No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward

by Kristi Noem

The New York Times bestselling author, governor of South Dakota, and former congresswoman shares eye-opening realities of DC dysfunction, lessons from leading her state through unprecedented challenge, and how we seize this moment to move America forward.    Any elected official can talk about how broken our government is. But their solutions always seem to involve more money, new programs—and reelection to another term. Few offer an unfiltered glimpse into how government actually works, empowering citizens with the knowledge to be part of the solution.   Governor Kristi Noem never planned on being in politics. But her concern for our nation compelled her, on a local, national, and global level. Because she took a different path into public service, as a concerned mom and rancher, her insights help every citizen understand how positive change really happens, despite the dysfunction in Washington DC. Governor Noem explains how the country is not going back to the Republican party of the 2000s. And that’s a good thing. This book is packed with eye-opening stories and practical lessons from the front lines of the battle. And she names names.  ​ A lot has changed since 2016, and based on her accomplishments in Congress and as Governor, no one is better equipped than Kristi Noem to explain the tremendous opportunities this opens up for every American.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Kristi Noem is currently serving as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota.

Reviews

[Jamie Pauline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never vote for a woman who’s proud of murdering her dog.

[Brian Doran · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute trash. Didn’t like the book either.

[Ryan Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this was supposed to be all about how great she is, but I'm just left wondering if she killed her dad.

Also, have someone proofread your ghost written book.

[Lester I. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Noem has discovered there truly is “no going back” once you shoot your puppy in the head. In a gravel pit. Because it couldn’t hunt. Beyond bragging about being a horrific human, Noem’s ghost writing smells of dead goat.

[Rina · Rating 1 out of 5]

You would think Kristi would be against censorship. Since my original review was removed despite an email saying it did not go against community guidelines, I’ll say it again: this was a trash book. Kristi, stick to killing animals or whatever you do in your spare time babe.

[Cory Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

What Noem has written is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in her rambling, incoherent writing was she even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this country is now dumber for being exposed to this drivel.

[Ari Damoulakis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rubbish. It starts with her feeling threatened and then angry because she feared Blm protestors so had to get away. Just gets worse. An awful human being. See dog episode. But one who of course knows and loves God.
You wonder if these people are really this dumb or awful, or if they just write for their base?
Luckily she is very insignificant.
Feel sorry for anyone living in her state.
She is the person that helps disprove the theory that America is uniquely always the best.
She’s a total disgrace. Like someone else said, probably a psychopath. But she is definitely low-class trash, but the kind that no amount of money or power could ever fix. And no, my dear friends, it is not wealth or cultural sophistication that gives you class or an amazing EQ. She has none.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m being very generous with a one star rating. The woman is a psychopath and admits it.

[Kirstin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it’s important to dive deeper than clips and headlines taken out of context. With Ms. Noem being a cabinet nominee, I thought it was important to be more informed about who she is so I checked this book out from the library.

Here are some reasons for my rating:

Ms. Noem states “actual strength comes from unity” but spends a large portion of the book using divisive language to refer to folks with different political beliefs (essentially, democrats)

She talks about freedom and democracy (and criticizes people with “no real knowledge of history”) while praising Hungary’s Holocaust-denying autocratic leader, Viktor Orban and Italy’s unapologetically fascist leader, Giorgia Meloni.

She shows unwavering support for Donald Trump while asking readers to consider what and who they are loyal to and if they trust their leaders to make the right decisions. She also states that we need leaders who are loyal to the Constitution. Trump has shown that he is not, so I hope she takes her own advice and considers her own loyalties.

She writes superlatives and cites stats (like South Dakota’s supposed only 700 people on unemployment) without citing a source and instead saying “I’ll spare you the details here but trust me.” Thanks, but I don’t. Much like she did her own covid research, I like to do my own research too and could not find numbers anywhere near hers. I’d love to see her sources - why gatekeep if the success is scalable to other states?

She doesn’t seem to see the irony in her trip to Kenya. She is critical of folks in refugee camps who, from her view, are “living off of handouts.” Then when she meets an elderly woman outside of the camp making ends meet with a dairy cow (and aspiring to save for another), Ms. Noem steps up as a white savior to, well, hand one out.

