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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I agree with some of the reviewers that there is too much about Biden's political career mixed in - but it did help me understand how the grief from losing his son kept him from running.
I thought some of it was repetitive at times.
I listened to this on Audible - and having Joe read it to me did add to the experience.
I thought some of it was repetitive at times.
I listened to this on Audible - and having Joe read it to me did add to the experience.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Quite the tear jerker. But this was an incredibly authentic view into his life and the hardship(s) he faced. This increased my respect for Joe Biden ten fold.
Maybe I'm outing my political leanings by saying that this book made me like Joe Biden even more. I grew up in Delaware so I've known him all my life. In fact, as a teen I drove through the intersection where his wife and daughter died on a regular basis. We all knew the story. What I've always appreciated about Joe Biden is he speaks from the heart - maybe that's why he gets in such trouble with his mouth. I appreciate that he doesn't lean on spin doctors or polls to make his opinion known. This book is beautiful and so classic Joe - his pain and his pride intermingle and paint a picture of a grieving man who never loses sight of the big picture and his duty to his country and his family. Our world is a better place with him in it and our country will be a better place once he is leading it (oops! did I say that? Will Goodreads censor me?).
In December, I heard former Vice President Joe Biden speak at the Orpheum Theatre about his new book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. It was an emotional evening, as Biden spoke about his son Beau’s death from brain cancer. That’s the main subject of Promise Me, Dad, but readers also get glimpses into Biden’s duties as Vice President, and Biden’s thinking as he ultimately decided not to pursue the Democratic nomination for President in 2016.
Promise Me, Dad is that very rare thing—an amazingly honest book written by a national politician. But then I think Joe Biden is an amazingly honest person. What you see is what you get with him. Promise Me, Dad is also a very moving book. Biden clearly had a very close relationship with Beau, and I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to watch Beau slowly be weakened by an awful disease. Even though there was little hope, Beau Biden signed up for every experimental treatment that was out there, hoping for a miracle.
The book also sheds light on Biden’s relationship with Barack Obama, and it becomes clear that they developed a very close friendship. As Biden said about the memes that celebrate his friendship with Obama, “They’re basically all true.” However, Biden originally told Obama no when Obama wanted to vet him for Vice President. When Biden was very close to saying yes to the Vice Presidency, he said to Obama, “I want to be the last guy in the room on every major decision. You’re President. I’m not. I get it. But if it’s my experience you’re looking for, I want to be the last guy to make the case.” (p.64)
One of the best anecdotes in the book is Biden’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. This was during the period when Putin was Prime Minister, rather than President, due to term limits. As they were meeting in Putin’s office, Biden turned around and was suddenly face to face with Putin. He said, “Mr. Prime Minister, I’m looking into your eyes. I don’t think you have a soul.” Putin replied, “We understand each other.” (p.95)
I think a key passage in Promise Me, Dad, is when Biden describes his own political philosophy: “I believe all politics is personal, because at bottom, politics depends on trust, and unless you can establish a personal relationship, it’s awfully hard to build trust.” (p.129) Biden demonstrates that again and again in the book, as he details his relationships with foreign leaders, and his attempts to build trust with them.
Will Joe Biden run for President in 2020? He’ll be 77 years old in 2020, and 78 years old on January 20, 2021—that’s older than Ronald Reagan was when he left office in 1989. But you never know, and as Promise Me, Dad shows, Joe Biden is a man who just keeps going when he’s facing adversity.
Promise Me, Dad is that very rare thing—an amazingly honest book written by a national politician. But then I think Joe Biden is an amazingly honest person. What you see is what you get with him. Promise Me, Dad is also a very moving book. Biden clearly had a very close relationship with Beau, and I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to watch Beau slowly be weakened by an awful disease. Even though there was little hope, Beau Biden signed up for every experimental treatment that was out there, hoping for a miracle.
The book also sheds light on Biden’s relationship with Barack Obama, and it becomes clear that they developed a very close friendship. As Biden said about the memes that celebrate his friendship with Obama, “They’re basically all true.” However, Biden originally told Obama no when Obama wanted to vet him for Vice President. When Biden was very close to saying yes to the Vice Presidency, he said to Obama, “I want to be the last guy in the room on every major decision. You’re President. I’m not. I get it. But if it’s my experience you’re looking for, I want to be the last guy to make the case.” (p.64)
One of the best anecdotes in the book is Biden’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. This was during the period when Putin was Prime Minister, rather than President, due to term limits. As they were meeting in Putin’s office, Biden turned around and was suddenly face to face with Putin. He said, “Mr. Prime Minister, I’m looking into your eyes. I don’t think you have a soul.” Putin replied, “We understand each other.” (p.95)
I think a key passage in Promise Me, Dad, is when Biden describes his own political philosophy: “I believe all politics is personal, because at bottom, politics depends on trust, and unless you can establish a personal relationship, it’s awfully hard to build trust.” (p.129) Biden demonstrates that again and again in the book, as he details his relationships with foreign leaders, and his attempts to build trust with them.
Will Joe Biden run for President in 2020? He’ll be 77 years old in 2020, and 78 years old on January 20, 2021—that’s older than Ronald Reagan was when he left office in 1989. But you never know, and as Promise Me, Dad shows, Joe Biden is a man who just keeps going when he’s facing adversity.
My first 5-star book for 2018 and this one definitely deserves it! I thought I liked Joe Biden before reading this book, but now I like him even more and admire his incredible strength and positive outlook on life even when he’s had plenty of tragedies occur. While I wish the 2016 election had panned out differently (MUCH differently), I totally get why Biden decided not to run. His sense of family values and their close-knit relationships is absolutely inspiring. Plus, I can always hold out hope for 2020, right?
I’m sorry, I really wanted to like this book.. and I really really hate giving bad reviews to memories.. but damn, this book was so boring.
i know many people thought this was the former VP tooting his own horn. As somone who recently went thru similar loss with a family member, I found this book incredibly healing and cathartic. A reminder that through all the pain, "normal" life continues. Highly recommended.
Joe Biden's storybof losing his eldest child to cancer. He uses candor along with fond memories of the early years to set the stage. As he was coming to terms with his son's diagnosis he was serving as Vice President and trying to decide whether to run for president.
The pressure must have been overwhelming but he tells it with grace. The reader gets a ringside seat into the close Biden family. This was an endearing memoir laced with foreign policy tidbits.
The pressure must have been overwhelming but he tells it with grace. The reader gets a ringside seat into the close Biden family. This was an endearing memoir laced with foreign policy tidbits.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced