The 1993 siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas is remembered for its televised final fire, for its inspiration of the Oklahoma City bombing, and for the wave of anti-government militarism that followed. What we understand far less is what motivated the Davidians' enigmatic leader, David Koresh. Drawing on interviews with family and participants, the author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo paints a psychological portrait of this self-appointed messiah who led his cult into an apocalyptic standoff, one whose implications continue to resonate today.