HW Brands on American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900.Henry William Brands was born in Oregon, went to college in California, sold cutlery across the American West, and earned a graduate degrees in mathematics - before he embarked on a path that would make him one of the great presidential historians of our time. He earned his doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. Today he is the Dickson Allen Anderson Centennial Professor of History at UT Austin. Brands is a prolific author. His books include Traitor to His Class, Andrew Jackson, The Age of Gold, The First American, and TR. Several of his books have been bestsellers. Traitor to His Class and The First American were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. One of our most popular speakers, H.W. Brands has regaled Hauenstein Center audiences since 2004.