H. W. Brands is an American historian and author of 22 books, co-author of 2, and editor of 4 more. He was born in Oregon, and graduated from Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Stanford University in 1975 with a B.A. in history. He is a currently a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Ph.D. in history in 1985.