Former US President Joe Biden will publish a new memoir this November reflecting on his presidency, key policy decisions and his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, his publisher announced on Wednesday.
The memoir, titled "Promise Me, America," is scheduled for release on November 17, about two weeks after the US midterm elections in which Democrats hope to regain control of Congress.
According to publisher Little, Brown and Company, the book will cover a range of topics, including the US economy, major domestic and foreign policy decisions, and Biden's choice to end his bid for a second term in office.
In a video released alongside the announcement, Biden said the memoir focuses on the challenges the United States faced during his presidency and the decisions he made while in office.
"'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," he said.
The timing of the book's release has drawn attention as it comes shortly after the congressional elections. Some Democrats remain divided over Biden's political legacy and his decision to initially seek re-election before stepping aside following a widely criticised debate performance against Republican Donald Trump in June 2024.
Party leaders have sought to keep the election campaign focused on President Donald Trump's record rather than renewed debate over Biden's presidency.
Biden, who will turn 84 three days after the book's publication, joins a long tradition of former US presidents publishing memoirs about their years in office. Financial details of the publishing agreement were not disclosed, though presidential memoirs have traditionally commanded multi-million-dollar book deals.
The title echoes Biden's 2017 memoir, "Promise Me, Dad," which chronicled the illness and death of his son Beau Biden.
Biden's presidency began amid the COVID-19 pandemic and shortly after the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. His administration was marked by major infrastructure and economic legislation, as well as responses to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The memoir is also expected to address questions surrounding Biden's health during his presidency. Concerns intensified after his debate performance in June 2024, which ultimately led him to abandon his re-election campaign. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee but lost the election to Trump.
Former first lady Jill Biden wrote in her recent memoir that she feared her husband had suffered a medical emergency during the debate because he appeared unusually weak and disoriented. She also acknowledged that the White House's explanation that Biden had a cold failed to satisfy many observers.
Questions over Biden's health continued throughout his presidency, with both Republicans and Democrats criticising his administration over its handling of the issue. In 2025, journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson published "Original Sin," examining Biden's physical decline and his decision to seek another term.
Also in 2025, Biden announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In his video message announcing the memoir, he said he has been undergoing treatment and that it is progressing well.
"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," Biden said, thanking supporters for their prayers and well-wishes.
The publisher said Biden plans to promote the memoir through interviews and a book tour following its release.