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Joe Biden

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Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose Paperback – November 20, 2018

by Joe Biden (Author)

5,996

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The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

From President Joe Biden, Promise Me Dad is his deeply moving memoir about the year that would forever change both a family and a country.

“Biden splices a heartbreaking story with an election story and a foreign affairs story. And in so doing, he offers something for everyone, no matter which strand draws you in.”―The New York Times Book Review

In November 2014, thirteen members of the Biden family gathered on Nantucket for Thanksgiving, a tradition they had been celebrating for the past forty years; it was the one constant in what had become a hectic, scrutinized, and overscheduled life. The Thanksgiving holiday was a much-needed respite, a time to connect, a time to reflect on what the year had brought, and what the future might hold. But this year felt different from all those that had come before. Joe and Jill Biden’s eldest son, Beau, had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor fifteen months earlier, and his survival was uncertain. “Promise me, Dad,” Beau had told his father. “Give me your word that no matter what happens, you’re going to be all right.” Joe Biden gave him his word.

Promise Me, Dad chronicles the year that followed, which would be the most momentous and challenging in Joe Biden’s extraordinary life and career. As vice president, Biden traveled more than a hundred thousand miles that year, across the world, dealing with crises in Ukraine, Central America, and Iraq. When a call came from New York, or Capitol Hill, or Kyiv, or Baghdad―“Joe, I need your help”―he responded. For twelve months, while Beau fought for and then lost his life, the vice president balanced the twin imperatives of living up to his responsibilities to his country and his responsibilities to his family. And never far away was the insistent and urgent question of whether he should seek the presidency in 2016.

The year brought real triumph and accomplishment, and wrenching pain. But even in the worst times, Biden was able to lean on the strength of his long, deep bonds with his family, on his faith, and on his deepening friendship with the man in the Oval Office, Barack Obama.

Writing with poignancy and immediacy, Joe Biden allows readers to feel the urgency of each moment, to experience the days when he felt unable to move forward as well as the days when he felt like he could not afford to stop.

This is a book written not just by the president, but by a father, grandfather, friend, and husband. Promise Me, Dad is a story of how family and friendships sustain us and how hope, purpose, and action can guide us through the pain of personal loss into the light of a new future.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Flatiron Books
Publication date

November 20, 2018
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.69 x 8.38 inches
ISBN-10

1250171695
ISBN-13

978-1250171696
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is a backstage drama, honest, raw and rich in detail. People who have lost someone will genuinely take comfort from what he has to say...These flashes of vulnerability are part of what makes Promise Me, Dad memorable; so, too, are the small, tender interactions between Biden and his dying son."
― The New York Times

"Biden splices a heartbreaking story with an election story and a foreign affairs story. And in so doing, he offers something for everyone, no matter which strand draws you in."
― The New York Times Book Review

"Biden exudes humanity throughout the book. He lays bare his emotions and vulnerabilities at losing a son with so much promise."
- NPR

About the Author

Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States. Before taking office, he represented Delaware for 36 years in the U.S. Senate and from 2009-2017 served as the 47th Vice President of the United States. As Vice President Biden fought to raise the living standards of middle class Americans, reduce gun violence, address violence against women, and end cancer as we know it. He has worked to expand opportunity for all with the creation of the Biden Foundation, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Biden Domestic Policy Institute at the University of Delaware. He is the author of Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics and Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flatiron Books; Reprint edition (November 20, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250171695
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250171696
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.38 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #129,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #388 in US Presidents
- #723 in Political Leader Biographies
- #4,303 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
5,996

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Joe Biden

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Joe Biden represented Delaware for 36 years in the U.S. Senate before serving as 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. As the Vice President, Joe Biden addressed important issues facing the nation and represented America abroad, traveling over 1.2 million miles to more than 50 countries. He convened sessions of the President’s Cabinet, led interagency efforts, and worked with Congress in his fight to raise the living standards of middle class Americans, reduce gun violence, address violence against women, and end cancer as we know it.

Since leaving the White House, Vice President Biden continues his legacy of expanding opportunity for all with the creation of the Biden Foundation, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Biden Institute for Domestic Policy at the University of Delaware. He is the author of Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics and the forthcoming memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose (on sale Nov. 14).

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Christopher

This book is a must read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2017

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This review is of the hard copy edition, purchased off Amazon. I will disclose this early: I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I am very moderate, although I lean right on economic issues. Bottom line up front: This book is a masterpiece.

