– Surviving The Attack On Mount Carmel –

The author, David Thibodeau, is one of the few survivors of the raid in Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993. Thibodeau shares his story regarding why he joined the community led by David Koresh and what went on inside the compound, some things good, some extremely objectionable. But all things are educational and informative since he was there.

This book is an updated version of his previous memoir, written with co-author Leon Whiteson, A Place Called Waco, 1999.

David Thibodeau was a 21-year-old drummer when he met David Koresh in Los Angeles in 1990. When Koresh invited him to join his Christian-oriented band, Thibodeau readily agreed. But when he was invited to Waco, he was at first a bit shocked, then fascinated by Koresh’s spiritual teachings.

Thibodeau calls himself a dreamer that Koresh helped guide. But by 1993, the compound became the focus of government surveillance since the compound bought and sold guns. It was also fueled by disaffected members who had fled the community and claimed it was a dangerous cult of people brainwashed by a madman.

A violent, unjustified siege ended with 80 community members killed.

The last chapter addresses things from both sides that might have made a huge difference in the outcome of the attack.

My Thoughts

What Concerned Me: Nothing

What I Liked Most: My rating of this book has nothing to do with what I think of the Davidian teachings, it is solely on this book. The story gave me a better view of what happened in and outside of Waco during that time period. Though non-fiction rarely finds its way to the top of my books to read, I’m glad this book made it there since I didn’t follow the happenings at Waco too much at the time of the raid.

This quote from Rob Cline, a correspondent for the Gazette, January 8, 2018, pretty well sums it up:
“Waco: A Survivor’s Story is a fascinating look at a community that was brutally (and needlessly) destroyed for the sins — both real and imagined — of its leader.”

 

Authors: David Thibodeau / Leon Whiteson/ Aviva Layton
Publisher: Hachette Books (January 2, 2018)