At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, a truck bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people and injuring more than 680 others. The bombing was the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001, attacks.
In the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, a number of books were written about the event and its implications. Here are some of the best:
The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Politics of Terror by Timothy McVeigh and Lou Michel tells the story of the bombing from the perspective of the two men who carried it out.
The Survivor’s Club: The True Story of the Oklahoma City Bombing by Gary McNickle is the story of one man’s experience in the bombing and his subsequent struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Terror in the Heartland: Oklahoma City Before and After the Murrah Building Bombing by Roy Keating is a collection of essays by various authors about the bombing and its aftermath.
The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Trial of Timothy McVeigh by Andrew Gumbel and Roger Charles is a detailed account of the bombing and the subsequent trial of Timothy McVeigh.
Oklahoma City: What the Investigation Missed–and Why It Still Matters by Andrew Gumbel is a critical look at the official investigation into the bombing, raising questions about what may have been missed.
The Final Report: The Official Account of the Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building by the Oklahoma Bombing Investigation Committee is the official report on the bombing, released by the state of Oklahoma.
In the Wake of Terror: Oklahoma City in Perspective by Anne Hendershott and Christopher K. Gergen is a collection of essays by various authors about the bombing and its aftermath, with a focus on the role of faith in the healing process.
The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Inevitability of Conspiracy by John W. Dean is a critical look at the official investigation into the bombing, raising questions about possible government involvement.
The Memory of Justice: The Oklahoma City Bombing and Trial of Timothy McVeigh by Richard A. Serrano is a detailed account of the bombing and the subsequent trial of Timothy McVeigh, with a focus on the victims of the bombing.
The Oklahoma City Bombing: The History and Legacy of America’s Deadliest Terrorist Attack by Charles River Editors is a concise history of the bombing, its aftermath, and its legacy.
Closing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a tragedy that shook the nation. These books offer a glimpse into the lives of those affected by the event, as well as the ongoing debate about what really happened that day.