Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose
Written and Narrated By: Joe Biden
Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
First Listen? I thought too much on politics. Second Listen? Thank GOD—a decent human being in politics
Before writing this review, no I actually did NOT see what other reviewers had to say. Nope, this time I went over to Audible to see what I had to say as a review post-that-Listen. Couldn’t find it to save my life (Dang those Unhelpful votes used to sink reviews like nobody’s business!!!). All I can remember is that I liked it, but I thought there was a LOT of back-patting on goals achieved by the Administration and the like.
And now after hundreds of thousands dead from a pandemic, after relationships with global allies in tatters, after trade wars sparked handouts to farmers who were sunk by retaliation from countries that were targeted, after video after video of outrage after outrage?
Oh JEEEEEZ!!!! All I can think of is how very gosh-danged REFRESHING it was to listen to an old-style politician who was in the game cuz of a desire to serve! Remember them? Not these people who on day one start on their campaigns for the next term?
And what really struck me was that at NOOOO point does Biden point a finger, cast blame, say ANYthing that can be inflammatory about the early and tragic death of his son, Beau. No, I listened to this before I listened to The Burn Pits, so that ol’ first review of mine was sans: Villains who killed servicemen and women and civilians, the collateral damage of making multitudes of people who served this country faithfully breathe in poisoned air, causing illness, serious cancers, early deaths. Uhm… I’m kinda in a bitter mood after watching a failed coup attempt in my country and seeing people SUDdenly get backbones only to backtrack to their subservient lapdog statuses, so I’m just gonna come out and say it: Back in what are looking like The Good Old Days, Dick Cheney’s hand was soooo in business when it came to the invasion of Iraq (WMD? Don’t make me shiver!). Beau Biden served his country faithfully and honorably and came back to die a slow death.
Which makes for some somber listening cuz with Joe Biden narrating this himself, you can hear the old dude starting to cry when he talks of how his beautiful boy is gone. No, Biden isn’t a voice actor, yup sometimes I found myself wishing he’d clear his throat (ExCEPt for the parts where he’s choking up with tears: Sir, you may cry all you want; I’m listening and with you!), but for the most part, the fact that the man’s best intentions are reality was wonderful to hear in his voice. This came out waaaay before his decision to run in 2020, but in no way does it come across as a showcase for his “platform” to reach a broad audience who shall be shelling out their bucks for his book and his vision.
This mostly seems, despite the amount of info on political struggles, a testament to the beauty of family and of service. What starts with a Biden family tradition of all coming together for Thanksgiving goes throughout their struggle to keep son/brother/husband Beau alive. Beau is a fighter, Beau will give anything, suffer anything, to stay with his family, to continue serving his community. I must admit that I did rather roll my eyes when it was bandied about that he was morphing into presidential material, as I’ve about had it with political family dynasties, but I gotta admit that he did indeed sound like a man of honor. Besides, I have this thing about military veterans being my heroes, so I’m kinda all in when it comes to veterans who’ve been deployed seeking service through higher office.
As in any devastating illness, we’re given a timeline, a roadmap, of how a body loses its fight, and this time we see how that affects the Biden family. The man didn’t even hit 50, but he kept in line with Papa Biden’s model of a fulfilling life through helping others.
Does this sound like I’m fawning all over the man, a depraved Leftie?
Nope, just have a brother who went through years of cancer treatments, a brother who is still here and much-loved.
And that’s where I think the book should be met at: At this crossroads where all of us share a basic humanity regardless of our political leanings. Yes, there is some of the back-patting that I remember, but don’t let that put you off. If you lean right, you can feel good knowing the following administration has rolled back so much of it. And if you lean left, you can feel good knowing Biden will be sworn in on Wed. the 20th of Jan. 2021.
And if you’re riiiiiight in the center? You can feel hopeful cuz honestly, this man, the lovable King o’ the Gaffe, does seem to have his heart in the right place. The part where the father of an executed policeman waits in line to give his condolences to Biden after Beau’s death near ‘bout done me in, I welled up with tears so hard. It’s life being tricky: You think YOU’RE the one offering comfort when soon enough, life having its way, YOU’RE the one needing comfort in the end.
I dunno, maybe you’ve been tickled pink with how things turned out in 2016 and have been enjoying the years following. I hope not. Cuz if you are? This book’ll enRAge you and then some. But if you’ve been biding your time, keeping hope for humanity in your heart, this look at a genuinely decent man will be a breath of fresh and much needed air.
Oh, dear Accomplice! I doooooo hope you fall into that camp!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.