Promise me, Dad : a year of hope, hardship, and purpose

Promise Me, Dad is Joe Biden’s memoir about his son Beau’s struggle with and ultimately death from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Biden also interlaces what is happening with his job as Vice President of the United States during that time period. Most of that work was dealing

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with foreign policy issues, including Russia and the Ukraine.

Biden’s family is extremely close, which makes their journey with Beau that much more heartbreaking. Beau was beloved and admired by pretty much everyone he came into contact with during his life. The title comes from what Beau said repeatedly to Joe, “Promise me, Dad that you’ll be okay. Promise me, Dad.” Beau was the one dying yet he was more worried about his dad his own well-being. Biden narrates the book himself and you can hear the love and emotion in his voice throughout the book when he talks about Beau.

Biden discusses his dilemma of whether or not to run for president in the 2016 election and why it took him so long to decide not to run. When he talks about his interactions with Vladimir Putin and his other accomplishments, it’s clear that he’s proud of his work as Vice President – as he should be. He says that he had much more responsibility than most of the previous vice presidents. Something about the way he touts his achievements makes me think he may be talking himself up in preparation to run for president in 2020. Do it Joe!

I thought Promise Me, Dad was an excellent combination of both a personal and a political memoir. The Biden family dynamic is inspiring – now I want to do everything I can to make sure my kids stay close to each other and my husband and me as adults. Even though it’s probably clear that I’m a Biden fan, I think people of all political persuasions will enjoy this book, because at its heart, it’s about love and family.

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I enjoyed reading this book. Although the focus is on the Biden family and how it reacted to the illness and death of Beau Biden, Vice President Biden tells the story in context of his public life as Vice President.
The Biden family's committment to excellence, the bedrock of faith they draw from,

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and their deeply committed love for each other is an inspirational read.
Biden talks about his accomplishments as Vice President, the relationship forged with President Obama, and his experience in international politics. Biden also covers the behind the scenes story of his consideration regarding running for office in 2016.
One could see the book as preparing the way for a future campaign.
Beau Biden's loss was devestating for his family. And many believe his loss is also a nation's loss, that Beau was destined to be president.
I purchased this book.

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This was a touching book, but I found it difficult to continue reading at times. The book definitely did change the way I see Biden, and I certainly have far more respect for him than I did before. He's a strong man, far stronger than I can even hope to be.

I really liked Biden before I got

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interested in politics. His friendship with Obama was always admirable, and he just seemed super down to earth. My feelings now have changed quite a bit, but this book did open my eyes; the man has been through hell, and I admire him for the strength he showed despite everything.

Though the details of his political career were interesting, what kept me reading the book was the bond his family had. It was emotional, and I nearly quit reading completely because of it, but I'm very glad I pushed myself through it. The Biden family is a very close, caring family, and their support of Beau was heartwarming; I do wish them all the best. Obama's support was also very touching, though Biden's tone was at times less enthusiastic than I would've expected.

I think this is a book everyone needs to at least give a try, politics aside, whether you like Biden or not. However, keep in mind that the book strongly focuses on loss and cancer, so it may be triggering.

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Promise Me, Dad is Joe Biden's memoir of his son Beau's cancer diagnosis and death, the impact on the family, and on Joe's decision not to enter the 2016 race for US President. As you read this story you can "hear" Joe's voice - his phrasing and manner of speaking clearly comes through. This is an

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honest, moving and personal story and is unlike any other book I can think of written by a politician. At under 300 pages it's a pretty quick read.

NOTE: In the Acknowledgements at the end of the book Joe thanks author Mark Zwonitzer for his "extraordinary talent, patience and hard work". Some have taken this to mean that he was the ghostwriter for this book. I infer from the Acknowledgements that Zwonitzer likely provided editing and assistance with the book's structure at a minimum, and perhaps more. Regardless, as I read the book, as I said above, it was Joe's voice I heard.

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It is always good to hear a book read by its author. This holds true in this case, despite the fact that Biden often slurs certain words.

I am not a supporter of Donald J. If you are, I suggest you read no further. Reading this apology for why he did not run made me realize that there actually are

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career politicians in this country who are honorable and who conduct their lives and their responsibilities with respect for both themselves and also the rest of us.

Vice Presidents are rarely remembered. This particular man deserves to be.

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I was really looking forward to reading this book, especially after seeing Vice President Biden speak about it. However, I found the book to be "all over the place". The personal situation intermixed with the world events got very confusing. It felt as though the book was quickly put together.

Promise Me Dad:A Year of Hardship and Purpose🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒
By Joe Biden
2017
Flatiron Books

Genuine and Heartfelt

Joe Biden. This. Man. Heart, soul, integrity, honest love of his family and country and it's many diversities....He served his country in the military , survived the sudden tragic

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loss of his wife, Neil and their young daughter, Naomi in an auto accident and aided President Obama in Iraq, Ukraine,Northern Triangle and Central America as Vice President from 2009-2017.

While VP, his son Beau, who was an Attorney General in Delaware, was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Due to radiation and chemo, he developed aphasia and right side paralysis. In 2013, brain scans showed legions on his brain as the cause of his problems.
He eventually got better and returned to normal functions, which included a trip to help the military in Iraq.....*no bone spur coward here*
Beau began feeling dizziness and strange again, and a large mass was detected in his left temporal lobe. 7 hours of surgery removed the tumor, but the glioblastoma was determined to be stage IV, 12-14 months to live. Joe was constantly flying back home to see his son, something Republicans attempted to exploit and misinformation the public about.
Beau and his family decided to try a viral smart bomb, Delta 24, to fight the cancer. It can extend the life of patients by knocking out cell guardian protein, and once it has infiltrated the tumor,it divides itself and multiplies, replicating itself non-stop until the cancer cell explodes. This is boosted by the drug Pembro, that helps boost the immune system.
Beau so admired his dad, his last wish was to have his dad promise to run in the electiin, to never stop fighting for their love of this country. Promise me, Dad....
This was very moving without being overly sentimental.
Joe Biden is a true American A man who fought for his country with coyrage, fought for our rights, defended those rights and never let his monumental losses and personal tragedies interfere with his ability level headed and common sense decisions.
Highly recommended.

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Although I admire and respect Joe Biden, I wasn't sure I wanted to listen to an entire book about the illness and death of his beloved son, Beau. It turns out this book is about so much more than just that. It is about that battle against cancer but it is also about Joe's political career, his time

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serving as Vice President to Barrack Obama. Mostly, it's about family and loyalty, and strength under adversity. It's honest and forthright and sometimes heartbreaking. He was kinder to opponents than some of them deserved. He didn't get into the Trump presidency.

I liked Joe Biden before I read this book, but I admire, respect, and like him even more having read it. Mr. Biden read his own book, and although it didn't come across as read by a professional narrator, it was still very well done. You could hear in his voice when the reading was especially hard on him. I'm very glad I took a few hours to listen.

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Promise Me, Dad
A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose
By: Joe Biden
Narrated by: Joe Biden
This is a book I really liked and it moved me emotionally. I have to admit, I have always liked Joe Biden. He says what he thinks and to hell with it. He has a good moral background. America, family, and common

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sense are the key phrases I think of when I think of Joe. You may disagree but that's ok, read the book and write your own review. This is mine.
He is compassionate about a lot of things and none of them are hate, war, or bringing anyone else down. His love for his family and America are obvious in his past and present. He has a good disposition in general, and in how he handles situations, even things so horrific as the death of his son. He didn't get bitter, or lash out, or become a terrible person...he remained...Joe. This was very difficult to listen to in parts..I choked up and cried, I am a mom and to lose a son would be so crippling, so devastating..I don't know what kind of person I would become, how I would cope. Joe has strength and courage. It's not like he had a small job he could go take a few weeks off and mourn.
He also narrated this book so it was doubly hard to hear his voice as he tells of his loss and the anguish. I am glad I listened to this book. I have a deeper understanding to how he made it through that year. I hope I never have to endure this but I do see how strong a man he really is.

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Joe Biden's truly loved his son - this is beyond evident in this book. He details Beau's decline of health and his positive attitude throughout, the way his family bonded over Beau's sickness and ultimate death. He also explains how Beau felt, that despite everything happening with his health, his

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father should still run for President. The end of the story explains Biden's decision not to run for the presidency and how he keeps Beau's legacy alive. It is a wonderful story of a father's love for his son and the way one brother makes a family stronger.

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