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Daughter of the Heartland: My Ode to the Country That Raised Me
A candid, down-to-earth account of Iowa junior senator and veteran Joni Ernst’s journey from farm girl to politician, and how those values inform her current political career in Washington, DC.
The daughter of hardworking farmers, Joni Ernst has never been afraid of rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty. Raised in rural Iowa, a typical day of chores involved cleaning stalls, hauling grain, and even castrating hogs. While this may sound like a far cry from a life in politics, growing up on a farm was Joni’s initiation into American values. Joni developed grit and farm-bred tenacity, attributes that served her well both as a Lieutenant Colonel in the military and as an underdog candidate in the US senate. Today, Joni challenges leaders who aren’t willing to shrug off their neatly pressed suits and get dirty—literally or figuratively.
In this inspiring memoir, Joni recounts her struggle as a woman in a boys’ club—both in the military and the senate—and how she has risen above to become a successful politician and role model. Senator Ernst is well known and respected for her willingness to hold Washington accountable and her demand for bipartisanship in a time of fierce tribalism. Daughter of the Heartland tells her incredible story in four parts, defined by the values she’s learned along the way—leadership, service, courage, and gratitude.
Written in an honest and compelling voice, Daughter of the Heartland is Joni’s inspirational story of finding her power as a champion for Iowa, a defender of our armed forces, and a voice for women.
The daughter of hardworking farmers, Joni Ernst has never been afraid of rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty. Raised in rural Iowa, a typical day of chores involved cleaning stalls, hauling grain, and even castrating hogs. While this may sound like a far cry from a life in politics, growing up on a farm was Joni’s initiation into American values. Joni developed grit and farm-bred tenacity, attributes that served her well both as a Lieutenant Colonel in the military and as an underdog candidate in the US senate. Today, Joni challenges leaders who aren’t willing to shrug off their neatly pressed suits and get dirty—literally or figuratively.
In this inspiring memoir, Joni recounts her struggle as a woman in a boys’ club—both in the military and the senate—and how she has risen above to become a successful politician and role model. Senator Ernst is well known and respected for her willingness to hold Washington accountable and her demand for bipartisanship in a time of fierce tribalism. Daughter of the Heartland tells her incredible story in four parts, defined by the values she’s learned along the way—leadership, service, courage, and gratitude.
Written in an honest and compelling voice, Daughter of the Heartland is Joni’s inspirational story of finding her power as a champion for Iowa, a defender of our armed forces, and a voice for women.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 26, 2020
22 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 19, 2021
First off I'm a Democrat, so I am always interested with what across the aisle is doing and saying.
It is Senators Ernst's life story and I respect her for her candor and her heartfelt thoughts of her home state and family.
She, like myself , grew up in a rural area and farming. So you do learn a lot about life.
She is an impressive person and I agree with her that those who elect someone to represent them should expect them to do their bidding. And she has done that for Iowa.
She seems to have high Christian beliefs and lives by the teachings in the church.
That is where we part ways and I felt she had decided to ignore those teachings. She says she is willing to vote across party lines if she feels that is best for her state. It seems the rest of the time she has decided to vote a straight ticket. According to a check of her voting record she has voted 91% of the time with the party.
But I digress, the book is interesting and I am impressed with her accomplishments. So, politics aside , her book is fun to read. It is a little slow in places but so is life.
It is Senators Ernst's life story and I respect her for her candor and her heartfelt thoughts of her home state and family.
She, like myself , grew up in a rural area and farming. So you do learn a lot about life.
She is an impressive person and I agree with her that those who elect someone to represent them should expect them to do their bidding. And she has done that for Iowa.
She seems to have high Christian beliefs and lives by the teachings in the church.
That is where we part ways and I felt she had decided to ignore those teachings. She says she is willing to vote across party lines if she feels that is best for her state. It seems the rest of the time she has decided to vote a straight ticket. According to a check of her voting record she has voted 91% of the time with the party.
But I digress, the book is interesting and I am impressed with her accomplishments. So, politics aside , her book is fun to read. It is a little slow in places but so is life.
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this autobiography, told in Joni Ernst's own inimitable style! If you want to know something of the background and thought processes of - in my prediction - one of the future President's of the USA, then read this book.
June 1, 2020
I didn’t know what to expect when picking up Senator Ernst’s book but it exceeded all expectation. As a big supporter of many of her efforts, Senator Ernst opens up about her childhood, her military service, and her time in Washington. She shares what it’s like to raise a child as a public servant and also what it’s like for your divorce to become a national headline. With humble roots, Senator Ernst shares how Iowa shaped her and the land raised her. It was incredible to hear the stories from her own pen and I somehow gained even more respect than I already had for the Senator from Iowa.
June 18, 2020
I listened to this on audible. IWF book club
Inspiring book about how Senator Ernst went from farm girl to Senator. I was impressed by her grit and determination, and her openness about real life struggles.
Inspiring book about how Senator Ernst went from farm girl to Senator. I was impressed by her grit and determination, and her openness about real life struggles.
July 26, 2020
I highly recommend Daughter of the Heartland: My Ode to the Country that Raised Me, which was a rather fast read for me; Senator Ernst writes like she is talking to a long-time friend. She shares her love for Iowa, her home state, and how growing up there, with parents who instilled great values, made her the woman she is today. Each chapter in her book is dedicated to one of those values: home, service, commitment, leadership, grit. She introduces herself as farmer, soldier (23 years in the National Guard), mother, and senator. And she describes the barriers, pains, and hardships she has endured in her lifetime.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews