So Help Me God

by Mike Pence

The autobiography of former Vice President Mike Pence.

Loyalty is a Vice President’s first duty; but there is a greater one—to God and the Constitution.

Mike Pence spent more hours in the Oval Office than any of his predecessors. On the surface, the affable evangelical Christian from a gas-station-owning family in Indiana wouldn’t seem to have much in common with a brash real estate mogul from New York. But the unlikely duo formed a tight bond. Pence was at Donald Trump’s side when he enacted historic tax relief, when he decided to take more assertive stances toward China and North Korea, and when he appointed three Supreme Court justices. But the relationship broke down after the 2020 election. On January 6, 2021, as the president pressured him to overturn the election, a mob erected a gallows on Capitol Hill and its members chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” as they rampaged through the halls of Congress. The vice president refused to leave the Capitol, and once the riot was quelled, he reconvened Congress to complete the work of a peaceful transfer of power.

So Help Me God is the chronicle of the events and people who forged Mike Pence’s character and led him to that historic moment. His father, a Korean War combat veteran, was a formidable influence, but so was the Indiana history professor who inspired his devotion to the Constitution. And it was in college and law school that he embraced his Christian faith and met the love of his life, Karen—the two pillars that support him every day. You will read how his early political career was full of missteps that humbled him and how, as a talk radio host, Pence found his voice and the path that led him to Congress, the governor’s office in Indiana, and back to Washington as vice president.

This is the inside story of the Trump administration by its second highest official—what he said to the president and how he was tested. The relationship begins in Indiana, when Pence sees how Trump connects with working-class voters. After the election, the vice president comes to appreciate how Trump maintains that connection through unvarnished tweets and how his unorthodox style led to historic breakthroughs, from tax cuts to trade deals, from establishing the United States Space Force to the first new peace agreement in the Middle East in more than twenty-five years. This is the most robust defense of the Trump record of anyone who served in the administration.

But it is also about the private moments when Pence pushed back forcefully, how he navigated through the Mueller investigation, his damage control after Charlottesville, and his work on healing racial rifts after the murder of George Floyd. Pence was at the forefront when “history showed up” in the form of a devastating pandemic, and he provides a detailed account of leading the task force that circumvented bureaucracies to slow the disease in its tracks. Yes, it sometimes involved brokering peace between a president with an itchy Twitter finger and an agitated New York governor, but above all, it meant giving states and America’s eager entrepreneurs the power to come up with the solutions we needed. The result was the fastest development of life-saving vaccines in history.

In So Help Me God, Pence shows how the faith that he embraced as a young man guided his every decision. It is a faith that guided him on that historic day and that keeps him happily at peace, ready to accept the next challenge.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, History, Autobiography

560 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2022

About the author

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

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Library -Overdrive Audiobook…read by Mike Pence
…..21 hours and 5 minutes

I’ll tell you right now - I had no plans to listen to Mike Pence for 21 hours.

But I requested this from the library- planning to skim through it. I was interested to hear what he had to say about Jan. 6th.
The library audiobook arrived the day after I requested it. ( fast!). I was surprised not to have seen a longer library- wait-list.
Later, I laughed… “maybe, just maybe, people from San Francisco aren’t that interested in Mike Pence” ….
Okay … I’ll be nice!

This book arrived in time for Paul and I to have ourselves a little Mike Pence fun during our 4-hour drive to Pismo Beach (we are here now - visiting Paul’s mother this weekend).

Okay….. here we go!
I didn’t expect to be blown away with any new information—or hear juicy dirty laundry digs about Trump —
But I also didn’t expect to get a Bible synopsis either!
I wasn’t interested in quotes from Deuteronomy — or why Jesus Christ was our savior— nor was I interested in receiving answers from well-know theologians about Christianity….
I was interested to know — was Pence going to ambush Trump or defend him?
Somehow Pence avoided ambushing or defending Trump….
Instead he prayed for him …
“So help me God”.

Paul and I had our field-day discussion around a few curve balls Pence tossed to the Democrats.
And…
giggles……Pence said “the greatest people on earth are the law biding Christian Conservatives”.

Paul and I did our skimming…. as Pence reminded us that everything is ‘God’s plan’ anyway ….
We listened to rhetoric, rationale, hopefulness, and religious beliefs.

Never mind the avoidance of more than 1 million Americans dead from covid — Pence shared his administration saved lives.

With……
…..faith in Trump,
…..faith in the Constitution,
…..faith in his wife. family, and friends,
…..faith ‘God’s Will’ for him to be a politician,
…..and his evangelical Christian faith,
Mike Pence is a loyal American…
So help me God!

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filling in the blanks from a man of faith and honor, “So Help Me God”.

