This was an interesting nonfiction book about Waco, I will be checking out more from this author. Thank you for the early copy!

With the recent 30 year anniversary of this memorable event in American history, I have become very curious to learn more about this event that happened when I was only a child. I first read "Waco" by Jeff Guinn which served as a comprehensive look at the formation of the Branch Davidians and David Koresh's life before the raid began but only skimmed over the details of the raid itself. This book is the perfect fit with Jeff Guinn's, as it delves into the 51-day raid practically day by day in a really comprehensive way but skims over the lead up. It isn't a long book, and was a fairly quick read that I didn't want to put down. You really get to know the FBI and ATF agents that played such pivotal roles in the raid, and the politics that went into how everything played out. The book also included different survivors memories from "Waco" by Jeff Guinn, which added another interesting perspective to the book. While I was apprehensive about how Kevin Cook would somehow connect this event in 1993 to what happened on January 6, 2021 - I was also surprised about how well the argument was crafted. I am so glad I read this, and would definitely recommend it. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co publishing and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy.

I really enjoy true crime and cult related books, movies, tv shows, you name it. Cult behavior and the psychology of it is really fascinating to me, for which David Koresh and the Branch Davidians are a perfect case study. I was really excited to see there was a new nonfiction account of Waco being published featuring firsthand stories of those who were there on the ranch and the law enforcement officers that were part of the devastating 51 day standoff. I first learned about Waco (mid-90's baby here!) after watching the fictional dramatization of it on Netflix and the story has really emotionally stuck with me. I will now read/watch/listen to anything created about it.

This was a well researched, well written, well narrated version of what happened in Waco in 1993 from multiple perspectives. It is raw, gritty, emotional, graphic, and does the story so much justice on the 30th anniversary. For anyone interested in the nonfiction, non-dramatized version of these events, this book will be my first recommendation!

Thank you so much to Henry Holt, Tantor Audio, Kevin, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC of this title!

As someone who is maybe a little obsessed with the events that happened at the commune in Waco Texas, this book was amazing. I have to have this in a physical copy, and if you’re anything like me, you do too!

Waco Rising is a fascinating account of the man who became David Koresh leading the Waco Branch Davidians ultimately to their deaths during the 1993 siege by the FBI. Though I was very young when it happened, I've always been intrigued by how the events could have happened. Kevin Cook's writing is succinct and objective. Some parts were pretty upsetting, especially the repulsive expectation for young followers to submit to Koresh's every desire and bear his children because of "God's will." I appreciated the connections Cook makes to larger world events and the formation of militias in the United States. I listened to the audiobook which was well-narrated by Gary Tiedemann.

Thank you, Henry Holt and Tantor Audio for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

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.

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.

Thank you to Henry Holt & company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Let me start by saying I only rated it because I wanted to give a numerical value to it. Otherwise, I really don’t think it’s appropriate to rate. I’m basing my rating off of the writing-it was brilliant! To see the “inside” of what was happening in Waco, was eye-opening. I was young when this happened, so I didn’t see it at the time. I remember learning about it. Lots of interviews & real things that happened are shared in this book. If you enjoy non-fiction events, this would be a great one for you!

I vividly remember the events surrounding the Branch Davidian compound in Waco in 1993, so it is always interesting to learn more. Kevin Cook dives a bit more into the history of the Davidians as well as the evolution of Vernon Howell into David Koresh. We learn more from both sides of the stand off - the ATF, the FBI, and those in the compound. There are events that happened in other parts of the country prior to this that are believed to be linked. There are events that happened in other parts of the country afterwards that are also believed to be linked. During those two months in Waco, there were mistakes made, promises broken, and lives lost. It is a heartbreaking story but worth the read as we approach the 30 year anniversary of this tragedy.

Somehow my entire learning in history missed this MAJOR historical event. This book blew my mind in pretty much every way. I'm so glad I read it.

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.

This is a good primer for the events in Waco in 1993. It’s not super detailed or into the weeds on lead up (though a bit longwinded during the standoff stuff) and closes with solid insights into modern day militias and how Koresh led to their prominence. For folks who know little or nothing about the events in Waco I would say check this out.

I’m weirdly very interested in “Waco” and the Branch Dravidians. This is a well done and unbiased presentation of the events. The Davidians come off as sympathetically delusional and the government (ATF/FBI) as grossly incompetent if not ignorantly pernicious.

The unique contribution of this book on the events, are the final few chapters discussing the effect the disaster had on the US political Colin are in general and the growth of right-wing armed militias specifically.

A worthy account of the events for someone who is new to it and those are are not will gain from it as well.

This book was incredibly interesting. I feel like I learned a lot even though I feel like this space in the book world can be pretty saturated. I loved it.

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

I don’t know why two books are being published in January 2023 on the standoff that took place in Waco, Texas in 1993, but they are and I read them both.

