Joe Biden's Presidential Memoir Set for Release Two Weeks After November Elections

Former President Joe Biden has announced the forthcoming release of his presidential memoir titled "Promise Me, America," scheduled for publication on November 17, as confirmed by publisher Little, Brown and Company to the Associated Press.

The book's release comes just two weeks after the critical midterm elections, where Democrats aim to regain control of Congress.

In a promotional video, Biden outlined the scope of his memoir: "'Promise Me, America' delves into the challenges we face as a nation. It explores the decisions I made and the reasons behind them. Above all, it's about my faith in America's promise."

The former president also noted that the book would discuss "why I chose to run for re-election and why I decided to step aside."

Topics covered in the memoir are expected to include the COVID-19 pandemic, economic issues, conflicts in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Middle East, the restoration of democracy following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and perhaps most intriguingly for readers, his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race.

Concerns Within the Democratic Party

The timing of the publication has stirred concerns within the Democratic Party. Many leaders remain divided over Biden's legacy and fear that any leaks or early promotions of the book might reignite internal conflicts just before the November elections, when they would rather focus on the record of Republican President Donald Trump.

Biden, the oldest person to have served as president, faced speculation about his health throughout his tenure. He managed to navigate doubts until the disastrous June 27, 2024, debate against Trump during his re-election campaign when he displayed significant mental decline, prompting a wave of pressure within the Democratic Party to withdraw from the race.

Insights from Jill Biden

Former First Lady Jill Biden addressed the incident in her book "View from the East Wing," released in June. "The biggest lesson for us was that if you don’t explain something well enough, the question won’t go away. There was never a satisfactory explanation for Joe’s debate performance, and many people never moved past it," she wrote.

In the same announcement video, Biden spoke about his health. Diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May 2025 and having completed a round of radiotherapy in October of that year, the former president assured that "the treatment is going really well" and expressed gratitude to "everyone who has offered their prayers and support and good wishes."

Previous Works and Financial Aspects

The memoir title follows a series of previous works: "Promise Me, Dad" (2017), focusing on the death of his son Beau Biden from brain cancer, and "Promises to Keep" (2008), released during his first presidential campaign. Biden worked with a small team on the new book, as confirmed by the publisher.

While Little, Brown and Company declined to disclose financial details of the deal, the Wall Street Journal reported that Biden received an advance of around $10 million, lower than the sums received by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for their memoirs.

The book will retail for $42.

Biden will turn 84 on November 20, three days after the book's release. A spokesperson for the publisher confirmed plans for a promotional tour and interviews.