The Shadow President: The Truth about Mike Pence

Michael D'Antonio

Quick Take

In this well-rounded, deeply-investigated biography, the first full look at the vice president, two award-winning journalists unmask the real Mike Pence. Little-known outside his home state until Donald Trump made him his running mate, Mike Pence--who proclaims himself a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican third--has long worn a carefully-constructed mask of Midwestern nice. Behind his self-proclaimed humility and self-abasing deference, however, hides a man whose own presidential ambitions have blazed since high school. Pence's drive for power, perhaps inspired by his belief that God might have big plans for him, explains why he shocked his allies by lending Christian credibility to a scandal-plagued candidate like Trump.In this landmark biography, Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael D'Antonio and Emmy-nominated journalist Peter Eisner follow the path Pence followed from Catholic Democrat to conservative evangelical Republican. They reveal how he used his time as rightwing radio star to build connections with powerful donors; how he was a lackluster lawmaker in Congress but a prodigious fundraiser from the GOP's billionaire benefactors; and how, once he locked in his views on the issues--anti-gay, pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro big-business--he became laser-focused on his own pursuit of power.As THE SHADOW PRESIDENT reveals, Mike Pence is the most important and powerful Christian Right politician America has ever seen. Driven as much by theology as personal ambition, Pence is now positioned to seize the big prize--the presidency--and use it to fashion a nation more pleasing to his god and corporate sponsors.Praise for The Shadow President: "It presents an entirely damning portrait of Pence. You've seen his colors before, but not so vividly and in this detail." -- Frank Bruni, The New York Times"Producing a biography of a living, controversial politician is always difficult. D'Antonio and Eisner have succeeded in this well-documented, damning book."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Reader's Review

Book Review Summary: The Shadow President: The Truth about Mike Pence

Introduction

In this well-rounded and deeply-investigated biography, two award-winning journalists, Michael D'Antonio and Peter Eisner, unmask the real Mike Pence, the vice president of the United States. Little-known outside his home state of Indiana until he became Donald Trump's running mate, Pence has long worn a carefully-constructed mask of Midwestern niceness. However, behind his self-proclaimed humility and self-abasing deference lies a man driven by ambition and the belief that God has big plans for him. This book delves into Pence's journey from a Catholic Democrat to a conservative evangelical Republican, shedding light on his time as a rightwing radio star, his prodigious fundraising from GOP billionaire benefactors, and his laser-focused pursuit of power.

About Michael D'Antonio

Michael D'Antonio, the author of this biography, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer with a reputation for clarity, balance, and thoroughness. He has published more than a dozen books, including Never Enough, a biography of presidential candidate and billionaire businessman Donald Trump. D'Antonio's works have been recognized as "best books of the year" or "editors' picks" by The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Businessweek, The Chicago Tribune, and Publisher's Weekly. He has appeared on various programs such as Sixty Minutes, Today, Good Morning, The Morning Show, America, Larry King Live, Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Diane Rehm, Coast-to-Coast, and many others.

Analysis of Views

A Damning Portrait: Readers praise the book for presenting an entirely damning portrait of Pence. They appreciate the vivid and detailed account of his colors, which they had previously seen but not to this extent.
A Deep Dive into Pence's Ambition: Many readers find the book captivating and engaging. They appreciate the authors' thorough investigation of Pence's ambition and how it has driven his political career.
Religious Zealotry: The book highlights Pence's religious zealotry and how it influences his political beliefs. Readers express concern about Pence's interpretation of religious freedom and how it can infringe on the rights of others.
Anti-LGBT Stance: Some readers express dismay at Pence's anti-LGBT stance and his efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade. They feel that Pence's religious beliefs are used to justify discriminatory policies that violate individual rights.
A Man Full of Ambition and Empty of Soul: A few readers find the book unsettling due to their perception of Pence as a man full of ambition but lacking a soul. They believe that Pence's belief in his own divine calling blinds him to the needs and rights of others.

Reasons for Recommendation

Thorough Investigation: Readers recommend the book for its thorough investigation into Pence's life and political career. They appreciate the authors' meticulous research and attention to detail in uncovering Pence's true nature.
Balanced Perspective: The authors provide a balanced perspective on Pence's political views and actions, which readers find valuable in understanding the complexities of his character.
Revealing Insights: Readers appreciate the revealing insights into Pence's motivations and beliefs, which they believe shed light on his potential as a future presidential candidate.

Reasons for Not Recommendation

Biased Writing: Some readers find the book biased against Pence and believe that it presents an unfair portrayal of his character. They feel that the authors have an agenda to discredit Pence and align with their own political views.
Lack of New Revelations: A few readers express disappointment that the book does not contain any earth-shattering revelations or new information about Pence. They feel that it merely confirms their existing biases rather than providing new insights.

Conclusion

"The Shadow President: The Truth about Mike Pence" by Michael D'Antonio offers a well-rounded and deeply-investigated biography of the vice president of the United States. While some readers praise the book for its thorough investigation and revealing insights, others find it biased and lacking in new information. Nevertheless, the book provides valuable insights into Pence's life and political career, shedding light on his ambition, religious zealotry, and potential impact on American politics if he were to become president.