This autobiography goes through Vice President Joe Biden's life as he and his family struggle with Beau Biden’s diagnosis and battle with a rare form of brain cancer. Throughout his career as a senator and Vice President, VP Biden gained a reputation for being a grounded, kind, and intelligent individual. It is astonishing how this and his genuine warmth radiates off of the pages. It is also interesting to note how well written it is. Whether VP Biden is describing his family’s yearly thanksgiving trip to Nantucket or the walls of the hospital hallways as his son is being carted to surgery, he does so with a simple clarity that makes you feel like you are there. You are reminded of your own experiences as he describes his own to you.

There is so much that can be taken away from this book. Those who have struggled with a family member’s illness will find a brother in arms. Those who are interested in politics will find a treasure trove of interesting tidbits on the inner workings of the US government. And whether intentionally or not, VP Biden’s book offers subtle lessons on how to be a better father and person. As I read it, I find myself aspiring to live up to the standard set by the author and his family.

The book still sits by my bed. Not being a very large book, it is easy to hold. The cover is an opaque white with simple blue and red text. As I look over to it now, it reminds me of how I feel as I reflect upon VP Biden’s experiences. One does not need to be flashy to be important. One does need to be “great” to have meaning. Kindness is not a weakness. Men can be defined by their genuineness.

I will close by noting the almost theatrical feeling of the opening pages. In typical Joe Biden style, it begins with a quote from Immanuel Kant. It is one which hides incredible meaning behind incredibly simple words. It is one befitting the author and one which immediately struck me and has sat with me since:

“Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.”

VP Biden, although tragic, your son’s death has been given meaning. Thank you for sharing it with us.

22 people found this helpful

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bobconner

One of the best members I've ever read, about one the best men this nation has to lead her.

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018

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What an excellent read. Most presidential memoirs I've encountered were nowhere near this deep and so exposing.

As Joe Biden opens up his family, his most sacred thoughts, worries and issues, he becomes the man I've always suspected he was. There are few politicians who can honestly say their family comes first, but Joe is a rare person in this and many ways.

An iron anchor for his family, he holds them together through tragedies that would devastate most families and men. Surviving epoch events his entire life, Joe is such a rare individual in this world that he's heads and shoulders above most others in all humanity.

It's no stretch whatsoever that I accompany him with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandella, Martin Luther King, and Franklin D Roosevelt. His family adores and even idolize him as do his political associates on both sides of the proverbial aisle.

Joe is the truly rare man who can set massive goals and accomplish them all; all the while keeping his family on the pedestal he built for them. We often hear men claim to be a family man while achieving much, but we always find the once hidden chinks in their armor that shed more light on them and expose them for the men they truly are. However; there will be no chinks in Joe's armor and that armor shines with an illumination of its own, coming from within.

So amazingly successful, yet Joe completely avoids the pitfalls in which other politicians typically become deeply ensnared as they become consumed by their successes and leave family behind.

He's a man's man, make no mistake; a rough and ready brawler, most often too tough to beat but his heart and his love for family and all humanity shine so brightly, his crusty outer layer is all but impossible to find. Yet; despite his brawler personality, he is a genuine and honest politician who can claim many friends and supporters from any and all political parties. His very long list of accomplishments was attained simply because he's an approachable human being; supremely patient, wise, and honest, always seeking to make the nation and the planet a far better place for us all. And he does so with a demeanor that is unparalleled by any.

President Obama saw these qualities in him when he approached Joe and asked him to be his running mate. Once the second most important man in the nation, he still maintained his humility while actively working with President Obama.

His insistence that he not be placed somewhere on the mantle, that he was to play an active role in Obama's goals and efforts, proved to be a very large catalyst for the Barack Obama legacy.

If you read anything this year - Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose should be that. You will, regardless of the partisanship you adhere to, love the read. You will discover that amongst the sharks, barracudas, and lionfish, he stands out as an Orca; Kind, yet hard-driven; stubborn, yet willing to compromise in order to lead the nation; fearsome, but loving and caring.

2 people found this helpful

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Caillault

Très bon livre

Reviewed in France on August 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

J'ai trouvé ce livre très personnel pour un homme politique de cette stature.
Ce livre est bien écrit (anglais américain).
Il montre aussi le travail de Président Biden au quotidien (et c'est peut-être la partie la moins intéressante, c'est pour dire !).

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MERRYLION

Encourage

Reviewed in India on November 18, 2020

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Vividly it tells the story of the family and the hard time shared by them.Encourage all.

