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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This past week, as I heard of Trump’s desire to end birthright citizenship — something that I, as a daughter of immigrants, am a beneficiary of — I was contemplating more deeply what does it mean to be an American. In the midst of that, I was glad to have Biden’s book as a source of guidance and encouragement.
I have always harbored a skepticism of politicians, even a stereotype of them to be self-serving and deceitful. However, truly Biden reveals the creme de la creme, the ideal public servant and American. His heart and passion to pursue a better America and a better world are so evident in this concise and straightforward story that chronicles his desire to be a good vice president and a good father to his dying son. It is an emotionally compelling book, inspiring in its authors’ unrelenting commitment to hope, while also giving deeper insight behind several foreign crises that I had been just a teenager during. Biden made me “nostalgic for the future” and imparted that sense of hope, unity, moral fortitude, loyalty, and sacrifice that are the hallmarks for the American character. Though I am aware that his story romanticizes the role of America as a hero, and even his own persona as a larger-than-life man, it felt forgivable. Though I would’ve loved to have a much deeper exploration in Biden’s own flaws and that of the nations (especially the military industrial complex and America’s imperialism), I think it would’ve been a much different story.
Lastly, throughout reading this, I kept thinking of the following phrase: “It is hard for a good man to be king.” The challenges he surmounts and the moral dilemmas he faces cemented Biden’s image in my mind as a hero. But he takes all of it in stride, treating his responsibility to the country and family as a privilege and duty rather than a burden.
I do hope to live and be part of the future Biden describes in Promise Me, Dad.
I have always harbored a skepticism of politicians, even a stereotype of them to be self-serving and deceitful. However, truly Biden reveals the creme de la creme, the ideal public servant and American. His heart and passion to pursue a better America and a better world are so evident in this concise and straightforward story that chronicles his desire to be a good vice president and a good father to his dying son. It is an emotionally compelling book, inspiring in its authors’ unrelenting commitment to hope, while also giving deeper insight behind several foreign crises that I had been just a teenager during. Biden made me “nostalgic for the future” and imparted that sense of hope, unity, moral fortitude, loyalty, and sacrifice that are the hallmarks for the American character. Though I am aware that his story romanticizes the role of America as a hero, and even his own persona as a larger-than-life man, it felt forgivable. Though I would’ve loved to have a much deeper exploration in Biden’s own flaws and that of the nations (especially the military industrial complex and America’s imperialism), I think it would’ve been a much different story.
Lastly, throughout reading this, I kept thinking of the following phrase: “It is hard for a good man to be king.” The challenges he surmounts and the moral dilemmas he faces cemented Biden’s image in my mind as a hero. But he takes all of it in stride, treating his responsibility to the country and family as a privilege and duty rather than a burden.
I do hope to live and be part of the future Biden describes in Promise Me, Dad.
I love Joe Biden. I don't know how you couldn't - he's real and genuine and it just emanates from him in a way that it does from so few. I have friends who are hardcore Republicans, working with Republican Senators and Governors who can't help but love him, too. I don't know how someone who has lost so much, can still give so much so freely to so many but I bet Joe would say it's because of the losses he's experienced.
Everyone knows the story, right? First-term Senator from Delaware loses his wife and 18 month old daughter in a car accident right before Christmas. He's sworn in at the hospital where his two other sons, Beau and Hunter, are recuperating. He goes on to serve on the judiciary committee and foreign relations committee and is know for his bipartisan efforts. His eldest son, Beau, passed away in 2015 at age 46 after a brief, but intense, battle with brain cancer. He kept a diary through all this and his recounts of this time are just heartbreaking. I made the mistake of reading the part where Beau passes at the gym. You can feel his heartbreaking for his son -"my boy" - and all the sadness from his wife and daughter's death rushing back. How he could continue to function and carry on is a testament to his fortitude and strength. I don't know how one human goes through all that and comes out with a legacy like Joe Biden's.
I loved how the beginning and ending were tied together with the father of the police officer who didn't speak English. In the beginning, Biden is holding the man while he weeps for his son and even gave him his personal cell number - something he did for quite a lot of people who had lost someone they loved. At the end, the man waits in line for hours and hours to console Biden at Beau's visitation. So have tissues handy; you'll certainly need them.
Joe Biden is amazing and I really just want to hang out and eat ice cream with him.
Everyone knows the story, right? First-term Senator from Delaware loses his wife and 18 month old daughter in a car accident right before Christmas. He's sworn in at the hospital where his two other sons, Beau and Hunter, are recuperating. He goes on to serve on the judiciary committee and foreign relations committee and is know for his bipartisan efforts. His eldest son, Beau, passed away in 2015 at age 46 after a brief, but intense, battle with brain cancer. He kept a diary through all this and his recounts of this time are just heartbreaking. I made the mistake of reading the part where Beau passes at the gym. You can feel his heartbreaking for his son -"my boy" - and all the sadness from his wife and daughter's death rushing back. How he could continue to function and carry on is a testament to his fortitude and strength. I don't know how one human goes through all that and comes out with a legacy like Joe Biden's.