Unlike every other of the 9 posted “reviews” at the time I’m writing this, I actually paid full price for the book AND, surprise, have READ it! It’s a good book - not 5 star worthy but definitely worth reading, especially if you’re one who is interested in the intimate, back stories of the Trump/Pence years.

Since this is Mike Pence’s autobiography, he gives readers the full experience by introducing his earliest days, parents, grandparents, siblings and family life experiences. He is unique in telling the stories by not creating crisis after crisis or blaming his parents or someone else for every bad event in his life. The prose is well written, almost folksy and most readers will find commonality in the early pages.

A life changing experience in college brings a new depth of faith and relationship to Christ for Pence. This becomes the driving force in his life at the same time he meets Karen. That relationship is almost love at first sight and IS a partnership from the beginning. The constancy of their marriage and how it is the foundation for all they are and do as a couple and as a family is a great example.

Pence is humble in relaying his journey into and thru the political world. He began taking leadership steps in high school, under grad, law school and then local government that quickly moved to state elections and national service. Truly, Mike Pence is called to public service and the path was laid from his earliest days by his parents.

After a quiet beginning to this lengthy tome, the book kicks up a few notches with DJT’s interest in this Hoosier becoming his running mate. Pence does keep his literary feet on the floor and refrains from drama and histrionics. Oh, he does call out the falsehoods that peppered the Trump/Pence Administration but not without first hand knowledge. There are no unnamed detractors, hidden whistleblowers, protected sources or other bogus nonsense in this formidable volume.

Sadness is the overall feeling I had reading the closing chapters which are devoted to the days prior to the January 6th debacle, that event and the days until Trump & Pence leave D.C. as President and V.P. Mike Pence was put in a difficult position. His telling of the conversations between himself and DJT, the Dem leaders, GOP leaders, media…it’s all so very different than the garbage that was reported. This rings of honesty, very sad, burdened honesty but Pence closes the primary section of the book with this: “it’s not dusk, it’s dawn - the sun is always rising in America.”📚

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who knew Mike personally in his 20s (I'm mentioned on p. 29 where he recounts our 1982 conversation when I encouraged him go to law school), I can say that Mike's autobiography shows that he has changed little in the intervening decades. He still has a shallow grasp of the Gospel, seeing that he has twisted his faith to justify his service to a genuinely evil man. Mike is fond of citing the Bible, and each chapter of this book has a Bible verse as an epigraph. I suggest that he re-read Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon."

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mike Pence has a very selective memory., carefully chooses selective words and is very selective in his story telling. He avoids the truth and the facts. He’s kept quiet all this time …until now - when he “tries” to write a book because ….hint, hint - he is running for the 2024 presidency. Oh surprise. Ha ha. Don’t fall for it. He’s still the same loser.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In preparation for what is sure to be a busy 2024 presidential election season in the United States, I turned to this memoir by Mike Pence, former Vice-President under POTUS 45, The Donald. While I was always baffled how Pence could stay quiet during those four years and not want to tear out his hair, I was also keen to understand the man, his choices, and the life he lived before he came onto my radar in the summer of 2016. This book does a wonderful job at that, offering insights and views I had not considered, doing some in a mostly rational and calm manner. While I cannot agree with everything within these pages, I can respect the view that is told with fact and calm justification.

Michael Pence grew up in a religious family in a small Indiana town. His Catholic upbringing brought with it a connection to politics and an affinity for the likes of JFK. Pence speaks of how he admired the man and followed him however he could, through his mother’s passions for the president, even though Pence also saw some of the benefits of the GOP. Pence used that strong connection to God to guide him through a number of scenarios, including class choices and how he would do in a post-secondary world. While he was not entirely sold on the idea, Pence sat for his law school entrance exams and did, after a few stumbles, get access, where his mind would open to many other things.

It was his life on campus that really opened Pence’s eyes to a world in which God and Jesus could guide him. Pence explores his personal faith and how this connection, fostered through Bible study and prayer, helped lead him in a certain direction he still follows today. He studied hard, fell for a woman who held his same beliefs, and began making plans for a future he hoped would include a family and a further connection with his Higher Power.

Pence had his political epiphany with the election of Ronald Regan in 1980 and turned to the GOP for good. He felt the spark of political service and sought to run for office, after a few years of getting his feet wet within Indiana’s state process. While Pence was not successful, he did not let this deter him and eventually won a seat in Congress in 2000. With a family now, Pence had new priorities and tried his best to balance parenthood with serving his state and the country, which proved to be a struggle at times. Pence offers some great insight into life as a congressman, as well as how he stood his own against the likes of George W. Bush, never bowing when he felt he was right, but always keeping the respect of those around him. This would prove to be a key stepping stone in his political future and make him a name to be remembered on the national stage.

