Waco

4.75 (rounded up to 5)

The psychology behind cults fascinates me to no end. I was moderately familiar with the Waco incident but I never could have imagined its lengthy history.

Beginning with the roots of the Branch Davidians, the book goes through different phases of David Koresh's life. Told primarily in chronological order, it almost reads like a novel without feeling fictionalized.

The entire incident was heartbreaking, especially when the tragic ending could have likely been avoided. As I mentioned already, the psychology element was the biggest draw for me. I expected the exploration into the mind of David Koresh, but there was a different realm of psychology involving the FBI. All around, the book kept a good momentum and remained engaging and empathetic toward the victims.