Go Home for Dinner: Advice on How Faith Makes a Family and Family Makes a Life

by Mike Pence

In this personal account, former Vice President Mike Pence champions one of his most deeply held faith makes a family, and family makes a life.

When Mike Pence was a young politician, reporters used to ask “where do you see yourself in five, ten years?”

Without fail, the former Vice President would reply, “home for dinner.”

This answer was an honest assessment of his priorities. Throughout his career, Pence has been adamant about putting his family first. As he often told his staff, he’d rather lose an election than lose his family.

Go Home for Dinner is an in-depth, practical guide to balancing the demands of life with the long-term satisfaction that only a commitment to your family can bring. In this personal account, former Vice President Mike Pence champions one of his most deeply held that faith makes a family, and family makes a life. And, through straightforward advice and personal storytelling, he shows readers how to do the same.

In short chapters, Pence walks us through the principles that he and his wife, Karen, developed to raise their family. He gives credit to his parents for setting the precedent of gathering around the dinner table and for being attentive listeners. He discusses how he and Karen prioritized their relationship, even when they struggled professionally through two failed congressional races and personally with infertility. He reveals how he learned to trust God, make difficult choices, and take leaps of faith, all with an eye to what his family needed. He also brings in examples of other friends and colleagues, to demonstrate how these principles look in the lives of other families. The Pence family is far from perfect, but the values portrayed in this book have helped them remain together—and thrive—through their extraordinary journey in public service.

Go Home for Dinner is filled with practical, timeless advice about how readers can pursue their dreams while keeping their family close. This is a book for anyone who wants to achieve their goals and put their family and faith at the center of their life—but who needs a nudge to get home in time for dinner.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Mike Pence is the 48th and incumbent Vice President of the United States.

Reviews

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A strong family isn't just a nice idea; it is the first step in returning this country to its core values, which, grounded in faith, are the bedrock of our nation. We look too often to politicians to fix what is plaguing our country, but to bring America back to the fullness of strength that saw us through our revolution, a civil war, a depression, and two world wars, we must look closer to home. If you want a stronger America, first strengthen your own home. If you, like many Americans, are wondering what you can do to get our country back on a path of prosperity and give it a brighter future, put your family first. If you want to help America, go home for dinner."

2024 A book recommended by a family member (my husband)

[Kellyanne Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read, especially going into election season. Mike Pence has a way of putting things into perspective. I appreciate his references to scripture and to biblical principles throughout the book.

[Logan Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Pence's "Go Home for Dinner" isn't trying to be profound. It's trying to be practical. And that's exactly what makes it work.

The premise is simple: When reporters asked where he'd see himself in five or ten years, Pence always answered "home for dinner." Not Governor. Not Vice President. Home for dinner.

The book delivers 48 short chapters on faith, family, and the choices that hold both together. Each chapter pairs a Bible verse with a story—some from his congressional defeats, some from infertility struggles, some from the Vice Presidency. The format works. You can read a chapter in ten minutes and walk away with something actionable.

What stands out: Pence acknowledges the cost. Two failed congressional races. Professional uncertainty. Personal crisis. He and Karen prioritized their relationship during the worst of it, not after things got better. That's the real lesson—family gets protected during the storm, not after.

The institutional conservative in me appreciates what Pence is actually arguing: strong families build strong republics. The dinner table isn't where you retreat from public service—it's where you build the foundation public service requires.

Not groundbreaking. Not a political memoir. Not a theological deep dive. Just a former Vice President saying "I'd rather lose an election than lose my family"—and showing how he structured his life around that principle.

If you're in politics, raising kids, or trying to figure out how to be present while building something permanent—this book answers the question Washington, Lincoln, and Grant never had to ask.

Read it. Apply it. Go home for dinner.

Recommended.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife and I have something in common with Mike and Karen Pence. We too were living in Indianapolis at the time of the filming of Hoosiers at Hinkle Fieldhouse and we did not go. Boy, do we regret that decision not to go to this day. Mike's book is full of personal stories like that as he relates some good old-fashion advice on making your family a better place to grow and live. I like that he gives you a verse at the start of each chapter. The chapters are short and to the point and easy to see what he is pointing out. I do not disagree with anything that he says. And I wish more families would take head of his advice since the breakdown of the family unit certainly is the main cause of so much strife and hurt of the younger and older generations.

[Utah Kershner · Rating 4 out of 5]

lGo home for dinner” is a book by former Vice President Mike Pence. It is packed full of bits of wisdom and practical principles that have guided the way he has lived his life. I much enjoyed his book “so help me God” so this one was an easy choice. there are many stories and principles for how we can live a life God created us for to the fullest related to Faith and family. Mike Pence is a man of deep faith, and that faith has informed how he has lived his life and has inspired the words in these pages. Reading this book felt like a set of proverbs. Regardless of your political, affiliation or religious background, I think everyone can find bits of wisdom in this book that will help you to build a life and family that will be a blessing to you and others.

[David West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book for 2023. I listened to the audiobook and Pence does a great job of reading his own writing. This is not a political book, yet at the same time, it lays out a very conservative agenda. True conservatives believe that faith and family are the bedrock of any society and that marriage is the bedrock of a family. The stories Pence tells, and the example he sets, are models of conservatism. The principles Pence espouses are prescriptions for an ailing country.

From the epilogue, "The destiny of America is in the hands of the American people. And the strength of America is ultimately grounded in strength of the American family."

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine advice that no one would have published if the former VP hadn't written it. Most readers (myself?) likely more interested in the (voyeuristic?) peeks into Pence family life.

A bit too much humble bragging for my taste, but the emphasis on family and faith is certainly hard to argue with. Maybe just read Genesis and Ephesians and get the same points, though, on better authority.

[Reader66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew next to nothing about Mike Pence before reading this book. I came away with an impression of him as an everyman who would have been a Republican party standout in the vein of Gerald Ford less than 20 years ago. That the party has effectively chosen Trump over Pence is interesting, to say the least.

[Amanda Lenhardt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read several other books in that past that were written by prominent figures that told how faith played a major role in their daily lives. These other stories kept you engaged and made you want to keep reading and learn more. However, Mike Pence's Go Home For Dinner was dull and I barely wanted to finish the book.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book in B/N then decided to purchase through audible. I enjoyed Mike Pence narrating his own story. I learned a lot about his faith and his journey. Very interesting and inspiring!

[Christian Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read that teaches one primary principle: go home for dinner. Pence argues that this is the key to conserving America and traditional values while putting God and family at the forefront of the family life.

[lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to come back to time and time again.

[Alixxandra Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the principles but the last chapter was just his daughter and him defending how they acted when the capital was stormed. Totally not relevant to the entire book.

[tong huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice on how to build a healthy family among our modern hustling.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent advice, definitely recommend

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice based on Biblical truths. It was a little redundant at times but overall good advice related with interesting stories from Pence’s personal experience.

[Matt Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book. Really good advice for family life. The short chapters made for a quick read.

[JM Bertrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of lessons; is probably more applicable once you have a family! Great advice through and through

[Alecia Goeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

i surprisingly didn’t mind this book. don’t agree with his politics but can’t argue with the principles he promotes. not sure why i read it honestly but glad i did

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
The book was beautiful and encouraging. Thank you both. ( the epilogue was clearly political and critical. Hope it will be left out in future editions) .

[Nia Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an agnostic, this gave me more respect for pence as he is so dedicated to his religion.

[Andrew E Karns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great life lessons. As an expectant first time father, I found this to be a great foundational read and it really gives insight into who Mike Pence is a politician, father and person of faith.

[Amanda Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I loved the message but not the way the book was outlined! Great stories!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics aside, a great book on faith and family.

[Roger Custer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about how to prioritize your faith and family even if you are in a busy career that involves late nights and travel. Mike Pence is a role model for how to do that well.

[Jennie]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the importance of family and family dinner.

[Pattie Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Pence shares Godly advice and devotion to family.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting book. I think the advice given could be applicable to many people.

[Logan Blomberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, I highly recommend to anyone regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.