Pence also recounts the important decision to leave Washington when Indiana needed him most, chosen to hold onto the Republican governorship in the state. This would be a new challenge, with its own struggles, but Pence sought to serve his state as best he could, adding new and sometimes troubling responsibilities to his list of future qualifications. I found it interesting to see how Pence handled some of the issues, justifying his perspective and only mildly trying to vilify the left media, tossing out ‘woke’ when he did not fit with his agenda. However, he does this in a mostly respectful manner and leaves the reader to see that his perspective, while different, had some merit and should not be swiftly dismissed. This means of explaining things would prove helpful in the years to come, even if he appeared outwardly statuesque in the face of chaos.

Pence explores his preparing to run for re-election as governor and how that led to some interesting times in 2016, with a presidential race taking place. While Pence was not supporting Trump from the outset, his honesty makes the foible seem less problematic. Pence discusses meeting its Candidate Trump and how this led to him being considered for the ticket after the GOP nomination had been secured. Ever-humble and praying on matters, Pence agreed to be the vice-presidential candidate when asked and the campaign moved forward. Pence glosses over a great deal, it does make it seem as though he was no sycophant, simply able to let God handle the rough waters in which Trump tossed the ticket through to Election Night.

After winning election, Pence began a new journey, which he explains in the next portion of the book. From leading the Transition to taking the vice-presidential role, Pence offers tidbits of information, always showing that he and Trump were in agreement on issues and stances. Pence makes his role as second-in-command appear genuinely interesting and does not paint himself to be a lapdog, even though I surmise there is more to the story, which he chooses not to put to paper. His ‘here to serve’ comes off as slightly more ‘granola’, given the circumstances, but I only have Pence’s own words to use as reference.

As the book progresses, Pence begins discussing key policy issues, peppering in some of the larger issues around a shutdown and interactions with foreign leaders. Pence does a great job of showing how he served well to represent America’s needs, at least through the lens of what POTUS felt needed accomplishing. While this is admirable, there remains an almost naïveté when discussing things that arose in which POTUS could be flying off the handle or abusing his power. ‘He would never do that’ or ‘the left-wing media is fabricating’, became regular deflections in the book. Perhaps this is an ostrich sentiment, but the reader must also take into account that Pence, who may want to enter the 2024 race, cannot be too truthful so as to alienate himself from the base he hopes to appease For the nomination, This does contrast with his time in Congress, when Pence said he would serve not for what the party wanted, but what he felt was correct.

No book would be complete without some discussion of the COVID-19 response. While much of the narrative does follow the clear story that came out of the White House, Pence is keen to point fingers and pat backs to ensure that the Trump Administration receives the glory. While this is to be expected, Pence makes sure the reader sees the superhero tactics that Trump undertook and the foibles garnered by the Democrats as everyone was trying to figure out this pandemic. Pence uses an odd form of forecasting to dump on the Biden Administration’s handling of things (yes, the president AFTER Trump and who inherited the mess), as though that should distract the reader from what happened in 2020. It is unfortunate that Pence could not distance himself from his own president, whose actions were documented on televisions around the world and added additional panic to an already chaotic situation.

This blame game continued in the 2020 presidential campaign, which was mixed with new race riots across the United States. Rather than admit that things were getting out of hand and that police acted horribly, Pence chose to point the finger at the left to say that they were fanning the flames and making things worse. It is obvious that there were issues on both sides of the aisle, with protesting and law enforcement, but Pence refuses to offer clear-cut blames other than commenting that the George Floyd video was disturbing. As Pence peddles to law enforcement, in an attempt to have the support for his being tough on crime, he loses the larger view that America was in a struggling situation and was being led by a man who accepted White supremacists into his tent. Pence had the chance to stand up and say ‘NO’, but chose to criticise the as-yet victorious Biden Administration for not keeping control after January 20, 2021. Baffling but surely, again, in an attempt to keep a favourable view by potential supporters.

Campaign rhetoric itself was as per usual, both sides slinging mud and making accusations, with vote counting and outlandish stories emerging as they tried to explain how Russia did not do enough to corrupt another election for Trump’s victory. While Pence appeared to take the loss on Election Day in stride, he had to deal with the mayhem and chaos that is Trump. The accusations, the childish tantrums, and even the talk of refusing to accept the results. While Pence surely felt the defeat, he was, for the most part, happy to accept what the democratic process brought about. However, in his own words, he did violate the democratic process in one of his ceremonial roles, which is worth mention.

Perhaps the part of the book I was most interesting in read was how Pence handled the post-election fallout and his role as President of the Senate to preside over the review of the Electoral College votes. Pence had the role, as mentioned above, and was prepared to serve it. He did not let Trump or others try to push him into believing that he had more power than he did, for which he is to be commended. However, what did trouble me was Pence’s admission in those early days that he kept speaking at rallies and to candidates not to give up and to challenge everything until the last moment. Pence should not have been wearing his Republican candidate hat, knowing that he was to preside over the results. He should not have been involved in any discussion of vote counting, irregularities, or anything related to the election because of his role, albeit ceremonial, in the Senate on January 6, 2021. While it appears clear that he was not drinking the Trump Kool-Aid and seeking to overthrow the democratic process, he should have known better. That Trump did it in such a deplorable manner surely casts a great distraction over Pence’s actions, but they cannot be ignored.

This was a great and refreshing book, even though it was full of cringe-worthy moments of sycophancy and turning to prayer in order to solve all issues. Pence has experienced much and has a wonderful way of conveying it to the reader. While I do not agree with a great deal of his politics, I can see his perspective and sense of hands-off when it comes to governing. How he was able to stand with lips glued shut as the presidency became a joke, I will never know, but I applaud him for his attempts to make the most of it. Do I hope he runs in 2024? Most definitely, as he has a lot to offer the Republican base and appears to have himself grounded in a clear political way of thinking. Should he, given the option, agree to run on a Trump ticket? Absolutely not, as he has been sullied by his connection with the man and could do so much better for himself. A great book that forced me to step back and look at things from another perspective, though I worry Pence tried a little too hard not to upset the Trump applecart and curried favour with the GOP base who might be upset that someone within the party would criticise a leader.

Kudos, Mr. Pence, for an intriguing look inside the chaos that was the Trump Administration. I wish you the best of luck and will see how the future treats you.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Steve Peifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes the sins of omission are the greatest ones of all. The pompous self importance, the religious vs the spiritual, the performative nonsense; it’s all here.

But an honest book would deal with the soul searching that would show how an evangelical Christian would become a running mate to the likes of Donald Trump. There is none; it was an opportunity and so he took it.

The fact that it gave cover for evangelicals to vote for Trump is never explored and it should be; he has a lot to answer for. The fact that after January 6 he can’t quite manage to denounce Trump and somehow have it both ways is everything you need to know about this lightweight opportunistic hack.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this so interesting just like all memoirs! 🤓
He grew up in a hardworking family, but he was Catholic and a Democrat!
In college a friend invited him to a revival service where he got saved and he has a very clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ!❤️ He became a supporter of Ronald Reagan and eventually the Republican Party. How that changed his life!
He lost the first 2 political elections he ran for and thought he would never try again and he didn’t for many years.

When asked to be Trump’s running mate he barely knew him and he asked so many great questions before accepting. After the first meeting with Trump, Pence’s wife said, “He’s a nice guy, but he’ll never pick you!” 😆
But what a genius choice as Pence brought so much balance to Trump’s brash character.

The middle drug on a bit as he shares a lot of detail of the 4 years as Vice President. I think he wanted to share his side of things with all major events.
This is not a book bashing Trump or undercutting his leadership. As a team they worked really well together and I think Pence was a fabulous VP because of his attitude. He saw his role as supporting and serving the President, not challenging and arguing to get his way or always share his opinion. Many times his reply was simply, “I’m here to serve.” Any president would want that!

Unfortunately he will be remembered most for the events surrounding January 6th and the sad ending to everything. Things began to unravel between him and Trump about a week before when he felt pressure to reject the votes counted in Congress. He believed Congress should decide that and wanted everything to be heard on the House floor. That was being done when people broke into the capitol and messed everything up.😠 I understand better why Pence did what he did and what courage he showed that day! I have much respect for Pence and his family!❤️

Some quotes to remember:

📖 “I was learning that success is often born of failure, and that leadership comes from maintaining integrity and putting your foot down.”

📖 A friend asked him, “Isn’t courage being afraid and going on ahead anyway?”

📖 On his bathroom mirror he wrote, “Be informed. Be prepared. Be of service.”

📖 “If I became discouraged every time someone misinterpreted and marked my beliefs, I would have retreated from public life decades ago. I had grown a tough skin over the years, and learned not to take insults personally.”

📖 “George Washington, having won the war, was urged by some to use the army to make himself king. But instead, he would return to his farm. King George III said: “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” He did, and he was.”

📖 “It doesn’t take courage to break the law; it takes courage to uphold the law.”

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and inspiring read by a man of principle, character, and faith.

[Leah Bech · Rating 1 out of 5]

this felt like trump pence fanfic for 400 pages

[DD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the audible credit, Pence clearly thinks he and those in his circle can do no wrong since he prays every 30 seconds. Woof.

