- Biden revealed new memoir, Promise Me America, in a social media video after a relatively low profile post presidency.
- Memoir reflects on key presidential decisions: COVID response, economic recovery, and defending democracy after the January 6 attack.
- He addresses why he sought reelection then stepped aside amid pressure over age and health concerns.
- Book release set for November 17, timed two weeks after midterms during a critical moment for Democrats.
- Biden shares cancer diagnosis update, family time, and centers memoir on hope and faith in America's future.
Former President Joe Biden is set to publish a new memoir revisiting some of the most consequential — and controversial — moments of his presidency.
Promise Me, America, due out in November, will cover everything from the economy to his decision to drop his bid for reelection. The announcement comes as Democrats continue to grapple with Biden's legacy and what role, if any, he should play ahead of the midterm elections.
Here's a closer look at what Biden revealed about the book, what we know so far, and why its timing is already generating political discussion.
What will Joe Biden share in his new memoir Promise Me, America?
In a social media video, Biden announced Promise Me, America (a nod to his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, about his late son, Beau Biden). He says the book looks back on some of the tough choices he made as president, from navigating the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding the economy to defending democracy after the Jan. 6 attack. The memoir covers his foreign policy agenda as well, including strengthening the NATO alliance and supporting Ukraine.
It also examines one of the most heavily scrutinized chapters of Biden's presidency, explaining why he decided to seek a second term — and why he ultimately withdrew from the 2024 race amid mounting pressure from fellow Democrats and growing concerns about his age and health. “It’s about the decisions I made and why I made them,” Biden said in a video shared on X.
When is Biden's book coming out — and why does it matter?
The book is scheduled for release on Nov. 17 — just two weeks after the midterm elections, which are an especially consequential moment for Democrats as they seek to regain control of the House and Senate.
According to The New York Times, Biden first revealed he was working on the memoir last month during a stop on former First Lady Jill Biden's book tour, when he mistakenly said it would be released in September. The announcement renewed attention to the book at a time when many Democrats have been trying to move beyond the 2024 election, focusing instead on President Trump, the economy and the future rather than reopening old divisions within the party.
Still, some Democrats have downplayed the idea that the memoir will become a major political distraction. Quentin Fulks, who served as deputy campaign manager for former Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign after previously serving in the same role for Biden, argued that voters are far more focused on the issues affecting their daily lives.
"The notion that voters would be focused on a book that comes out two weeks after the election and not the soaring cost of living and constant attacks on voting rights under the Trump administration is a fundamental misunderstanding of what regular people are going through in this country," Fulks told The Washington Post.
The latest on Biden's cancer and health
Politics aside, the memoir offers a personal perspective. Biden, who was diagnosed with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in May 2025 and has since undergone treatment, offered a brief update on his health in Wednesday’s video.
"Since I left the presidency, I've had a lot of people ask me, 'Joe, what have you been doing?'" he says. "I've been spending a lot of time with my family. I've been dealing with a cancer diagnosis, and I've been getting treatment, and it's been going really well."
Biden went on to thank supporters for their prayers and well wishes, saying they "meant the world" to him and Jill. He closed the video by emphasizing hope in the country's future, a theme he says runs throughout the memoir.
"Promise Me, America is about my faith in America and the American people," he says. "I hope you'll read it. And I hope it strengthens your faith in what we can do as a nation and a people."
