Waco: A Survivor's Story

by David Thibodeau, Robert Fass (Narrator), Leon Whiteson

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 reads like a thriller, with each page taking us closer to the eventual inferno.

Audible Audio

Published January 2, 2018

Reviews

[Leigh Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting to hear the story and perspectives of waco from such a close confidant and friend of david koresh. i didn’t rlly learn anything new abt the events of mt carmel and this book def had an extra political charge against the governments actions — which i personally thing are valid but still overshadowed the story in my opinion. overall, i enjoyed it but prob would recommend other books i’ve read abt waco first before this one.

[Melissa Agawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the USO while waiting for a flight — not expecting much, just something to pass the time. But it held me.

Thibodeau doesn’t glamorize or excuse what happened at Waco. He tells it plainly, as someone who lived it — confused, searching, young. The writing is honest, sometimes raw, and the account is deeply unsettling in the ways that matter. It’s a story about belief, control, and the high cost of blind loyalty — but also about survival, and trying to make sense of the aftermath. It left me with more questions than answers, and I think that’s the point.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating story. I didn’t pay a lot of attention when this event was happening because I was absorbed with small children. Now I see how pivotal it was in our history. Government overreach for sure and then complete obfuscation by the leadership. Will we ever get to see the real evidence? Interesting how some of the players are still around….Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, the Clintons. Maybe when they’re gone we will see the true story unfold.

[Debbie Poland MacAvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the novel about Waco, I wanted to read more. I felt this book was truthfully told by David Thibodeau. He included faults and mistakes by Koresh and himself, not just complaints about the raid.
Even though I was aware of the raid back when it happened, I didn't pay all that much attention to it. Even if I did, the media was the only place to get info, and they were telling the government's view.
what a horrible tragedy that never should have happened 😢

[ElizabethD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thorough description of what happened at Waco. Not what the media portrayed or what the government told you. It’s still a tragedy that all those adults and children were murdered. And for what?