The Wild West is full of myths, but behind the gunfights and honor codes is a deeper story about virtue and civilization. In today’s episode, bestselling author Bryan Burrough joins Ryan to explore the truth behind America’s gunfighter era. They discuss how honor culture took root in the lawless frontier, where violence was so common that gunfights were simply called “fights”, and what that reveals about the difference between performative strength and real virtue.

Bryan Burrough is the author of Public Enemies, The Big Rich, Forget The Alamo, and most recently The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Bryan was a longtime correspondent at Vanity Fair and is now editor at large at Texas Monthly.

Grab signed copies of The Gunfighters and Bryan’s other books, Public Enemies, The Big Rich, and Forget The Alamo at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/

Follow Bryan on X @BryanBurrough and check out more of his work at his website www.bryanburrough.com

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Alex Lifeson & Mike Levine