The Ditchdigger's Daughters Audiobook By Yvonne S. Thornton M.D., Jo Coudert cover art

The Ditchdigger's Daughters

A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Ditchdigger's Daughters

By: Yvonne S. Thornton M.D., Jo Coudert
Narrated by: Fran L. Washington
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.00

Buy for $20.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
Donald Thornton was a ditchdigger who wanted more for his six daughters. "I love you better than I love life," he assured his children. "But I'm not always gonna be around to look after you, and no man's gonna come along and offer to take care of you, because you ain't light-skinned. That's why you gotta be able to look after yourselves. And for that you gotta be smart."

Donald decided to do the grandest thing he could think of: force them to make a success of their lives. Along with their mother, Tass, he cajoled and inspired the girls to succeed while working two full-time jobs to keep them properly fed and clothed. All six became successful, independent, accomplished women: two of his six daughters became doctors, one became a dentist, one a lawyer, one a nurse, and one a court stenographer.

The Ditchdigger's Daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values above all else. Donald's persuasive common sense, folk wisdom, and right-on insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success.

©2008 Yvonne S. Thornton (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc. Cultural & Regional Educators Medical Professionals & Academics Relationships Women Inspiring Heartfelt Success

Listeners also enjoyed...
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl Audiobook By Issa Rae cover art
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl By: Issa Rae
Just as I Am Audiobook By Cicely Tyson, Michelle Burford cover art
Just as I Am By: Cicely Tyson, and others
Kindred Audiobook By Octavia E. Butler cover art
Kindred By: Octavia E. Butler
Will Audiobook By Will Smith, Mark Manson cover art
Will By: Will Smith, and others
Banyan Moon Audiobook By Thao Thai cover art
Banyan Moon By: Thao Thai
The Other Einstein Audiobook By Marie Benedict cover art
The Other Einstein By: Marie Benedict
Leaving Berlin Audiobook By Joseph Kanon cover art
Leaving Berlin By: Joseph Kanon
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Audiobook By Harriet Jacobs cover art
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl By: Harriet Jacobs
The Color of Water Audiobook By James McBride cover art
The Color of Water By: James McBride
The Chaneysville Incident Audiobook By David Bradley cover art
The Chaneysville Incident By: David Bradley
Maybe You Never Cry Again Audiobook By Bernie Mac cover art
Maybe You Never Cry Again By: Bernie Mac
The Glass Castle Audiobook By Jeannette Walls cover art
The Glass Castle By: Jeannette Walls
Veronica's Grave Audiobook By Barbara Bracht Donsky cover art
Veronica's Grave By: Barbara Bracht Donsky
Etched in Sand Audiobook By Regina Calcaterra cover art
Etched in Sand By: Regina Calcaterra
Mom & Me & Mom Audiobook By Maya Angelou cover art
Mom & Me & Mom By: Maya Angelou
Father and I Were Ranchers Audiobook By Ralph Moody cover art
Father and I Were Ranchers By: Ralph Moody
The Sound of Gravel Audiobook By Ruth Wariner cover art
The Sound of Gravel By: Ruth Wariner
Sisters First Audiobook By Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Pierce Bush cover art
Sisters First By: Jenna Bush Hager, and others
Her Mother’s Hope Audiobook By Francine Rivers cover art
Her Mother’s Hope By: Francine Rivers
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Audiobook By Amy Chua cover art
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother By: Amy Chua

Critic reviews

"[A] tribute to an extraordinary father who transcended racial prejudice to raise appreciative daughters to be independent women." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Fran Washington warms the heart with colorful storytelling. Her character transitions are flawless....Her portrayal of Donald, the devoted father, is especially vivid, charming the listener with his old-fashioned adages and insights. ( AudioFile)
Inspiring True Story • Uplifting Wisdom • Family Resilience • Valuable Life Lessons • Contemporary Relevance
Highly rated for:
Most relevant  

If you could sum up The Ditchdigger's Daughters in three words, what would they be?

This book made me laugh and cry! The author didn't portray her family and life through rose colored glasses. There were good and bad times but perseverance prevails. The parents showed their girls by example to never give up and family is important. I've recommended this book to many friends and patients.

What did you like best about this story?

Never giving up, finding a way to achieve your goals.

What about Fran L. Washington’s performance did you like?

Excellant

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. As a mother and a daughter I felt both sides of their trials.

Wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Inspiring and heartwarming. These are the stories we need more of. Thank you Dr Thornton!

Great read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story was great. Such an inspiring tale of man who made a way for his children out of nothing more then sheer determination!

Inspirational!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This wonderful uplifting true story of grit, resilience, and looking at what you have been given in life in a different way, is full of truths and inspiration.

Excellent book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book was so inspiring. More men should read and appreciate the example that this man was,

Donald Thorton

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Mr. Thornton's efforts to raise his girls showed how much he loved his family. This comes through in the writing of hi daughter, and it is clear the impact that his truisms had on them all.

Well written, well read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Not the best reader, but the story of the Thornton family was very inspiring.

Wonderful story of achievement

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved EVERYTHING about this book‼️
I am the mother of 4 , 3 successful & happy Adult daughters. So, so, so much I Admire about these parents and each family member.

Thank you for sharing your story Yvonne‼️
100% relevant in 2021‼️

Should be REQUIRED reading in JRH,HS & college

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
why this black father raised his daughters the way he did in the 1950s and on. I googled the Thornton sister after I read this book and listened to their music. It was very good. This black father reminds me alot of the book Tiger Mom. You will not be disappointed. I had a little problem getting use to the narrator's style, but after a bit her narration became easier to listen to.

straight forward

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an awe inspiring book. I'd recommend this book. It will inspire you. The parents were phenomenal. Their daughters were the proof. GO THORTONS!!!!!!!!!!

Lithonia, GA

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews