Questions and Answers with Mary Beth
1. Why did you write Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia?
Condi Rice is a fascinating person and her life lessons can help everyone. Condi’s words of wisdom had
real impact on my own life. I want to help other people and I could achieve that goal by telling Condi Rice’
s amazing story. It is a story most Americans have never heard because of Condi’s own modesty. Her
life story reads like a novel. She is a woman who overcomes tremendous obstacles and is successful
despite great odds. She was born in the segregated south of Birmingham, Alabama in a time of violence
and upheaval. Because of her own determination and drive, today she is the most powerful woman in the
world. She is an inspiration to all of us.
2. What is the most surprising thing you learned about Condi?
Condi’s optimism surprised me. I immediately recognized similarities between Condi and other great
optimists from history. I love this quote by her: “I have a very, very powerful faith in God… and I don’t
believe that I was put on this earth to be sour, so I’m eternally optimistic about things.” Condi describes
herself as a “practical idealist” and one thing she really hates is pessimism. I took away from a speech I
heard last year this nugget: “good things take a long time.” Condi believes we need to be patient and we
need to have optimism for a bright future. Great achievements don’t happen overnight. She uses several
examples of this, including the founding of America, the end of slavery in the United States and the fall of
the Soviet Union.
3. What is the most important life lesson Condi taught you?
That’s a hard one to answer because there are so many things that I learned writing about Condi. But if I
had to pick one life lesson it would be: don’t dwell too long on bad situations and the past. She likes to
say, “Life is too short.” One of her favorite sayings is, “Get over it. Move on to the next thing.” Condi says
something else that works for her “is not to look that far ahead; to do what you’re doing, do it well, and
see what comes next.” Condi is disciplined, stays focused on the current job before her, and she doesn’t
worry about the future. This is excellent advice.
4. How is your book different from the other books on Condi?
My book is positive and uplifting while being informative. Other recent books have been written by
journalists who get too bogged down with foreign policy details. Some of the books attack Condi because
of her courage and willingness to reject the agenda of the old fashioned liberal black leadership. I have
combed through thousands of pages of research about Condi and I wrote a story which paints a picture.
Most people don’t have the time or inclination to go through boring details. I have taken only the choice
bits of information. Condi: Life of a Steel Magnolia reads like a novel about an inspirational woman. It is a
true story from which we can all learn.
Condi Rice is a fascinating person and her life lessons can help everyone. Condi’s words of wisdom had
real impact on my own life. I want to help other people and I could achieve that goal by telling Condi Rice’
s amazing story. It is a story most Americans have never heard because of Condi’s own modesty. Her
life story reads like a novel. She is a woman who overcomes tremendous obstacles and is successful
despite great odds. She was born in the segregated south of Birmingham, Alabama in a time of violence
and upheaval. Because of her own determination and drive, today she is the most powerful woman in the
world. She is an inspiration to all of us.
2. What is the most surprising thing you learned about Condi?
Condi’s optimism surprised me. I immediately recognized similarities between Condi and other great
optimists from history. I love this quote by her: “I have a very, very powerful faith in God… and I don’t
believe that I was put on this earth to be sour, so I’m eternally optimistic about things.” Condi describes
herself as a “practical idealist” and one thing she really hates is pessimism. I took away from a speech I
heard last year this nugget: “good things take a long time.” Condi believes we need to be patient and we
need to have optimism for a bright future. Great achievements don’t happen overnight. She uses several
examples of this, including the founding of America, the end of slavery in the United States and the fall of
the Soviet Union.
3. What is the most important life lesson Condi taught you?
That’s a hard one to answer because there are so many things that I learned writing about Condi. But if I
had to pick one life lesson it would be: don’t dwell too long on bad situations and the past. She likes to
say, “Life is too short.” One of her favorite sayings is, “Get over it. Move on to the next thing.” Condi says
something else that works for her “is not to look that far ahead; to do what you’re doing, do it well, and
see what comes next.” Condi is disciplined, stays focused on the current job before her, and she doesn’t
worry about the future. This is excellent advice.
4. How is your book different from the other books on Condi?
My book is positive and uplifting while being informative. Other recent books have been written by
journalists who get too bogged down with foreign policy details. Some of the books attack Condi because
of her courage and willingness to reject the agenda of the old fashioned liberal black leadership. I have
combed through thousands of pages of research about Condi and I wrote a story which paints a picture.
Most people don’t have the time or inclination to go through boring details. I have taken only the choice
bits of information. Condi: Life of a Steel Magnolia reads like a novel about an inspirational woman. It is a
true story from which we can all learn.
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