Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics

I like Sen Biden. Always have. I voted for him for the democratic presidential nominee, but I guess I was the only one. Oh well.

The book however is way too long. It is written like he talks, it just goes on forever. I read the first few chapters then started skipping pages. He was generally still talking about the same thing several pages away so I am not sure that I missed anything. Eventually I got to the end and thought 'wow that was a good, touching, evocative story that could have been told in a long magazine article.' So that was a few nights of my life I will never get back, but all in all I feel like it was at least a good story and worth knowing.

Now that he is going to be VP I am glad I know a bit more about him. It gives me a bit more understanding. That is good.

As for how it reads or how well it was written as far as political autobiographies go, that I cannot say. This is the only one I have read, and I think I will keep it like that. If the rest are this long and tedious (and this is from someone who is used to reading training manuals and guides) then I think perhaps I will stick with more interesting subjects and leave my biographies to A&E and wikipedia.

Read it in one night. Joe is a fascinating study on American politics and deserves any and all credit that comes his way. His intelligence, ability to become a Democratic Senator in a solidly red country at the age of 29, his strength to overcome awful tragedy of losing his wife Neilia and newborn, his health problems, to his failed Presidental bid in the 80's, to his triumph in the Senate.

Joe, if you read this, I'm looking forward to Promises to Keep part II: Promises Kept as the Vice President.

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. It is the story of someone from an average family who goes on to become chairman of the senate foreign relations committee. Joe tells the story of his childhood, getting through college and meeting his wives and how his first wife and daughter died in an auto accident. How after this great tragedy he did not want to go on. It is a very compelling human story of a very human being who goes on to become on of the greats of our time.

Great book, well written in typical "Joe Biden" fashion...which is FROM THE HEART. A "must read" if you want to really know Joe Biden's life and value system. He is an amazing, ethical and moral individual. One I will be PROUD to have as a VP and after 8 years I am praying he will be feeling great and will run for President himself. He will make a GREAT VP and an even BETTER President.

I do not believe his being in his 70s in 8 years will have any effect on his intellect. Age is an asset (assuming one has intellect).

Get the book...it was absolutely beautiful. Some tearful (REALLY tearful) moments of reading...but also some fun and laughable moments. Of course, there are LOADS of facts and most I lived through, but it was nice to read about the history again.

You will be happy when you read this great, thoughtful book. You will know Joe Biden...and you will ADMIRE this man. Great citizen...great man.

Diane Offutt
Woodstock, GA. 30189

Most politicians focus on their laundry list of policies and some sappy stories about their families or campaigns. Biden fills his book with his experiences in the Senate. Where most other books skim over the details of legislating, he actually does a pretty good job relating the type of work and meetings he engages in while doing his Senate duties. In particular, his focus on the Violence Against Women Act and Bosnia provide good examples of what he had to do to achieve his goals. This makes the book particularly useful, since it might indicate his priorities as vice president and how he would act once in the Naval Observatory.