, its an entertaining and interesting read/listen. Just go in with your eyes wide open and make sure this isn't the only text you read on the subject.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alex Hughes
- 23-08-19
Very revealing!
Until now I was only aware of the crazy "cult" line that the media spun. This book has completely destroyed that myth. I've just been left horrified at the terrible injustice of the situation and the corruption on the part of the authorities. Not good for a country which considers itself one of the greatest in the world!
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Braid7
- 02-03-18
A difficult & potentially divisive read.
What disappointed you about Waco?
Authored by a Branch Davidian survivor, I obviously expected this book to have a certain perspective but it comes across as trying very, very (too?) hard to convince. Almost immediately, the manner of writing seems to be overly conscious in its efforts to sway the reader, even down to glaringly obvious word choices to achieve very particular connotations.
From all the numerous accounts released over the years (including from other surviving Branch Davidians) there is undoubtedly blame to be placed on both sides but, rather than a heartfelt account of living through the awful events of Waco, it felt more like a series of carefully constructed justifications and accusations.
One thing that is clear with this book, the author is still very much committed to his "cause" and how much any reader gets from this book will depend entirely on whether they respect him for that or whether they are angered or frustrated by it.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Narration was good, natural & easy to listen to.
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8 people found this helpful