No Ordinary Joe

I don't read a lot of biographies but I thought this one might be worth the time since he is potentially the next president of the U.S. and I don't know much about him except what's shared on social media (which is to say, possibly nothing of substance).I enjoyed the book. There is enough detail to follow the evolution of his career and political stances and to understand the personal circumstances (family background, tragedies, etc.) that contributed to who he is today. It paints an overall-positive picture of Biden but doesn't shy away from talking about his controversial statements, positions, and votes. It's easy to read but full of well-researched and sometimes cited information.The last chapter is dedicated exclusively to laying out Biden's policy positions on things ranging from gun control to the environment, and in wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, he has said that he will be looking at revising his own platform to be more progressive and "FDR like" so some of that information may already be outdated even since the very recent publishing date. That's the problem with trying to publish something topical. But the main body of the book should stand the test of time.If you feel like you want to know this man and don't want to invest a lot of time but want a solid foundation, this is a good choice.

This is a well written, fast paced tour through the life and times of the man who could be America’s next Chief Executive. The events in Biden’s life are presented in an informative and engaging way, and the author also provides explanation of the wider historical context - Biden’s Senatorial career dating back to before Watergate - and not a little humor.

This book highlights the history of the personal life, history, and politics of Joe Biden. (Refreshingly and reassuringly not scandalous!) Joe Biden was born to a working class family in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1942. He grew up with his three siblings, was athletic, well-liked, and worked hard to overcome a stutter. He recounts advice his father used to tell him, “Champ, the measure of a man is not how often he is knocked down, but how quickly he gets up.”Joe Biden was knocked down a lot in his life, from the tragic car accident that killed his wife and young baby daughter, to the death of his son Beau from a brain tumor in 2015.He’s also had his share of political setbacks. From being accused of plagiarism, to inappropriate touching of several young women, to “gaffes,” which in today’s political climate seem relatively minor, and which the book does a good job exploring.His resilience and ability to “comeback” seem to be a testament to the measure of his character—he is known on both sides of the aisle as a bridge-builder, and because of his experiences seems to genuinely connect with people, with an ability to help others who are grieving.When he announced his candidacy in 2019 as “a battle for soul of a nation” he presents as a decent man with plenty of experience, a leader in foreign affairs and policy, as well as domestic policy. Is he a politician? Sure—but at least he appears to be in possession of a moral compass.

Loved the book. Gave pros and cons on Jie Biden. I learned dome new positive facts about this wonderful man. I didn’t know how much his first wife was involved with his campaigning

A quick review of Biden's life and career. A real survivor with a heart of gold. I could not be a tough and resilient as Joe has been.