Let me tell you what I've learned

<p>Barbara Jordan spoke for many Texas women when she told a reporter I get from the soil and spirit of Texas the feeling that I as an individual can accomplish whatever I want to and that there are no limits that you can just keep going just keep soaring. I like that spirit. Indeed the sense of limitless possibilities has inspired countless Texas women-sometimes in the face of daunting obstacles-to build lives rich in work family friends faith and community involvement.</p> <p>In this collection of interviews conducted by PJ Pierce twenty-five Texas women ranging in age from 53 to 93 share the wisdom they've acquired through living unconventional lives. Responding to the question What have you found that really matters about life? they offer keen insights into motherhood career challenges being a minority marriage and widowhood anger assertiveness managing change persevering power speaking out fashioning success from failure writing your own job description loving a younger man and recognizing opportunities disguised as disaster-to name only a few of their topics. In her introduction Pierce describes how she came to write the book and how she chose her subjects to represent a cross-section of career paths and ethnic groups and all geographic areas of Texas. A topical index makes it easy to compare several women's views on a given subject.</p>