Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism

Written by Jeffrey Toobin

Narrated by Jeffrey Toobin

The definitive account of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the enduring legacy of Timothy McVeigh, leading to the January 6 insurrection—from acclaimed journalist Jeffrey Toobin.

Timothy McVeigh wanted to start a movement.

Speaking to his lawyers days after the Oklahoma City bombing, the Gulf War veteran expressed no regrets: killing 168 people was his patriotic duty. He cited the Declaration of Independence from memory: “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.” He had obsessively followed the siege of Waco and seethed at the imposition of President Bill Clinton’s assault weapons ban. A self-proclaimed white separatist, he abhorred immigration and wanted women to return to traditional roles. As he watched the industrial decline of his native Buffalo, McVeigh longed for when America was great.

New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin traces the dramatic history and profound legacy of Timothy McVeigh, who once declared, “I believe there is an army out there, ready to rise up, even though I never found it.” But that doesn’t mean his army wasn’t there. With news-breaking reportage, Toobin details how McVeigh’s principles and tactics have flourished in the decades since his death in 2001, reaching an apotheosis on January 6 when hundreds of rioters stormed the Capitol. Based on nearly a million previously unreleased tapes, photographs, and documents, including detailed communications between McVeigh and his lawyers, as well as interviews with such key figures as Bill Clinton, Homegrown reveals how the story of Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing is not only a powerful retelling of one of the great outrages of our time, but a warning for our future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781797153063

Jeffrey Toobin

Jeffrey Toobin is the New York Times bestselling author of American Heiress, The Oath, The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, Too Close to Call, A Vast Conspiracy, The Run of His Life: The People vs. O.J. Simpson, and Opening Arguments. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, he lives with his family in New York.

Reviews for Homegrown

[Meg Rice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book shares a detailed historical record of how some American citizens, over time, exchanged their horror and outrage over the bombing of the Edward R Murrow building in Oklahoma City, for a belief that armed confrontation and murder are necessary; “the ends justify the means”.

The book chronicles the growing divide in political thinking, the players, and an account of violent actions taken. An insightful read/listen.

[scott prutsman · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I had high hopes for this book. It ultimately ends up being a partisan anti-Trump piece which I wasn’t interested in. The author used mostly material that has already been presented in books about the bombing and investigation. I also found it interesting that he blasted McVeighs attorney Steven Jones for donating a “treasure trove” of documents to the Brisco Center claiming he had no legal right to do that, but then the author cites all of those documents as a source.

[Courtney Holbrook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My brother died in the bombing and I was hesitant to read my first book on Timothy McVeigh. The book was thorough, accurate, written with facts and neutrality. I cried when the author discussed the actual bombing. I learned many details I was unaware of. I continue to grieve over losing my brother that day but reading the book helped me heal just a little bit more. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding the today’s right wing mindset and the events that helped shape people who participated in Jan 6th.