I loved how the beginning and ending were tied together with the father of the police officer who didn't speak English. In the beginning, Biden is holding the man while he weeps for his son and even gave him his personal cell number - something he did for quite a lot of people who had lost someone they loved. At the end, the man waits in line for hours and hours to console Biden at Beau's visitation. So have tissues handy; you'll certainly need them.
Joe Biden is amazing and I really just want to hang out and eat ice cream with him.
An intimate look at our former Vice President and how he and his family deal with his son's battle with cancer. In the background are geopolitical events such as the fight against ISIL in Iraq and supporting Ukraine against Russia's advances. A particularly beautiful part of the book highlights his comforting a family of a police officer killed in NYC which is then mirrored later on in the book when that family comes to grieve with him when Biden loses his son. Biden highlights the human connections that form between us. One minor thing he appropriately calls attention to is the need for seamless collaboration between physicians in healthcare, how the system often impedes the sharing of data - a step we should look into correcting if we hope to achieve the moonshot of curing cancer.
I had an interest to read this memoir after watching Joe Biden in several interviews talk about his son, Beau. I was expecting a book mostly about Beau; unfortunately, while the focus seems to be Beau, Biden spends a majority of the book talking about the various assignments he was given while vice president, his political accomplishments, and his decision to run (or not to run) for President in 2016. If you're someone who wants to read about some of Biden's major political accomplishments as VP, this is the book for you. I will say, when Biden did share what it was like losing Beau and even leasing up to his death, I was drawn to the book.
Promise Me, Dad, is the story of the Biden family dealing with the serious illness of son, Beau and his subsequent death. Also included are various, mostly international projects that Joe Biden was working on as Vice-President during this time period. The Biden family seems to be extremely close and very cohesive. And Joe seems to be a caring father.
That said, I am not sure how I feel about his current presidential candidacy. In Promise Me, Dad, Biden relates his process in deciding against pursuing the nomination in 2016. I was a little surprised of his telling of several conversations with then-President Obama and others. It seemed as though Obama did not want Biden to seek the nomination then.
"He [Obama] wanted to know if I had thought about all the things that I could do if I didn't run. I could still have an effect, he assured me." (21)
That said, I am not sure how I feel about his current presidential candidacy. In Promise Me, Dad, Biden relates his process in deciding against pursuing the nomination in 2016. I was a little surprised of his telling of several conversations with then-President Obama and others. It seemed as though Obama did not want Biden to seek the nomination then.
"He [Obama] wanted to know if I had thought about all the things that I could do if I didn't run. I could still have an effect, he assured me." (21)
Book Bite for the Sunday Times: http://bit.ly/2MDbNqy
~I suspect there are parents who might feel put upon when asked to give up their alone time. I regarded these requests as the fruits of a life well lived: our grown children actually wanted to be with us.~
~After a while you're going to start to feel guilty because you're going to be going to the same people constantly for help, or just to talk. And as their lives go back to normal, you are going to start to worry about leaning on them too much...I'm asking too much. I've got to stop complaining...pick up the phone and call me.~
~The first African American in history who has a chance to be president says he needs your help to win-and you said no."~
~"What's it going to be like to be number two?" . . . "I've never had a boss. How am I going to handle this?" Until Jill finally had an answer: "C'mon, Joe," she said. "Grow up."~
~You can't remain silent. Silence is complicity.~
~I suspect there are parents who might feel put upon when asked to give up their alone time. I regarded these requests as the fruits of a life well lived: our grown children actually wanted to be with us.~
~After a while you're going to start to feel guilty because you're going to be going to the same people constantly for help, or just to talk. And as their lives go back to normal, you are going to start to worry about leaning on them too much...I'm asking too much. I've got to stop complaining...pick up the phone and call me.~
~The first African American in history who has a chance to be president says he needs your help to win-and you said no."~
~"What's it going to be like to be number two?" . . . "I've never had a boss. How am I going to handle this?" Until Jill finally had an answer: "C'mon, Joe," she said. "Grow up."~
~You can't remain silent. Silence is complicity.~
You’ve heard of Joe Biden, lifelong politician and former Veep. You know of his tragic early adulthood, of his wife and 3 little kids being in a car accident, and only his 2 sons surviving. This is his telling of the time when on those surviving sons, Beau, was living with and dying from brain cancer. At that time, Biden was VP, with several important foreign policy crises happening, AND a 2016 presidential bid to consider. We know how it all ended. This story tells you why.
Please don't stone me to death because I've always liked Joe Biden, but this smacks a lot like a well-crafted entree into the 2020 campaign.
Three stars. Biden wants us to know that he would have been a great President and likely would have won, if he had chosen to run. But he didn't. But he could have. But he didn't. But....(repeat repeat)
Please don't stone me to death because I've always liked Joe Biden, but this smacks a lot like a well-crafted entree into the 2020 campaign.
Three stars. Biden wants us to know that he would have been a great President and likely would have won, if he had chosen to run. But he didn't. But he could have. But he didn't. But....(repeat repeat)
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I heartfelt memoir, personal, political, and an ode to a beloved son. Vice President Biden's attempt to capture a gut wrenching personal story as he balances his responsibility of his positions. To me the most moving were when he discussed personal interactions with known and unknown people. It got a little long as he described his decision not to run for President. Some of the problems he dealt with on the world stage he made it sound easily resolved.