[mark…]

DNS did not start, DNF was always th goal, but just couldn’t get that far…

[Marilyn G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

So Help MeGod

I have nothing against Mike Pence, but I would not recommend people read this book! Everyone has a right to their religious beliefs, but in every chapter I got tired of reading “I’m a Christian and Jesus Christ and God with give me guidance”. The message needed to be said once and he could rely on his faith. But every chapter it got OLD!
Sorry I bought the download. It wasn’t worth it.

[Luisa Macer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mike Pence has a very one-sides story in this entire book. Leaves out the truth about what truly happen during his time in office. Nothing should shock a reader after reading this. Although - it does paint a clean picture as to what makes Mike Pence …well Mike Pence. Very disheartening to read his POV on what he considered “big wins” in office.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very solid and honest memoir. Well written and insightful as well as giving the reader a really interesting behind the scenes look at this man’s work. I enjoyed almost every word. I see from reading Jared Kushners book that a lot of work was accomplished during the corona virus task force but I do feel that pence has to bear some responsibility for the deadly vaccine that has been forced on this country, but he adequately explained that he doesn’t agree with mandatory vaccinations so I wasn’t as mad as I was prior to reading this.

I was mad at Pence after trump told us to be, but cooler heads have prevailed and there is no doubt in my mind that Pence is a man of integrity and Trump put his trust in the people who told him what he wanted to hear. Pence obviously did the right thing.

I recommend this book highly and even though it was pretty long, it didn’t drag anywhere and was long because this man has an extensive story to tell and he told it well. He was a faithful and dedicated servant to this country and should be remembered as such.

[Noah Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Pence tells the story of his life in this book. Every chapter begins with a Bible verse that is connected to something he learned or stood by in that chapter of his life. He often talks about the importance of prayer and his daily devotions in the Word. The former vice president is a man loyal to the nation, the constitution, his family, and God. His work ethic reminds me of Benjamin Franklin. His love for his family reminds me of my dad’s love for our family. I learned a lot in reading this book.

[Josh Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book in the lead up to the 2024 election shed quite a bit of light on the rigors of an election season/cycle on a candidate and his family. I highly recommend this book!

There are several reasons I enjoyed the first and only book that Mike Pence wrote:

1) Pence's faith resonated with me. He clearly shared the details of how he came to place his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Throughout the book, during the lows and the highs, he often referred to his relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

2) The book is replete with Scripture references. Not only does every chapter begin with a different Bible verse, Pence often cites different Bible verses that have helped guide and direct him throughout his life.

3) Pence's overall view of President Trump throughout the book was quite generous and very positive. Most people, especially someone that knew President Trump as well as Pence did, would not have been so kind in light of how things ended after the 2020 election season. President Trump not only pressured Pence to do something unheard of, he derided him publicly and turned his back on a man (Pence) who had been nothing but loyal and supportive of Trump throughout all the years they worked together. My respect for Pence during this part of the book only grew as I read of the events surrounding the election and those of January 6.

4) Pence obviously loves his wife and family and takes time throughout the book to highlight his family relationships. What an important attribute for every husband and father to have, especially those of our leaders!

In closing, I remember having a heated discussion after the 2020 election with a member of the church I was pastoring at the time. The man I was speaking with had thrown Pence under the bus due to his not caving to President Trump to decertify the electors on January 6. I stood up for Pence, incredulous that a fellow believer would believe the President (a narcissist to the core) over a Bible-believing long standing Christian such as Pence. It showed me how politics and loyalty to a candidate can often cloud one's view. I believe, as Pence stated in the book, that time & history will vindicate his decision NOT to decertify the election thereby upholding the election. It is obvious to any reader that Pence was going to do the RIGHT thing regardless of what anyone (including the current President at the time) pressured him to do. I tip my hat to Mr. Mike Pence for standing strong in his beliefs. How was he able to do that? It came down to the title of his book - So Help Me God.

[atlas christenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

why is the blurb for this book so damn long. also if i find this book in a free little library (very likely) i’ll read it and let you know how actually horrible it is 🫡

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 1 out of 5]

In her powerful novel A Mercy in which she confronts the institution and legacy of American slavery, Toni Morrison is astute in observing how “Shallow believers preferred a shallow God.” Mike Pence embodies the reprehensible type of individual Morrison would identify as a shallow believer.

Pence declares himself a devout Christian, yet his unethical actions prove his hypocrisy. His religious supremacy, his class elitism, his embrace of white privilege, his whitewashed defense of racism, his pro-life stance aligning with inhumanity, his loyalty towards patriarchy, and his unrestrained espousal of homophobia reflect a victimizer mentality, whereby he perceives himself a savior working to right wrongs while blinding himself from seeing how he is the source of inflicting cruelty on countless others.

What makes Mike Pence so culpable and loathsome is how he wants adulation for having overseen the mere constitutional formality of the legitimate transfer of power to the Biden and Harris administration. But yet again his hypocrisy is both glaring and stunning in how he enabled a monster to pursue the destruction of America for four years while he quietly kept in the shadows and acted as though he had nothing to do with any of the damage and criminality associated with Trump.

