Joe Biden is set to release a new memoir this fall titled Promise Me, America.
Scheduled to come out on Nov. 17, the book will delve into his presidency, including his decision to withdraw from the re-election race, publisher Little, Brown and Company announced. Its release just two weeks after crucial midterm elections, where Democrats aim to regain congressional control, could spark unease.
Many Democrats remain divided on his legacy, with leaders keen to keep the campaign focus on Donald Trump’s record.
Biden stated the memoir will cover “everything from the economy to his decision to drop his bid for reelection.” In a video, he explained, “Promise Me, America is about the challenges we faced as a nation. It’s about the decisions I made and why I made them. Most of all, it’s about my faith in the promise of America.”
At 84 years old, Biden, whose birthday falls three days after publication, upholds a tradition of presidents publishing memoirs. Most modern presidents since Harry Truman have documented White House years. While Little, Brown declined financial terms, such deals typically command at least seven figures. The title echoes his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, which focused on his son Beau Biden’s passing.
Biden’s presidency began amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. His term saw international conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and major infrastructure bills. However, a central point of interest for readers will likely be his health, particularly the June 2024 debate against Trump, which precipitated his re-election bid withdrawal. Kamala Harris, who subsequently ran, lost decisively to Trump.
Jill Biden, in her book, View from the East Wing, recounted her husband’s appearance during that debate, describing him as “so weak and disoriented” that she “feared he was having a stroke.”
She noted the White House’s initial explanation of a cold. She wrote, “The biggest lesson for us, I think, was that if you don’t explain something well enough then the question won’t go away. There was never a satisfying enough explanation offered for Joe’s debate performance, and a lot of people never got over it.”
As the oldest man to serve as president, Biden’s health was a constant subject of speculation. Democrats and Republicans criticized him and his advisers for allegedly obscuring his health issues. This scrutiny was highlighted by the 2025 book Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, subtitled President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Biden announced a prostate cancer diagnosis that same year.
Biden’s previous books also include Promises to Keep, a campaign work published to boost his run for president in 2008, when Barack Obama was the eventual nominee and Biden his running mate.
Promise Me, America enters a challenging market, with nonfiction sales down and few political books gaining traction. Recent bestsellers include Vice President JD Vance’s Communion and and an inside account of Trump’s second term, by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Regime Change.
A Little, Brown spokesperson said that Biden plans to tour on behalf of the book and give interviews. In his video announcement, Biden said that many people had been asking him how he was doing.
Biden addressed public concern, stating, “I’ve been spending a lot of time with my family. I’m dealing with a cancer diagnosis, been getting treatment, and it’s going really well. I want to thank all those who have offered their prayers and support and well-wishes. It’s meant the world to me and to Jill.”
