Biden to release post-midterm memoir covering US economy
Former US President Joe Biden will release a memoir days after the November midterms, offering a timely account of his economic decisions that carry weight for European markets.
Former US President Joe Biden will publish a memoir this autumn, detailing his time in the White House and his handling of the American economy. The book, titled "Promise Me, America," is scheduled for release on 17 November, just days after the US midterm elections. Publisher Little, Brown and Company confirmed the news on Wednesday.
For European policymakers and investors, the timing and subject matter carry significant weight. The midterms will determine the balance of power in Washington, directly shaping future US trade policy, tariffs, and industrial subsidies that heavily impact European firms. Biden’s account of his economic decisions arrives precisely when the continent is calculating its next steps alongside a potentially shifting US political landscape.
“It’s about the decisions I made and why I made them,” Biden said in a video statement accompanying the announcement. The memoir will cover topics ranging from the US economy to his decision to end his re-election campaign, a move that continues to divide Democratic voters. For European governments, this lingering party division remains a critical variable when assessing the future stability of US foreign and economic policy.
In the same video, Biden addressed questions about his personal wellbeing. “I’m dealing with a cancer diagnosis, been getting treatment, and it’s going really well,” he said. The former president, who turns 84 just three days after the book's publication, added that he has been spending significant time with his family.
The book's title echoes Biden’s previous works, including his 2008 campaign book "Promises to Keep" and his 2017 memoir "Promise Me, Dad." It enters a publishing market where nonfiction sales have broadly declined this year. However, political books remain highly capable of capturing public attention, as demonstrated by the recent success of Vice President JD Vance’s "Communion" and "Regime Change" by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.
Little, Brown and Company said Biden plans to support the release with a press tour and interviews. The publisher declined to disclose financial details, though presidential memoirs since Harry Truman have traditionally commanded advances worth at least seven figures.