Mike Pence is only slightly less toxic than the other hatemakers, but he has convinced himself of his divinity by utilizing Christianity as a shield to keep his distance from the same violent MAGA base which Trump endorses and which Pence only prays they will support him. Everything Pence believes in and every action he takes contradicts the very message Jesus delivered about love, acceptance, compassion, inclusion, justice, and accountability.

It is impossible to read this delusional, blathering nonsense of biographical narcissism and self-congratulation and not feel utter disgust for this man who is as shallow as the shallow faith he believes in. If Mike Pence’s beliefs prove anything, they prove he worships an unintelligent God who Mike thinks loves him and only his select band of MAGA hatemakers and nobody else.

I do not give books one star, but So Help Me God is not a book. It’s a shameless, prideful manifesto professing his narrow, exclusionary faith, and all it does is reveal his unremorseful attempt to clear his name from guilt and from the incalculable evil he caused and still supports. Mike Pence is a fraud and anyone who refuses to see through his fraudulence is as guilty as him and as complicit in the hypocrisy he has abided by his entire life.

If Mike Pence declares he models a Christian path to Heaven, I want no part of his kingdom, which will only include the world’s MAGA hatemakers and anyone brainwashed enough by the hypocrisy Mike worships.

[Andrew Beadles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most probably viewed (as I did) Vice-President Pence as a soft-spoken individual that stood in the shadow of Donald Trump during their 4 years in office. But it quickly becomes apparent when reading this book that that was not a negative, but rather a reflection of the role that he understood he was temporarily in.

The book begins with a brief, yet detailed, behind-the-scenes description of the events that transpired on January 6, 2021. The author then does a tremendous job of recounting his childhood and young adult years while still keeping the narrative interesting and moving at a steady pace.

The meat of the book obviously deals with his time in politics beginning with his 6 terms as a Congressman and ending (for now) with his Vice-Presidency. Throughout the many chapters that deal with those years, the author takes a refreshingly honest approach to recording the highs and lows of his political career. He doesn't shy away from celebrating the many wins that he experienced, but the book isn't a self-aggrandizing pat on the back for all of his accomplishments.

What most impressed me about the book was the honest and fair treatment that Pence gave to the many individuals he references. Whether it was Hillary or Trump, Democrat or Republican, scathing critic or staunchest supporter, the author doesn't throw anyone under the bus or resort to ad hominem attacks.

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book. Whether it was his personal life stories, the history of his rise to the Vice-Presidency, or the inside look at the best and worst times of the Trump/Pence administration, this book will be one that I am sure I'll pick up again.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This autobiography depicts what it means to live a life of public service in devotion to God and country. Pence’s ability to weave his biblical worldview into how he saw his role as a congressman, governor, and vice president is admirable and clearly demonstrates why he acted the way he did throughout his time as vice President. The climax of the book is January 6, and the fullness of his devotion God and the upholding of the constitution is put on full display. This is a great read, providing insight into the Trump administration.

[Terry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Condensed review version:

A phony.
One sided and narcissistic.
Arrogant and delusional.
Absolutely delusional.
Worse, a lifelong politician.
Takes credit for everything, not the same for blame.

Religious and a political hack.
If the shoe fits, use it for self and family promotion.

1950's view of family and self.
Every time a bell rings, a Pence gets their wings.

1 stars rounded down from 1.5.
Too much saccharine.
Left a bad during and after taste.

[JoLynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Curiosity is the only reason I read this book. This was time perfect for the next GOP primary for the upcoming Presidential GOP Nominee. He mainly states how great he is. Not worth the read and doesn't tell you anything you don't already know.

[Diane Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Christian woman I found this book refreshing and well written.

[Joshua Hobbins · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate big government, now look at all my accomplishments that big government give me. Big government for me and not for you.

[Shameem]

Alright, I've processed for over 12 hours (some of which happened while I was asleep, I imagine), and I'm ready to review the book. Going to make a couple housekeeping notes before I begin:

1. Please note that I do not do star ratings for autobiographies/memoirs. I have been asked why multiple times, so I want to clarify. I don't believe I should be giving that type of rank-based evaluation to any other human being whose topic of discussion is their own life. You know what I mean? How can I sit here and slap a rubric on your lived experience? This by no means is an endorsement of everything people do, say, write, or think in their memoirs. I obviously have opinions about what I read, even if it's about someone's life. And that's what I share in written reviews.

2. Specifically for this book, I got a whole lot of questions about why I would even read it (most asked nicely - thank you!), and before I review it, I just want to answer that.

