Gems of American History consists of twelve lectures, each one approximately eighty minutes long, delivered to public audiences over the years 1995 to 2019. They address a variety of fascinating and important subjects drawn from American history. Moreover, the volume conveys an eloquent lecture style hence it makes an excellent teaching tool for young professors and teachers. The topics include Benjamin Franklin's late conversion to the cause of American independence, the history of the Fourth of July holiday, American aviation and culture since the Wright Brothers, the Naval War College and history of U.S. grand strategy, a two-part series on the Constitutional history of American foreign policy, and more. In sum, the book is a rich and savory soup sure to entrance any reader interested in American history.