2 people found this helpful

A Garthwaite

An unusual blend of personal tragedy and political insight

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

I don't think there could have been a better time to read this book than immediately following Joe Biden's election victory. After nearly four years of the most erratic and mendacious presidency in US history, it was comforting to digest a narrative steeped in strong family values, care for others and policy considerations which are clearly founded in strategic logic and truth. Regardless of any political and policy differences readers may have with Joe Biden, one couldn't fail to welcome the feeling of normality that oozes off every page and the belief that stability and humanity will soon return to the White House.
The book blends Biden's comprehensive and agonising account of how his son, Beau, succumbed to the tragedy of a brain tumour with his efforts, as Vice-President, to resolve major foreign policy challenges, particularly in Iraq, Ukraine and Central America. This is, therefore, an unusual book but the author's approach worked for me. Although the sadness of the story is heart breaking, Biden's loving relationship with his son and family is inspiring. I felt privileged to be allowed into Joe Biden's grieving process as well as gaining an insight into how he applies his considerable political experience to resolve complex issues.

9 people found this helpful

Bob

A Love Story

Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

If you know Joe Biden as a politician, than you most assuredly must get to know him as a Dad (and husband). While written with a strong political narrative, Promise Me, Dad, is really so much more; digging deep to expose the soul of this man who loves his family beyond all else. The death of his son, Bo, slammed the brakes on what would have most likely been a successful bud for the U-S Presidency (my, I-am-sure-not-alone, opinion) and tested his faith and resolve in the most trying of ways. But that tragic event also demonstrated how the strongest of family bonds can lift and sustain us even when life seems totally unbearable.
Learn about this man of remarkable character who not only loves his family, but who has an unfathomable depth of caring for the United States and its status and stature on the world stage. As a Canadian, I hope someone of his ilk (perhaps him?) will rise and rescue my Southern neighbour and friend from its current darkness.
This book is an inspiring read and I highly recommend it to all world citizens.

4 people found this helpful

christophKa

Outstanding, insightful political read and also encouragement for everyone who has lost loved ones.

Reviewed in Germany on June 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book is an incredible read, honest and personal, for everyone interested in politics. But even more so for everyone who has lost loved ones.
I'm not American, I'm Austrian. But still, last year, after I had read "Promise me, Dad" I felt the need to write a thank you letter to Mr. Biden.
So here is not only my first book review on Amazon, but below also my first letter to an American politician.

Dear Mr. Biden
I guess you receive countless E-mails with thank you notes every day. But I suppose not that many are from Austria.
And even though I don’t expect you will be reading them in person, after I have read your book „Promise me, Dad“ I still feel the need to write you some words.

I don’t remember any other book that has had such a profound impact on me and provided me with comfort in difficult times. Still mourning the loss of my mother, you sharing your personal experience and thereby giving strength and hope to other people is a tremendous gift.

I’d only wish that your book would also be published in German (and other languages), so that even more people, including my father, could read it. Therefore, I would be very thankful if your publisher would consider translating it.

And of course, I want to thank you for your outstanding service in politics: Your service as Vice President, but also your long-time service as Senator, especially in the Senate ‘s Foreign Relations Committee and now your work in the Biden Cancer Initiative and the Biden Foundation.

As a proud member of the Austro-American-Society I have delved into American history, admired political heroes of the past, from Washington, Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt and Kennedy. I was exited when you and President Obama took office. And more than ever, I miss the days when you both lead the country.

Time and time again I have also been frustrated, that many in Europe and in my home country of Austria don’t really appreciate what Americans have sacrificed and accomplished for freedom and democracy worldwide, and especially what we here in Europe and in Austria have to be thankful for.

Of course, the current US administration makes it hard to look with admiration to Washington. But when I watched your eulogy for Senator McCain, also a hero of mine, I was once again reminded what it means to be American and what American ideals stand for. And I have been reassured that as long as there are Americans like you, the United States truly are the world's last best hope, the beacon of the world.

And so even though I live far away, in the mountainous region of Austria, I still hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity to contribute in some way to your cause, to the American cause. Like President Kennedy said: Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

After I have read your book I have tremendous respect for your difficult decision not to run for the presidency. And you certainly have already done more to serve your country than anyone could ever ask for.
But just in case that there is still the slightest chance that you would consider running again, I wanted to let you know that not only many people in the United States would celebrate your candidacy, but even some guy far away in a small city of Villach somewhere in Austria.

Sincerely
Christoph

11 people found this helpful

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