If you know me, you have at least a general idea of my worldview, my politics, my overarching life philosophy, etc. So you'd likely posit (correctly) that there wouldn't be a whole lot that Mike and I would see eye to eye on. (I don't call him Mike with disrespect, btw, I just feel like I know him personally now. So the first name usage is actually a marker of connectedness). And it's not just Mike, right? There are tons of people out there that think differently than I do. Part of the human experience. I will always live in a world with people who are different from me. Sometimes, like in the case of Mike, I have to be represented and led by people who are different from me. Who might have the power and exercise the power to make decisions that they believe are in my best interest (or in the general best interest), but that I don't agree with. For example, he said one of his main driving forces in his political work is how unapologetically anti-abortion he is. The work he has done/does/will do to that end is extremely harmful to millions of people (including me). It's scary. So what does one do in this situation? Utilize whatever power one has, of course, to speak up, take action, advocate, etc. But whenever possible, I also try to take the step of understanding people. It can be difficult to understand people you don't agree with, and even more so people whom you may be harmed by, or feel harmed by. I personally don't think that difficulty absolves me from trying to understand. Let me strongly emphasize that this a personal decision. I do not expect anyone who experiences oppression and harm to do the work of understanding those that oppress them. That labor should never be forced on folks. This is something that helps me. Understanding isn't the entire recipe to solving problems, but I feel it is often a necessary ingredient. Understanding (or trying to) certainly makes communication easier. And even if it ends up solving no problems tangibly, it can bring you some peace internally, and that feels worth it to me. To be fair, it can also leave you with more questions and confusion, which can be frustrating and exhausting and absolutely not worth it for everyone. I presently have the massive privilege of time, so I am choosing to use it in a way that makes my brain wrestle with things. I like having questions and confusions because it helps my brain grow in ways that I value when I have to do the work to resolve them.

Also, most people end up existing in echo chambers. No blame placed here. I think it happens naturally. We gravitate to circles where we feel safe, accepted, and understood. And we absolutely deserve to feel those things. But I think then in the moments when we have to cross paths with someone that compromises those things for us, we aren't always equipped to deal with that. I want to be equipped. I don't like feeling disarmed because I don't know where someone is coming from, or because I don't have the context or background or language to advocate for myself and others effectively. I think the better I understand people, the better able I am to have dialogue that can result in change.

Alright... let's get into the book.

It is LONG. Mike very thoroughly explained his background, his upbringing, the evolution of his values from childhood to adulthood, and what experiences impacted those changes. Prior to this book, I really knew nothing about him other than that he was our VP for 4 years, and that he was extremely religious. That last part is really what had me curious enough to read his book. I'm not going to go into my personal journey with religion in this review, but for context, organized religion (in general) is something I have been spending a lot of time thinking about for the last couple of years. I have met so many people who have it at the center of their lives (not referring to a specific faith here), and I find it interesting, and at times, problematic due to what I consider gaping inconsistencies. I have had many conversations with people who identify as religious, and read books about religion. Most notably last year, I read Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris (10/10 recommend), and I am currently reading Thenmozhi Soundararajan's The Trauma of Caste (also 10/10 recommend). Mike -- in his own words -- identifies himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. Being that he partnered up to lead the country with a President who was not religious at all (although according to Mike, he allegedly sort of was), I was interested to know how Mike could reconcile his strong religious beliefs with a lot of the things he was a part of.

I didn't come out of the book really understanding as much as I'd hoped to in that regard. I mean yes, there were some things where he was clearly in a "I draw the line here, because in no, way, shape, or form can I justify this to God" mentality, but I think he should have experienced that conflict a lot more than he did. Or maybe he did, and just didn't say so in the book. I won't even begin to pretend to know everything about Christianity, but I know forgiveness is a big thing. I struggled with this because there were many things Mike really did call out as wrong or problematic directly, but he would then immediately follow with how grace and forgiveness are so important in his faith. And I get that, but if someone does something atrocious, it doesn't feel like enough to just have the mentality of "that was absolutely unacceptable and I will not condone it no matter what but also you deserve grace and forgiveness because you said sorry or I can tell you're sorry" or whatever. Because then there's no accountability. And Mike might jump in here and say that he isn't one who is responsible for holding anyone else accountable or doling out consequences because that's law enforcement/the justice system/God's job, but I don't know. Feels a little too much like taking the easy way out. And he speaks a lot about NOT taking the easy way out, and about doing the right thing even when it is very hard -- a value that he and I share -- so I expected him to model that more often.

