Biden’s memoir advance falls drastically short of his predecessors, raising eyebrows and questions about his legacy.
Joe Biden’s Memoir Market Struggles
Joe Biden’s post-presidential memoir has reportedly sold to Hachette Book Group for an advance of approximately $10 million, a figure notably lower than the advances secured by his predecessors Barack Obama ($65 million for the Obamas’ joint deal) and Bill Clinton ($15 million for “My Life” in 2004). This development has drawn significant media attention, with coverage emphasizing the contrast in market value and perceived prestige among recent presidential memoirs.
Biden’s presidency from 2021 to 2025 was marked by significant political polarization, health-related scrutiny, and a dramatic withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. After leaving office, Biden began shopping his memoir to major publishers, reportedly seeking to shape the narrative around his presidency and the events leading to his exit from the 2024 race. The publishing industry, facing a saturated market for political books and declining sales for recent political titles, reportedly offered a lower advance than in previous cycles.
Saturated Market for Political Nonfiction
The memoir market for political figures has cooled, with recent books by and about Donald Trump and other political figures experiencing lackluster sales. Biden’s previous memoir, “Promise Me, Dad” (2017), was a bestseller, but the current environment is less favorable for political nonfiction. Advances for such books often reflect both the anticipated commercial appeal and the perceived historical significance of the author’s tenure. Barack and Michelle Obama’s $65 million joint deal set a new high-water mark for presidential memoirs, while Bill Clinton’s $15 million advance in 2004 was previously considered exceptional.
Biden sells memior for millions less than Obamas, Bill Clinton in embarrassing blow https://t.co/8NcUkyNIpk pic.twitter.com/5ZJ5KSG8Zq
— New York Post (@nypost) July 24, 2025
Donald Trump has not published a traditional post-presidential memoir, and books about his presidency have seen mixed commercial success. The relatively low advance is seen as a reputational blow for Biden, signaling diminished market enthusiasm compared to his predecessors. The deal reflects broader industry trends: declining sales for political nonfiction and increased risk aversion among publishers.
Implications of the Memoir Deal
The memoir’s content could influence Biden’s historical legacy, especially regarding his health, decision-making, and the circumstances of his 2024 withdrawal. The deal may set a new benchmark for future presidential memoir advances, potentially lowering expectations for successors. Biden and his family, who may have anticipated a larger financial windfall, are affected. The publishing industry must recalibrate expectations for political memoirs. Political historians and analysts will scrutinize the memoir for new information.
The deal’s size may discourage other publishers from offering large advances for political memoirs in the near term. The memoir’s reception could affect public perceptions of Biden’s presidency and the Democratic Party’s internal dynamics. It reflects a cooling market for political books, with even high-profile authors struggling to match past sales. Publishers may seek more diverse or non-political nonfiction projects.
Expert Opinions on the Advance
Publishing insiders note that the market for political memoirs is saturated and that advances are increasingly tied to realistic sales projections rather than prestige alone. Book agents and editors have cited “glut” and “fatigue” in the political nonfiction market, with even well-publicized books underperforming. Historians and political scientists will likely analyze the memoir for its treatment of Biden’s health, the 2024 campaign, and intra-party conflicts.
Biden Memoir excerpt:
"The words of a president matter"
— Golden Advice 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 (@RichardStiller4) July 24, 2025
Media analysts have observed that the memoir’s advance is a “humiliating blow” in the context of presidential publishing history, but also a reflection of changing market dynamics. Some commentators argue that the lower advance is less a reflection of Biden’s stature and more about the overall decline in political book sales. Others see it as indicative of diminished public interest in Biden’s narrative compared to the Obamas or Clintons.
Sources:
Wall Street Journal via Threads