Good evening as always.

Thanks for watching and supporting PBS Kansas, the home of seriously good TV in South Central Kansas.

I am Ted Ayres, the host of Inside the Cover, your locally produced show about books, authors and the joys of reading.

Thanks for sharing these next few minutes with me and we certainly endeavor to make it worth your time tonight.

I want to spend a little time talking about American history, going all the way back to the beginnings of American history.

We have two books that I finished in April of 2022, and I found them to be an interesting and appropriate pairing.

And I want to acknowledge and thank my friend Randy for putting them into my frame of reference.

Tonight's books are Our First Civil War by Dr. H.W.

Brands and Fears of a Setting Sun by Dr. Dennis C Rasmussen.

It is now time to go inside the cover.

By virtue of his talent and subject matter.

H.W.

Brands is one of my favorite authors.

In fact, this will be the fourth book by Dr. Brands that I have reviewed on our show.

Henry William Brand's, born on August seven, 1953, is an American historian.

He has authored over 30 books on U.S. history and his works have twice been selected as finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

He currently holds the Jack S. Blanton chair in history at the University of Texas.

He holds four degrees, including a Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas, conferred in 1985.

Our first civil War was copyrighted in 2021 and is subtitled Patriots and Loyalist in the American Revolution, which when we think about it, truly was our first civil war.

In this regard, Brands asks What causes a man, therefore, to save his country and take arms against it?

What prompts others hardly distinguishable in station or success to defend the country against the rebels?

Without being overdramatic, I ponder the applicability of these questions to our country today.

Of course, Brands discusses the various patriots synonymous with the revolution.

George Washington.

Benjamin Franklin.

John Adams.

Patrick Henry.

Alexander Hamilton.

And John Hancock.

And he also discusses those who remain loyal to the crown.

A prime example being Franklin's son, William Campbell.

Franklin Brands then notes the Patriots were cast as heroes and founding fathers.

The loyalists were relegated to their parts better forgotten.

But amid the struggle, the bitter fight among the Americans for the minds and hearts, for political allegiance and material support, for control of the destiny of the homeland.

Both sides laid claim to was crucial in determining the outcome of a contest between nations.

Dennis C. Rasmussen is professor of political science at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is also co-director of the Political Philosophy Program at Syracuse and senior research associate at the Campbell Public Affairs Institute.

He earned his Ph.D. from Duke in 2005.

Fears of a Setting Sun was also copyrighted and 2021.

It is subtitled The Disillusionment of America's Founders.

The book begins on September 17, 1787, as the delegates to the constitutional convention gather one last time in Independence Hall.

With that background, Dr. Rasmussen proceeds to review and discuss the subsequent concerns, fears and worries of five of the Founding Fathers Washington, Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson and Madison.

These books can certainly be read independently with value.

However, let me suggest that the subject matter of the two books make an interesting and thought provoking point counterpoint.

That's our show.

Thanks for watching and I look forward to our next conversation together here on Inside the Cover tonight.