US Vice-President JD Vance has released a second memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Critics have largely panned the book, and major review platforms like Amazon and Goodreads have restricted feedback due to unusual activity, including a torrent of one-star reviews.
Vance Prioritizes Book Tour Over Diplomacy
Vance appeared on The View to promote his book but was pressed by hosts on political issues. He pleaded, “Let’s talk about the book – I’m here to sell books.” Moderator Whoopi Goldberg responded, “Eventually we will, but this is a good opportunity for us to get some clarity on stuff.”
Later, on Fox News, Vance expressed frustration with diplomatic protocols regarding Iran, stating, “I’ve gotta be honest with you – I don’t really understand these things. [But] I’m trying to be respectful. Given my position in the last year-and-a-half, I have to care about diplomatic protocols all of a sudden.” The hosts appeared amused, with one chuckling “Love it.”
Criticism of Vance's Priorities
Critics argue that Vance should focus on his vice-presidential duties, especially as President Donald Trump has warned of an “economic catastrophe” due to potential war with Iran. Columnist Arwa Mahdawi notes that Vance’s book tour seems self-serving and that his admission of ignorance about diplomacy is alarming. She contrasts the reaction to Vance with the hypothetical backlash against former Vice-President Kamala Harris for similar comments.
Vance’s first memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, was a bestseller. His new book explores his spiritual journey, but it has been criticized for its content and timing. In Communion, Vance writes that his infamous “childless cat ladies” comment was “one of the dumbest things [he] ever said,” yet he remains fixated on birthrates, mentioning babies 33 times in the book.
Literary Borrowings and Future Directions
Observers have noted that Vance’s book titles echo those of Black feminist writer bell hooks, who authored Appalachian Elegy and Communion: The Female Search For Love. Mahdawi suggests Vance might next borrow hooks’ The Will to Change, which originally addressed how patriarchy harms men, but could be repurposed to explain his shift from calling Trump “America’s Hitler” to becoming his vice-president.
Mahdawi concludes by suggesting Vance might be better suited to fantasy writing, given his apparent comfort with fabrication, and urges him to leave politics for full-time literary pursuits.
