Discovering the beautiful history of Texas

The beauty of this text

I read Big Wonderful Thing because it was assigned in my Texas History course. I wouldn’t have chosen it myself since it’s almost 1,000 pages and seemed like another boring textbook. However, after the first few pages, I found it engaging due to Stephen Harrigan's storytelling and facts. I felt I needed to engage with it, having grown up in Texas, but realized I only knew the highlights of its history.

 

What was my approach:

At first, I tried to take it chapter by chapter, reading a bit each night. But the more I read, the more I realized I needed a plan. The stories Harrigan tells are complex, and he moves between time periods, people, and political shifts pretty quickly. So I started doing a few things:

1. Previewing the chapter first by reading the opening and closing paragraphs.

2. Jotting down names and events that were new to me in a separate notebook.

3. Using sticky tabs to mark passages that either surprised me or made me question what I thought I knew.

This book is full of stories that don’t make it into the average high school curriculum — stories about Indigenous peoples, women, slaves, immigrants, and rebels whose voices often get left out of the official version of Texas history. I didn’t want to lose any of those details.

What I learned about it

 One of the themes that most impacted me was how Texan identity changed over the years, beginning as a Spanish colony, then becoming a state of Mexico, then an independent republic, and finally joining the United States. This history involved many armed conflicts, as well as social conflicts and racial injustice. The book highlights the conflict between myth and reality in Texas history, emphasizing that while symbols are important, they often overshadow the truth. Harrigan also explores how the land shaped the people and events of the state.

How this text reflected in me

As a student, this book helped me see history as personal and connected, making me want to engage with the past instead of just memorizing facts. 

As a future professional, I learned that every story is shaped and that I will need to represent the truth responsibly, regardless of my career choice. 

On a personal level, it deepened my pride in Texas by allowing me to see its flaws and beauty and appreciate untold stories.

My thought

Before this class, Texas history felt like something I had to learn. Now, thanks to Big Wonderful Thing, it feels like something I get to understand.

Stephen Harrigan didn’t just give me a timeline. He gave me a living, breathing Texas with its contradictions, courage, injustices, and unforgettable stories. It made me realize that knowing where you’re from, really knowing it is one of the most powerful things you can do.