Bryan Burrough Books

Three noted Texan writers join forces to reveal the true story of the Alamo, challenging long-held myths and addressing the current contentious debates surrounding its significance. The Alamo is central to Texas identity, symbolizing the fight for independence from Mexico, famously associated with Davy Crockett and his fellow rebels. However, this narrative is more fantasy than fact. The authors argue that the historical account has been distorted over time, with the crucial roles of Tejanos—Mexican Texans who fought alongside Anglo rebels—erased, and the underlying conflict over Mexico's anti-slavery stance overlooked. The book provocatively recounts the battle within the broader context of Texas's quest for independence, exposing how historical myths were crafted in the racially charged environment of the Jim Crow South. Celebrating the Alamo has often been intertwined with the celebration of whiteness. In recent decades, revisionist efforts have sought to create a more inclusive narrative, but the discourse has become increasingly polarized and even violent as Texas's demographics shift. This timely work aims to illuminate the truth in a space clouded by misconceptions, offering a wise and generous perspective on a pivotal moment in Texas history.

"Three noted Texan writers combine forces to tell the real story of the Alamo, dispelling the myths, exploring why they had their day for so long, and explaining why the ugly fight about its meaning is now coming to a head. Every nation needs its creation myth, and since Texas was a nation before it was a state, it's no surprise that its myths bite deep. There's no piece of history more important to Texans than the Battle of the Alamo, when Davy Crockett and a band of rebels went down in a blaze of glory fighting for independence from Mexico, losing the battle but setting Texas up to win the war. However, that version of events, as Forget the Alamo definitively shows, owes more to fantasy than reality. Just as the site of the Alamo was left in ruins for decades, its story was forgotten and twisted over time, with the contributions of Tejanos, Texans of Mexican origin who fought alongside the Anglo rebels, scrubbed from the record, and the origin of the conflict over Mexico's push to abolish slavery papered over. Forget the Alamo provocatively explains the true story of the battle against the backdrop of Texas's struggle for independence, then shows us how the sausage of myth got made in the Jim Crow South of the late 19th and early 20th century. As uncomfortable as it may be to hear, celebrating the Alamo has long had an echo of celebrating whiteness. In the last forty-some years, waves of revisionists have come at this topic, and at times have made real progress toward a more nuanced and inclusive story that doesn't alienate anyone. But we are not living in one of those times; the fight over the Alamo's meaning has become more pitched than ever in the past few years, even violent, as Texas's future begins to look more and more different from its past. It's the perfect time for a wise and generous-spirited book that shines the bright light of the truth into a place that's gotten awfully dark"-- Provided by publisher

"Barbarians at the Gate" is the classic account of the defining takeover in Wall Street merger history. The authors' gripping record of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street, in fall of 1988, gives a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era.

The book provides a gripping narrative of the intense conflict between the FBI and various domestic revolutionary groups during the 1970s. It explores the social and political upheaval of the era, highlighting the motivations and actions of both the government and the activists. Through detailed accounts and vivid storytelling, the author delves into the tactics employed by the FBI and the responses from these movements, offering a comprehensive look at a pivotal time in American history.

Recounts how Texas oil transformed wealth and power in America through the stories of the state's four most influential oil families, tracing how they rose from modest backgrounds, shaped the government, and bankrolled the rise of modern conservatism.

Exploring America's greatest crime wave and the establishment of the FBI, this groundbreaking work provides a definitive history of the country's first war on crime. The narrative highlights significant events and figures from this tumultuous period, offering insights that resonate with contemporary issues. Accompanied by a black-and-white photo insert, it captures the era's essence and the evolution of law enforcement in response to rampant crime.

In 1933 a crime wave blazed across America. Fuelled by cheap liquor and fast cars, gangs of chancers, bank robbers, gunslingers and their molls cut a murderous, cash-snatching dash through the US - and became legends. Among them were homicidal Baby Face Nelson, outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, cranky hillbilly Ma Barker and, most deadly of all, the suave gentleman criminal John Dillinger. This is the breakneck story of America's most wanted, and their nemesis: J.Edgar Hoover and his strong-arm law enforcers, the agents of the FBI. Using shocking secret files and eyewitness accounts, Public Enemies reveals the facts about the crime spree that shook America.

A #1 New York Times bestseller and arguably the best business narrative ever written, Barbarians at the Gate is the classic account of the fall of RJR Nabisco. An enduring masterpiece of investigative journalism by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it includes a new afterword by the authors that brings this remarkable story of greed and double-dealings up to date twenty years after the famed deal. The Los Angeles Times calls Barbarians at the Gate, “Superlative.” The Chicago Tribune raves, “It’s hard to imagine a better story...and it’s hard to imagine a better account.” And in an era of spectacular business crashes and federal bailouts, it still stands as a valuable cautionary tale that must be heeded.