Another thing I noticed is that he was more quick to talk about forgiveness when the people he was calling out (be they politicians or citizens, Republican or Democrat) were also Christians. But if they weren't Christian I didn't hear anything about forgiveness. He portrays himself as someone who approaches interactions with people with openness and kindness (and I do think he'd be kind to anyone who approached him kindly), but I got this undertone from him that the people he really sees as most worthy of respect and appreciation are religious people. At the top of that list, other Christians, of course. He did make a few mentions of devout Jews and devout Muslims whom he respected so much as "fellow people of faith" -- but that left a very strong implication that if you aren't particularly devout (to any faith), on some level, Mike is not going to feel the same way about you. This feels un-Christian to me. From what I know about Christianity, anyway. I could be wrong. He also definitely has a vibe of "I have a Jewish friend so I can't be antisemitic! MLK is one of my top 3 childhood heroes so I can't be racist!" and I want to say something to him about that.

In regards to Mike's evaluation of himself, there were points I was like okay, respect. For example, he called himself out for his absolutely poor handling of an election campaign very early on in his career in Indiana. And I was like alright, that's neat. You did majorly wrong and you can say you did majorly wrong. But as the book continued, I noticed that the only times he really owned his own behavior were in contexts where there didn't feel like there were any real consequences -- where it was safe to, if that makes sense. In all other contexts, he was more focused on what other people did wrong (and sometimes I don't even think other people were doing much wrong), and we didn't get any introspection from him on his own thoughts/words/actions. Granted, it's his autobiography, right, so he can say whatever he wants, but I felt like man... you could do better. Especially since you're the one talking about being a man of God. That role seems to necessitate always owning what you do first before calling out others.

At the end, I came out of this book feeling like I do understand Mike Pence as a person (far more than I did before, at any rate). I know what motivates him. I know where he comes from. I disagree with him on a lot. I did, to my surprise, find a couple of shared values we have. I have a ton of questions for him, still, and places where I'd like to hear him explain his thinking, or where I want to give him push back and hear how he'd respond. Throughout his book I did see consistently that he didn't appear to be someone who avoided difficult conversations with people he didn't agree with. Which was cool. It made me feel like I could have a dialogue with him. He also said one thing that I can't recall any politician saying in recent times (but that I wish they all said regularly) -- that if you get elected to office, you're not only responsible for representing the interests of the people who voted for you. You're responsible for representing the interests of EVERYONE in your country (or state or city, etc). Now, I don't think he lived it. I think he thinks he lived it. I think part of why he couldn't live it is because his primary motivation is his faith, and so many of the people he represented didn't share his same faith, or subscribe to any faith at all.

I think what so many people don't realize is that while the establishment clause separates church from state, it doesn't separate religion from politics. Ultimately to our collective detriment. I think this book is the embodiment of that.

[Dustin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don’t understand how people can bash this man’s character. I get that when it comes to his religion that there are people who don’t like or agree with that, but his character? His character and conviction is what our country is LACKING. The individuals who have rated this book (or any other book) who before even reading it are a prime example of one of the problems we are facing. I don’t understand the mentality of wanting to shout someone down or wanting to smear them before even hearing what they have to say based on snippets heard on Twitter or in a biased news story, and the chance to hear how an individual feels straight from their own mouth is as close to their truth as it gets. Amazon won’t even allow reviews anymore without this being a verified purchase, which only further proves that there is a problem. Mike Pence is not Donald J. Trump.


*** After the 3/15 interview I now question his integrity. Disgusting.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically, the book you would expect Mike Pence to write. I don't mean that as a criticism. But if you've heard Mike and met Mike and followed Mike's career, you're not going to glean much new from this memoir. Sure, some back story is filled in. And yes, January 6, 2021, gets a disproportionate amount of attention. But certainly no bombshells here, which is likely one reason the work hasn't gathered much attention.

The book did renew my appreciation for all that Trump was able to accomplish, as well as for his true care for others, while also reminding me that it would be a really really good idea to nominate someone else in 2024. And as fate would have it, this author happens to be an excellent choice.

[Payton · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a someone who prides herself on being "middle, leaning liberal" on most issues, I think this book was worth the read. It was insightful and eye-opening to get a glimpse into the world as it unfolded for Mike Pence. It did not make me agree with the Trump presidency or sway my vote. But, it did serve as a great reminder that people are just people and everyone's world view is very different. It was a great bias checker and truly is something I think is worth the read. I do not agree with Pence's politics (for the most part) and this book is 100% a push for his presidential campaign. It also is a selective account of the Trump presidency. But, I admire his faith and love for family. A very interesting read for sure.

[McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this. There’s so much the media tells us/ doesn’t tell us and so much we don’t get to experience because we just aren’t a part of those conversations. I appreciated getting to experience the past couple of years from a different point of view. If conservative thought and religion irritate you, maybe don’t read this book. But if you’re open to hearing other people’s thoughts and motivations, highly recommend.

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.9 ⭐️
I LOVED this book. It’s so good.

Very minimal language used when quoting others