Kevin Cook Libri

A tribute to the professional achievements of the father-and-son team of Tom and Tom Morris cites their pivotal contributions to the founding of golf in the 1800s, the differences in their athletic styles, and young Tom's tragic early death.

'Tommy's Honour' tells the story of the two Tom Morrises, father and son, both supremely talented golfers but utterly different, constituting a record-breaking golfing dynasty that has never been known before or since.

Exploring the rich history of Kentucky basketball, this book delves into the arenas that have hosted the Wildcats over the past century. Author Kevin Cook combines archival research and interviews to unveil captivating stories, from Alumni Gym's 1925 opening to the poignant tributes in Memorial Coliseum. It highlights the development of Rupp Arena and its societal impact, illustrating how these venues shaped Lexington's social, economic, and political landscapes. Fans will also relive memorable game day experiences, deepening their appreciation for the Wildcats' legacy.

Focusing on the deep connections between fathers and sons, this collection of uplifting stories explores the legacy of baseball. Award-winning sportswriter Kevin Cook shares personal anecdotes and tales from the sport's superstars, highlighting the joy and bonds formed through the game. The narrative emphasizes the significance of traditions, such as cheering for the home team and passing down cherished items like old gloves, showcasing how baseball serves as a powerful medium for family relationships.

The narrative explores the transformation of professional football from the gritty, grassroots era of the 1970s to the polished, high-stakes environment of the 1980s. Through interviews with iconic players like Franco Harris and Joe Montana, it captures their on-field heroics and off-field antics. The book highlights coaches like John Madden and Bill Walsh, who shaped the game during this pivotal decade, while reflecting on the physical toll the sport exacted on its players. Cook illustrates the NFL's evolution into a multibillion-dollar entertainment powerhouse.

Alvin "Titanic" Thompson, a master gambler and grifter, is brought to life in this vibrant retelling of his extraordinary adventures from 1892 to 1974. Known for his distinctive lifestyle, he traveled with golf clubs, a .45 revolver, and a suitcase filled with cash, embodying a quintessential American character. The narrative captures the essence of his colorful life, making it a captivating read for anyone intrigued by the world of betting and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabit it.

In 1993, David Koresh and a band of heavily armed evangelical Christians took on the might of the US government. A two-month siege of their compound in Waco, Texas, ended in a firefight that killed seventy-six, including twenty-five children. America is still picking up the pieces, and we still haven't heard the full story. Kevin Cook, who revealed the truth behind a mythic, misunderstood murder in his 2014 Kitty Genovese, finally provides the full story of what happened at Waco. He gives readers a taste of Koresh's deadly charisma and takes us behind the scenes at the Branch Davidians' compound, where "the new Christ" turned his followers into servants and sired seventeen children by a dozen "wives." In vivid accounts packed with human drama, Cook harnesses never-reported material to reconstruct the FBI's fifty-one-day siege of the Waco compound in minute-to-minute detail. He sheds new light on the Clinton administration's approval of a lethal governmental assault in a new, definitive account of the firefight that ended so many lives and triggered the rise of today's militia movement. Waco drew the battle lines for American extremists--in Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's words, "Waco started this war." With help from sources as diverse as Branch Davidian survivors and the FBI's lead negotiator during the siege, Cook draws a straight line from Waco's ashes to the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol and insurrections yet to come

The True Story of the Card-Sharking, Gun-Slinging, Golf-Hustling American Legend who inspired the character of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls