This work investigates the radicalization, planning, and execution of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh. The authors, investigative journalists Dan Herbeck and Lou Michel, utilize extensive interviews with McVeigh himself, his family, and law enforcement officials to construct a detailed account of the perpetrator's life. The text examines the ideological motivations and the logistical steps that led to the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in United States history.

Experts and readers recognize this book as a primary source for understanding the internal logic of the Oklahoma City bomber. The prose is noted for its journalistic objectivity and its ability to present complex, disturbing material without resorting to sensationalism.