And the examples she uses to illustrate her values felt a bit off-base. She illustrates that she is a doer “willing to do the hard work” by retelling when she shot a 14 month old puppy who had been rehomed and who she deemed untrainable and worthless because of one bad hunt. Seems pretty extreme when the pup likely could have been adopted or trained elsewhere.

Similarly, she talks about not following what the government deems best by recounting the time her dad cut seatbelts out of their car because he opposed seatbelt laws. I suppose it is an American right to eschew one’s own safety if they choose, but these anecdotes felt a bit out of touch.

I am not sure what her goal was by writing the book. It is primarily self-congratulatory with numerous pushes encouraging the reader to relocate to South Dakota. She does speculate what she’d do Day 1 as president - maybe it’s a soft launch for a presidential bid.

As far as writing, the book jumps all over the place and the timeline can be a bit hard to follow. When it comes to politics, you could probably catch the same drift by logging onto a local rural FB forum.

[Merey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually really good. We all know the controversy and it’s really sad that will overshadow the rest of the book. But if you are just blindly bashing the book without reading it, I suggest you read it for yourself before forming an opinion. She says a lot of great things: education is important, getting involved is important, local government can be more important than federal, you need to pay attention to what’s going on locally, be kind and work together. She probably shot herself in the foot and it really sucks.

[Linda C]

I will not spend a minute or a dime on this dog killer's poor attempt at being relevant. We know who you are, Kristi, and it's not a good look.

[Steven B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No Going Back" also offers valuable insights into the political landscape and the inner workings of government. Noem's experiences as a congresswoman and now as the governor of South Dakota shed light on the complexities and challenges faced by those in public service. Her dedication to conservative values and her unwavering commitment to her constituents are evident throughout the book.

In conclusion, "No Going Back" is a must-read for anyone interested in politics, leadership, and the journey of a strong-willed individual who strives to make a difference. Kristi Noem's engaging narrative, coupled with her insights and experiences, make this book a valuable addition to the political literature landscape. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking inspiration and a closer look at the inner workings of American politics.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this after the Cricket and Kim Jong Un stories broke…..
I tried to go into this book with an open mind, and was hoping to learn a little bit more about why Kristi has the stances she does, and I was left disappointed. If that’s what you’re hoping for, this is not it.

This book is the biggest pick-me for VP I’ve ever read, and the entire first half reads as a love letter to Trump.
I’ve also never heard a book use the word “freedom” more.

I would like to conclude overall with the fact that I simply cannot give this book more than one star when you threaten to kill the sitting president’s dog as one of your actions you would take on your first day as president if you were elected and took office in 2025.

[Tracy Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

The puppy story was worse than it has been translated! Poor CRICKET! (The puppy’s name) RIP.

[Heather Haggar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Being from South Dakota and experiencing first hand the excellent leadership of Kristi Noem has been remarkable. She made history as the first woman Governor of S.D. and continues to stand up and form on protecting women, women’s rights (born and unborn), women’s sports, and women in business. An exceptional leader in difficult times.

Loved her human relatability and sharing her personal life and perspectives.

Definitely recommend!

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, can’t. Just read the middle of chapter 6. Cricket and a goat. I lived in a one room log cabin in Alaska, so I know about survival. What this b*tch did, wasn’t about survival, it was about sating her hate. She “led her out into the pasture and down into the gravel pit”. That poor dog. 😭🤬 Then she writes, “Being a leader isn’t always fun”. Nope.

NOPE
DNF

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I consider myself politically moderate and independent, and I make a point of reading perspectives from across the political spectrum to better understand different viewpoints. I also hold a deep respect for women in leadership and the challenges that come with those roles.

In her book, I appreciated the author’s willingness to critique elements within both major political parties, as well as her emphasis on civic engagement and personal responsibility. That message—encouraging people to participate in their communities—is one that can resonate broadly, regardless of political affiliation.

At the same time, my overall rating is low due to a few areas where I struggled with the content:

First, as a former dog owner who has experienced the challenges of caring for a difficult and sometimes aggressive pet, I understand that hard decisions can arise. However, the account involving the killing of a young dog, as described in the book, was deeply troubling to me. I also felt that referencing harm toward another well-known dog—Commander—did not add constructively to the narrative.

