As soon as President Trump selected J.D. Vance as his running mate, I decided to act on my long-overdue TBR (to be read) and read his story. Luckily, I was able to get the audio version, which Vance reads. It felt like he was personally sharing his story, which is how I prefer to read a memoir. While I knew the basic facts of his political resume and positions, I wanted to understand the details about his young life, which so clearly underpin his politics.

What I found is that Vance is the genuine article, the real deal. He experienced the economical, social, and cultural distress that so many in the Rust Belt do, but it is not confined to that region. I experienced similar deprivation (but without the guns) in South Jersey, as many folks growing up in economically and culturally impoverished regions throughout our country. Anywhere that the economy has left, crime and drugs rush in to fill the void. Opportunities are few, the brain drain takes place, leaving elderly and working class families to endure the new circumstances. Higher education lifts up some of the young, who rarely return to jumpstart new businesses. Mostly, they are happy to escape and not look back.

Vance is completely honest about the ways drugs, destructive fights and violence as a first, and usually only means of dealing with differences, both private and public, traumatize children and continue the cycle. Yelling, fists, and abandonment were the go-to strategies for all conflict resolution, with apologies to children afterwards. This leads to great distrust, broken relationships, and fading hope for calm, peaceful normalcy, making advancement in life a depressing struggle at best, surrender at worst.

The heroes in Vance’s life were his grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw, and his sister Lindsey. Lindsey took care of many of his basic needs, seeing that he was clean, fed, and on track, more than any teen sister ever normally would. Papaw provided the stable, quiet role model of manhood that Vance needed to have any hope of creating a normal, productive life. Mamaw gave Vance love and stability at crucial times, made him feel that he truly mattered, as well as providing the necessary motivation to strive and get the education that would provide his escape.

While many break out and never look back, Vance has maintained family and friendships with many in the area, and has very fond attachments and loyalty. That is highly unusual, and he is exceptionally modest in this regard. Vance is intelligent, humble, and sees no difference between himself and those he grew up with. He reminds me of Bill Clinton, although Vance is not superficial, and his moral character is greatly superior. In essence, what shines through is an exceptional person, who understands firsthand what was left behind when industry moved overseas, understands what it means to be a patriotic American, and understands what direction needs to be taken to bring hope and progress back to those forgotten and discarded.

I am very excited that Trump picked J.D. Vance, and have a new sense of hope if Vance represents the future of American government. He and others of his moral fiber and character have a great task ahead of them, getting America back on track, giving us all a brighter future. I highly recommend you read this book before voting. Consider it your civic duty.