Waco: A First Person Account of the FBI Siege by Branch Davidian Survivor (1999)

A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story is the memoir of Waco siege survivor David Thibodeau (born 1969). He co-authored it with novelist Leon Whiteson (1930–2013).[1] It was originally published in 1999 by PublicAffairs,[2] and it was re-released by Hachette Books in 2018 with the title Waco: A Survivor's Story as a revised and updated version. It corresponded with the release of Waco,[3] a 2018 miniseries partially inspired by Thibodeau's account.[4] Aviva Layton co-authored the re-release with Thibodeau and Whiteson.[5] Robert Fass narrated the audiobook version of Waco: A Survivor's Story.[6][7] According to Publishers Weekly, the book was originally rejected by over 20 publishing houses before reaching PublicAffairs.[2]

When the book was being shipped out from the publisher in September 1999, federal officials in late August 1999 changed their version of events to include the use of pyrotechnic tear gas canisters against the Mount Carmel Center on 19 April 1993. However, they believe they harmlessly bounced off some concrete into a field and that the Branch Davidians were the ones who started the fire that destroyed it.[8][9]
Reception

One Publishers Weekly reviewer complimented David Thibodeau for not lapsing "into overstatement", and they wrote that the book is "far from an extremist apologia".[10] Michael Sawyer for the Library Journal recommended it for public libraries since there was a renewed interest in the Waco siege when it was published.[11] Margo Hammond for the St. Petersburg Times calls the book "remarkably nuanced" in its recounting of events and notes that the book lays a bit of blame on everyone for the tragedy.[12]

Eric Robbins for Booklist notes the challenging nature of the work against the federal government's account of events, and he believes that Thibodeau's version of events is weakened by his lack of citations.[13] Alicia Anstead of the Bangor Daily Mail writes that although the strength of the book is its a survivor's account of the siege and Thibodeau's struggles through it, American audiences likely will not "warm to the practices of David Koresh", accused of statutory rape and cult leadership.[14]
References

Woo, Elaine (2013-08-30). "Leon Whiteson dies at 82; architect, critic and novelist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
Zeitchik, Steven M. (1999-09-13). "A Well-Timed Waco Book". Publishers Weekly. 246 (37): 21–2.
"Waco: A Survivor's Story". Kirkus Reviews. 2017-11-01.
Freedman, Adrianna (2020-04-21). "David Thibodeau Made a Cameo Next to Himself in 'Waco'". Men's Health. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
Thibodeau, David; Whiteson, Leon; Layton, Aviva (2018-01-02). Waco: A Survivor's Story (revised and updated ed.). Hachette Books. ISBN 978-1-60286-576-1.
Youse, Cheryl (2018-04-01). "Waco: A Survivor's Story". Library Journal. 143 (6): 38.
Scheeres, Julia (2018-05-20). "In God They Trusted: A new audiobook revives David Thibodeau's haunting memoir of Waco". The New York Times.
Richardson, John (1999-09-12). "WACO SURVIVOR TELLS OWN STORY OF DAVIDIANS; MAINE NATIVE DAVID THIBODEAU SAYS FEDERAL AGENTS ACCIDENTALLY STARTED THE FIRE THAT KILLED 74 BRANCH DAVIDIANS". Portland Press Herald.
Whiteson, Leon (1999-09-01). "FBI's lies, siege at Waco unjustified". Deseret News.
"A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story". Publishers Weekly. 246 (35): 63. 1999-08-30.
Sawyer, Michael (1999-10-15). "A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story". Library Journal. 124 (17): 85.
Hammond, Margo (1999-10-03). "Survivor of Waco focuses on healing". St. Petersburg Times.
Robbins, Eric (1999-09-15). "A Place called Waco: A Survivor's Story". Booklist. 96 (2): 228.

Anstead, Alicia (1999-09-17). "Remember Waco: Bangor native recalls siege, losses in new book". Bangor Daily News.

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Branch Davidians
Leadership

Clive Doyle David Koresh Wayne Martin Charles Pace Benjamin L. Roden Lois Roden Amo Bishop Roden George Roden Steve Schneider

Other Davidians

Brad Branch Livingstone Fagan Sheila J. Martin Dana Okimoto Ruth Riddle David Thibodeau

History

Mount Carmel Center Seventh-day Adventist Church Shepherd's Rod Victor T. Houteff Waco, Texas

Doctrine

Apocalypticism Chronology of Revelation Millennialism Prophecy Second Coming of Christ Seven seals

Waco siege

Lon Horiuchi Jeff Jamar Bob Ricks Waco siege Waco Tribune-Herald

Investigation

John C. Danforth Forward Looking Infrared Carol Moore Posse Comitatus Act Janet Reno

Books and Publications

A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives on the Branch Davidian Conflict The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect The Davidian Massacre: Disturbing Questions About Waco That Must Be Answered From the Ashes: Making Sense of Waco Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America

Documentaries

Waco, the Big Lie Waco II, the Big Lie Continues Waco: The Rules of Engagement Waco: A New Revelation Waco: An Apparent Deviation Day 51: The True Story of Waco America Wake Up (Or Waco) The Assault on Waco Inside Waco

Television

In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (1993) Waco (2018) Waco: American Apocalypse (2023) Waco: The Aftermath (2023)

WikiSource WikiCommons

Categories:

1999 non-fiction booksAmerican memoirsPublicAffairs booksNon-fiction books adapted into television showsBooks about the Branch DavidiansEnglish-language books