I found Waco Rising by Kevin Cook to be the more engaging, and the more frightening, of the two. Waco by Jeff Guinn is good but not great. Waco seems exhaustively researched; it is very detailed and at times repetitive. Waco Rising, on the other hand, included information I’d never heard or read before. For example, Guinn talks about the Branch Davidian dogs that were shot by agents, but Cook talks about the eleven tiny puppies that were inside, not outside in a pen, the chickens, and the “hunger-mad goose” penned up with the dead dogs. Details like these really brought the setting to life.

Cook’s retelling of what happened in at the Branch Davidian compound in the spring of 1993 moves at a much brisker pace, and without as much repetition (although there is still repetition – a good editor could have tightened up both of these books). Cook’s book is much more critical of the decisions made by the ATF and especially the FBI. Cook draws a direct line between Waco to Oklahoma City to Alex Jones to January 6th. FBI negotiator Gary Noesner calls Waco “a self-inflicted wound for the FBI. It contributed to a broad antigovernment sentiment that’s out there today.” (p. 157 of the advance reader copy)

If you want to know more about the standoff between government agents and the Branch Davidians, and how the event is affecting the United States today, you may find either or both of these books worth reading.

I read advance reader copies of Waco and Waco Rising from Netgalley. They are scheduled to be released in late January 2023 and will be available at the Galesburg Public Library.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Henry Holt & Company for an advanced copy of this book that is both a historical record and a prequel to what America is dealing with today.

On a February day in 1993, two groups were about to converge in Mount Carmel,Waco in an event that would become known for both its death count and the numerous conspiracies that would be born there. Both sides were sure of the righteousness of their actions, either from the laws of men, or the word of God. At the end almost 90 or more people would be killed, shot, burned or asphxiated, and doubts about what happened, and why would start a slow corrosion in America that would lead to more deaths, governmental mistrust, coups and lots more hatred. Kevin Cook in Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias tells of what events led up to this raid, why things went wrong, and about the many questions that not only linger but poison most of the political discourse today.

Vernon Wayne Howell was the son of a fourteen year old girl whose father deserted him before birth. Howell had a hard time growing up, with abusive stepfathers, problems learning and more. However Howell was good at tinkering and even better at learning the Bible. So much so that it became a calling, and a skill that kept him moving from religious group to group looking for a home. Which he found with the Branch Davidians, a sect of Seven Day Adventists living in a compound in Waco that had it's own troubled history. After a court battle, and a gun battle, Howell began to head the group, taking a very young bride, and soon adding more young girls, some as young as twelve as his wives, while grooming others. To keep the group going which was actually expanding, even as Howell, now known as David Koresh, brought more and more ideas about women being his sole property, the group began to sell weapons at gun shows. Which is when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms took an interest. Needing a nice raid of public relations purposes, which had suffered from bad raids in the past, ATF, planned and executed a very large arrest party complete with the press to watch. The surprise raid was not a surprise and soon after a bloody day, a long siege began.

A very fascinating and compelling book filled with eyewitness accounts and stories from both sides. The book begins on the final day and goes back, but really never losses any momentum. No one comes out good in this. Not Koresh, who really seemed like a horrible man, the Branch Davidians who let their children become child brides, to Koresh. Nor law enforcement people who seem both arrogant, incompetent and uncaring in their need for a win. There seemed to be a sense of disconnect that went all the way up in government. At the end it was the chlldren I felt the most for. Cook is very good at capturing this personal moments, even moments where you want to reach through the page and shake these people saying and doing stupid stupid things. This is book that not only makes you think, but makes a reader feel.

Timothy McVeigh became radicalized by Waco. Alex Jones found a career from this. In a raid that was after guns, and yes to protect the children it is sad that much more children have suffered because of this. There will be a lot of books because of the 30th anniversary of the event. Kevin Cook's I think will be considered one of the best.

Waco Rising is a fast paced look into David Koresh’s life, the siege on the compound, and the reactions of people in the militia movement. I didn’t know many details about Koresh or the siege but Cook did a fantastic job laying out what happened in just enough detail without getting bogged down. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

I remember watching the building burn after the 50+ day standoff on TV back in the day. Little did I know at the time how little I knew about what happened. So so well researched and well-written, this reads like fiction. I couldn’t put it down. Fascinating learning about David Korean’s childhood and background as well as learning more about who was negotiating and making decisions throughout the stand off. I also appreciated learning about how other incidents such as Ruby Ridge fed into distrust of the government and even Timothy McVeigh’s association to Waco. The author thoroughly researched bringing in current events about Michigan Governor Whitmer. I could have read another 100 pages. Fascinating. Thanks to Henry Holt Co for the advanced copy!

This book was so well researched. I've read a lot of books on Waco and David Koresh and there were a lot of details that I had never heard before and it was very informative. It told both sides, not just the public story. I had no idea the depth that Janet Reno was misled throughout the standoff. What I really didn't know is how Alex Jones got his start with Waco and that is why he has that microphone.

What a fascinating read! I didn't know much about Waco before I started reading Waco Rising. I really appreciated the level of research Cook brought to this project. I feel as though the various 'sides' were covered respectfully and without any inclination toward absolving anyone. I definitely felt the need to tell my friends about all of my newfound Waco knowledge after I finished this book.