Promise Me, Dad

By: Joe Biden

Narrated by: Joe Biden

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

A deeply moving memoir about the year that would forever change both a family and a country.

In November 2014, 13 members of the Biden family gathered on Nantucket for Thanksgiving, a tradition they had been celebrating for the past 40 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 15 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. 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 12 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 listeners 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 vice 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.

Note: this Audible Exclusive includes a powerful interview – only available here – between Joe Biden and award-winning journalist, Mike Barnicle. Their discussion contextualizes the memoir’s wide-ranging themes, while also touching upon the presidential election, current events, and what it means to grapple with profound grief.

Tickets for Vice President Biden’s American Promise Tour are on sale now. For more details visit JoeBidenBook.com.

©2017 CelticCapri Corp (P)2017 Audible Originals, LLC.

Critic Reviews

"This audiobook is a listening experience in which the author/narrator opens his heart. Vice President Joe Biden, a practiced orator, delivers his memoir with empathy, passion, and the occasional smattering of regret." (AudioFile)

A Sad Memoir

The memoir by Joe Biden covers his last year as vice president and the tragedy of his son’s death His son, Beau, was the Attorney General of Delaware and was planning on running for governor of Delaware when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. This is not Joe Biden’s first family tragedy. When Joe was first elected Senator from Delaware, his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. His two sons, Beau age three and Hunter age two, were in the back seat. They were injured but survived the crash. Biden provided a good overview of the ongoing research of glioblastoma brain cancer.

The book is well written, but I found it to be an emotional book to read. I wished there had been more about Beau’s family particularly his wife, Hallie. Biden spoke of his grandchild but little was mentioned about Hallie. But I understand how difficult it must have been for Biden to write. Biden provided an overview of his last year as vice president along with some insights about people he worked with.

The book is almost eight hours long. Joe Biden narrated the book.

23 of 25 people found this review helpful

A Beautiful Tribute to Beau Biden

This was one of the saddest books I've ever heard. It does shed light on why he didn't run for president. I'm amazed that this man can get up every morning and continue to accomplish anything. Beau was a hero in more ways than one and this is a beautiful tribute to one who died too young.

26 of 29 people found this review helpful

Wonderful Memoir of one of the most difficult years for the former VP

This book is wonderful. Definitely don’t read in public! No one should have to bury their children. I had no idea Biden lost his first wife and a daughter earlier in his life! Such a tragic, beautiful life this man has had. I have so much respect for him. I wish he would have run, but i totally understand why he didn’t.

The only issue i had with this was that It seemed there was a different narrator at certain points. It was a little distracting.

13 of 15 people found this review helpful

Deeply touching, heart-wrenching memoir of loss

Finding hope after a disaster? Bearing in mind that theoretically the worst thing one should ever experience in this insignificant life is probably the loss of a child. Parents assume that they are the ones that should be those to go first, to afterlife or whatever its equivalent is for an individual. When children are poised to outpace their elders, as if it was a race between them, it is impossible to reconcile with the natural order, belief in a benevolent creator, or even karma. The former vice president deeply touched my heart and i felt his grief, his perhaps righteous indignation and his reckoning in this audiobook. I also came to know a much different side od a formidable public person, a national and later-to-become a historic man. I always held Joe Biden in such high esteem, noy for his personality, his integrity, the fact that there is significant overlap in our thoughts about what a government should and should not be doing, and so much more. I now also know how profound his human side is, it was probably very difficult to pen this book for him, but not only for his words, but also his sincerity and excellent narration skills and soothing, deep and meaningful voice, his book is an impressive listen. I won't say fun, because it is not supposed to be, but enlightening and one that leaves you with so much to think about...

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

Grief and purpose

Everyone knows Joe Biden but may not know the hard times he went through before and during the recent presidential election. Mr. Biden explains his grief over the loss of his eldest son to cancer and why he decided not to seek the candidacy for the presidential election. It's clear that he is a thoroughly decent, thoughtful, purposeful, and selfless politician. The book is quite emotional at times and Mr. Biden describes his personal feelings at length.

It's clear that a Biden-Trump matchup would have been very difficult for him given the circumstances and he would probably not have prevailed, just like Hillary.

A great bonus is a half hour interview with Mr. Biden at the end of the book.

The former vice president is a very good reader of his own book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Beautiful Story

What a gracious and humble man. This story is told with great humility by Mr. Biden. I would recommend to everyone. It gave such insight to the Biden clan as well as the true friendship between the President and Vice President.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

family and public life

Loved it. Joe Biden writes about love and balance of family and public life. Then adds grieving and huge political decisions. I like when author reads their story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Personal and historical, not too long

This was a great book. I really appreciated how personal he allowed it to be. The timeline of events really made me better understand why he chose not to run for president.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Great book, with some distracting narration

There are about 5 times in the book where someone who isn’t Joe Biden tries to read as Biden. It’s weird. Not ‘Don’t-buy-it-weird’, just weird.

16 of 21 people found this review helpful

His words as a Biden

What a great followup to his first book, Promises to Keep, made even better with his own heartfelt and sincere narration. The three storylines are so interesting and interwoven very well together. His story and performance MAY CAUSE TEARS. Honestly, my personal takeaways from this book and from his first book were about the importance of family, and defining and holding true to your values.

One of the best books I've ever read.

32 of 44 people found this review helpful

Poignant, humanizing a politician

Listening to Joe Biden's frank and open memoir dealing with his son's cancer and bereavement is heartfelt, especially as it is read by himself.

Unlike most books by politicians, "Promise Me, Dad" is committed to communicating to us the values and principles of a family man who happens to have been a senior member of government.

His most compelling narration comes in the form of him discussing his hopes, fears, dreams and nightmares through which a family succumbs while dealing with cancer. I became emotional listening to him break down while discussing the death of his son - his voice audibly trembles which is why the audiobook gives a whole new depth to the biography.

Warm, insightful and thought-provoking.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Honest

Despite the tragic central story, Mr Biden has produced an endearing open account of his last year in office. He expertly steers away from the usual hubris associated with such books. I found it to be a compelling heartfelt expose of balancing the family unit in the face of demands of national and international duty.

The conversational writing style suited the subject matter well. In his personal retelling, his Irish core (and lilt) shines through. Well worth a listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful