by Kristi Noem
First published 2022
Kristi Noem chronicles her journey from ranch work to the governor's mansion in South Dakota. Her father's philosophy guides her approach: fix problems instead of complaining about them. The story moves from childhood battles with stubborn cattle and rodeo horses to family tragedy when her father dies unexpectedly. Noem makes the difficult choice to return home and manage the family ranch operation with her relatives. She eventually enters politics, serving in Congress before becoming South Dakota's first woman governor. The narrative follows her through natural disasters, the global pandemic, and national political tensions. Noem confronts Washington's most influential politicians while leading her rural state through crisis after crisis. She offers frank evaluations of prominent national figures alongside personal stories of marriage and raising children. The book focuses more on life lessons than political ideology, drawing connections between ranch management and public leadership.
Genres: family-life, historical-fiction, politics, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: South Dakota
Period: 21st-century
289 pages · Kindle Edition · Twelve