INTRODUCTION — There's a lot to say about this book, but I've summarized my overall view of it in the headline of this review: well-written, interesting, relevant, and important. I'll list a few comments below, organized alphabetically by topic.
FAITH — The frequent quoting of scriptures and references to Jesus, God, and faith, are woven throughout the book. For anyone who has lived a similar daily life of prayer and Christian mindfulness, this will seem completely normal. It's like a daily devotional. For non-religious readers, this may seem unusual. Even for people who consider themselves Christians, it may seem excessive. It could be interpreted as proselytizing or an attempt to appear to be very pious. It would help some readers to have this explained in the introduction. Some of the reviews on Amazon suggest people are not familiar with this kind of attentiveness to scripture and prayer. Since there are millions of people of Christian faith (and other religions) who live a similar conservative life of daily observance, it's helpful to have this book available as an introduction to what that life is like and understand one's more religious neighbors better.
JOURNALISM — I'm old enough to remember a time when reporters and journalists would provide an objective description of events. There is still some unbiased reporting today, but it's less common. In this book, Pence is like a journalist in that he covers a mix of unflattering life events and weaknesses, as well as some high points. Rather than a retouched Instagram-worthy portrayal of his life, he shares the entire picture. Seemingly mundane events and more exciting ones. When combined, these accounts give us a good context and backdrop to the unfolding story of the book.
POLITICS — The book stands on its own as an interesting life story. Given the remarkable political developments we've witnessed in recent years, it's unavoidable for this book not to be interpreted with a political lens. Pence was quiet for a long time after his life was threatened by an angry mob in January of 2021. When recently interviewed about the incident, he explained that he found the incident "disappointing" or something to that effect. This understated and reserved response seems consistent with his overall personality. Pence clearly doesn't want to say anything disparaging about the party or provide fodder to be used later. A potential Pence presidency would likely be a more polite and civil continuation of the policies and practices he supported during his time as Vice President and the years prior.
CONCLUSION — I'd suggest you download or view the online free sample. It will give you a good sense of what to expect. There are some surprises in the book that are unexpected based on the predominant public representation of Pence and our limited exposure to him in the news. When initially writing this review (on 26 Nov 2022), I was starting on Chapter Seven. I've only slightly modified the review in this reposting on 4 Jun 2023. Upon completing the book, I'll come back and make any needed changes to this review. Like Pence, the Midwest is my home, but I've also lived many years in the Washington, D.C. area. I went to college at about the same time he did. Much of the life experiences he describes are familiar and similar to my own. So, for me, the book is probably more relatable. I'm curious to see how the Republican Party evolves in the next two years and this book seems like an important trailhead landmark. I will probably refer back to it. Thanks for reading this review. Feel free to post any comments or questions and I'll try to reply.
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Pence has more stories then meets the eye.
Despite his polarizing politics, readers familiar with Midwestern politics, prayer, and Christian mindfulness may find Pence's reflections genuine and relatable. His measured response to the events of January 6th reflects his reserved demeanor, avoiding party disparagement and future controversies. "So Help Me God" serves as a sincere and inspiring autobiography, highlighting Pence's unwavering commitment to faith and public service. Pence appears more complex than portrayed in the media, showing both susceptibility to influence and discipline in his principles. The book examines failures in state response, such as COVID-19 and the 2015 Indiana HIV outbreak, illustrating how poor political leadership adds chaos to crises. It provides insights into pivotal events like January 6th, 2021, portraying Pence's ceremonial role during the insurrection as a reflection of his Christian values. While the initial chapters engage, the narrative loses honesty post-Trump, revealing compromises in values but still presenting Pence's measured responses without sensationalism.
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Pence has more stories then meets the eye.
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
Despite his polarizing politics, readers familiar with Midwestern politics, prayer, and Christian mindfulness may find Pence's reflections genuine and relatable. His measured response to the events of January 6th reflects his reserved demeanor, avoiding party disparagement and future controversies. "So Help Me God" serves as a sincere and inspiring autobiography, highlighting Pence's unwavering commitment to faith and public service. Pence appears more complex than portrayed in the media, showing both susceptibility to influence and discipline in his principles. The book examines failures in state response, such as COVID-19 and the 2015 Indiana HIV outbreak, illustrating how poor political leadership adds chaos to crises. It provides insights into pivotal events like January 6th, 2021, portraying Pence's ceremonial role during the insurrection as a reflection of his Christian values. While the initial chapters engage, the narrative loses honesty post-Trump, revealing compromises in values but still presenting Pence's measured responses without sensationalism.
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