Second, trust is essential in public leadership. The book includes a claim about meeting Kim Jong-un that has been corrected by her own office. Given that the audiobook is narrated by the author herself, this raised concerns for me about accuracy and credibility—qualities I believe are fundamental for anyone in public office.

Unrelated to the book, as an immigrant, I value both the rule of law and a fair, humane approach to immigration. While I support accountability for criminal activity, I find her actions as Secretary of Homeland Security concerning, as they do not reflect a balanced approach that distinguishes between violent offenders and non-criminal individuals.

Overall, while the book offers moments that encourage reflection and civic participation, it also left me with questions about judgment and reliability. My hope in sharing this perspective is to contribute to a thoughtful and respectful conversation, where readers from different viewpoints can engage with both the strengths and the concerns raised in the book.

[Mana · Rating 2 out of 5]

“You can't make good decisions if you don't have empathy and compassion for the people you're responsible for.”

Kristi Noem is right about this, and it’s also exactly why she was a horrible leader. Where was the empathy for Alex Pretti, who was executed on the street after he was disarmed by multiple ICE agents? Instead he was a “domestic terrorist”.

I’ve never seen republicans become so anti 2nd amendment so quick! (Especially over someone who never even used or reached for his gun and was actually disarmed before being murdered!)

Kristi Noem 100% believes she’s a better person than she actually is. If I read this book without knowing it was about Kristi Noem, I would never guess it was her that wrote it. She talks about values and qualities she doesn’t seem to demonstrate, all while insisting she’s not being arrogant. No, she’s just “that kind of person.” Sure, Kristi.

This book also felt like a huge advertisement for South Dakota. News flash: no one wants to live there despite its “freedom” and its “growing economy”! South Dakota ranks below average for public education, near the bottom for its GDP, and its crime is about average. Not to mention, there’s nothing there! 🤠

2/5⭐️ because there were very few points I actually agreed with.

P.s. Imagine being proud of shooting and killing your own dog because you sucked at training it. Very Christian!

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Role Model

I'm the proud father of two adult daughters and, since they were young, both consciously and unconsciously looked for positive female role models. That continues today and Secretary Noem's background and career are exemplary. She, IMO, is a positive role model for all but particularly teen girls. She was raised on a family farm and taught and expected to do all jobs associated with the ranch. She lost her Dad at age 22 to a farm accident while she was pregnant and took over the management of the farm. Active in both her community and church, she progressed into state politics because or her agriculture background. Her respect for the land, it's peoples, and God, made this book an enjoyable read. This is her second book and focuses more on her beliefs and policies as they relate to South Dakota. Her first book "Not My First Rodeo" is more biographical and it is a fantastic read also. This book was written in early 2024 prior to the Presidential election hence the focus on her governorship of South Dakota. Secretary Noem is a great American in my opinion.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite all its career-smashing bad reviews, I had to check this one out.

And it was okay at first: humming along about how’s she a bit of an outlier when it comes to governing, and how being the lone congressperson from south Dakota with no friends sucked.

But then the dog story popped up.

Why on earth did she include this controversial dog story? Did she have a backstabbing editor? It really didn’t add anything to what was up to that point a political memoir/slash/conservative treatise that didn’t hesitate to trash Dems and RINO Republicans alike.

I’ve read enough at this point of my life to be able to sniff out a good allegory or metaphor, but leaping out of your truck and shooting your puppy who was naughty at the neighbor’s house was a very strange anecdote to include in your memoir. I’d have buried that story if it were me.

PS, other than the whole dog thing, this one is also an ad begging ya to move to South Dakota as well as political advice and some general advice, too. I listened to the audiobook as narrated by Kristi herself and she did a nice job. She’s accomplished quite a lot in her life and it was interesting to hear her take on her experiences.

[Adam‘’s book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Clear and Accessible Insight into Kristi Noem’s Perspective

No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward by Kristi Noem is part of my ongoing effort to understand Republican viewpoints and potential leaders for a possible 2025 Trump administration. Narrated by Noem herself, the audiobook is engaging, straightforward, and surprisingly quick to get through, offering plenty of accessible information.

Noem discusses a range of topics, including her state’s response to COVID-19, comparing South Dakota to New York City, and her concerns about TikTok. While her arguments are grounded in practical examples, some might find the omission of other key tech-related issues, like Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, to be a missed opportunity for a broader discussion.

Overall, the book reflects Noem’s straightforward leadership style and common-sense conservative ideology. It’s a worthwhile read for those curious about her vision for America and the principles guiding her decisions.

[Amy Mayberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprisingly encouraged by this book. It’s nice to hear from a politician that they want to hear from us! She encourages anyone that is interested in running for any level of office to do it, that we need “regular” people who don’t want to be career politicians. I also like how she encourages people to get involved in discussions with people, even those we don’t always agree with. It’s healthy to have a respectful discussion and try to understand other’s point of view. Like I said, I was surprisingly encouraged. She’s like a cheerleader for America, and I think that’s a good thing!

[Linda Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on leadership and citizenship. Governor Noem lays a foundation on how we can get involved and serve our country. This is also a good outline for leaders in any aspect of a community. Time well spent reading this book.

[Orion Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you probably already know, I first heard of this book when the mainstream media vexatiously attacked governor, Kristi Noem for killing her dog however I like to give the benefit of the doubt so I got this book read the entire thing and it was excellent to surprise. The mainstream media was lying for starters. No one wanted this 14 month old dog, so Noem thought she would adopt it, and train the dog named cricket the dog kept misbehaving time and time again and the straw that broke the camels back is when Noem took the dog on a hunting mission and instead cricket escaped out of her cage killed all of her chickens. Keep in mind Kristi Nome ran a farm at that time so she needed them to support her family cricket also killed some of the neighbours livestock and attacked Kristi as well as her children so obviously that dog had to go. It was very kind of Kristi to adopt the dog when no one else wanted that rambunctious aggressive Manji beast in this book we also learn a lot about Kristi Noem history, such as how she gotten into politics and her excellent job as governor she did not bow down to the left and shut her state down like so many other governors Republican governors unfortunately and she also gave her views on Trump and Israel. This book is fairly recent so she has a lot of good takes on recent events if I had to have a complaint on this book, it would be that she reminds us that she is a woman way too often, and she claims that she was mistreated because she was a woman which, if that is the case that is a problem, but she never said who exactly mistreated her she never called them out by name which she should have done. She also said people think because I’m a woman I shouldn’t be governor but I haven’t heard anyone say this so I’m curious who said this. But at least she can define what a woman is unlike most people on the left. Anyways, I know Kristi probably wrote this book in hopes of becoming Donald Trump’s vice president which I’m sure she would be great at, but I would still recommend reading this book nonetheless because it has a lot of great points and a lot of information about her life.

[Jodi Glanze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to hear the context for the dog situation. I don’t think some of the critics have ever been in that situation, and surely don’t know anything about farm life. Valuable insight into politics, the double standard of how covid was handled, and other serious issues in our country. It’s appalling how China is able to buy so much US land- how can ANY American be ok with that? She helped get TikTok removed from government devices. Which… if that device is supposed to be for official business, why is our tax money paying people to sit around on TikTok anyway?
Looking forward to Kristi Noem as our next Secretary of Homeland Security, she knows how to get the job done and save money doing it.

[Mary Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reads like an essay by a mediocre eighth grader. I feel every paragraph could use a fact check. Noem is still touting the same disillusions as always. She is the only smart politician in the world. Wait. She says she is not a politician but later calls herself a politician. She says she bought a donkey because it was pregnant, then in a few paragraphs calls it he. Apparently, she had no editor or proof writer. Boring, untrue, a waste of good paper.

[Reader Winston · Rating 1 out of 5]

The mendacity of this memoir has been well documented. It exposes the gruesome gaslighting which is the foundation of the author’s political career. Her proclivities toward constant canards, conspicuous cruelty,
and continued corruptions are apparent as she regales the readers with preposterous tales of staring down dictators- allegedly,
meeting with world leaders- allegedly, and shooting a puppy. Strange stories from a very suspect source.

[Maddox Pugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horrible account of her shooting a puppy in the face..taking to a gravel pit because she hated the dog. Murdered a goat because it was stinky and three horses.


The Governor also talks about meeting North Korean Dictator ‘Kim Jong-un’ which there is zero evidence of that.

[Leigh Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd rather eat paint chips in a room of asbestos than read this book.

[Janelle Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. I like when authors read their books. Not making a political statement. I read both sides of the aisle.