In what many are calling a humiliating deal, former President Joe Biden’s post-White House memoir has fetched a lackluster $10 million advance — a figure dwarfed by the blockbuster deals secured by his Democrat predecessors. The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden’s publishing agreement with Hachette’s Little, Brown & Co. imprint drew stunned reactions from industry insiders and political observers alike.
Although I'm surprised that after a disastrous presidency, they were able to reach a deal for $10 million, by historical standards, the deal is a flop. Barack and Michelle Obama pocketed nearly $60 million combined for their books. Bill Clinton secured $14 million for "My Life." Yet Biden — the person who supposedly received 81 million votes and claimed to restore the “soul of the nation” — couldn’t even match Clinton’s number.
President Trump never published a presidential memoir after his first term.
The market has spoken, and the message is clear: Biden doesn’t sell. This shouldn’t be surprising to anyone paying attention. Biden’s presidency, now seen by many as one of the most listless and scripted in modern history, lacked the intrigue, leadership, or achievements that drive readers to political memoirs. There were no soaring moments, no signature wins, no unifying vision. Just economic malaise, cultural division, border chaos, and a series of stumbles — literal and figurative — that left even his own party desperate for an exit.
This latest deal shows the disconnect between how the media portrayed Biden’s presidency and how the public truly feels about it. Unlike Obama, whose memoir sold millions thanks to his storytelling style and political charisma (regardless of what you think of his policies), Biden simply doesn’t inspire curiosity. The Biden White House kept a tight lid on leaks, ran an insular operation, and rarely showed genuine transparency. That may work for damage control — but it doesn’t help sell books.
Even worse, Biden’s track record in publishing has long been poor. Politico has referred to him as “bookstore poison,” noting how past books about his time in office have sold dismally — some failing to hit even 5,000 copies. Jill Biden’s biography was also a total bust.
In a publishing industry that thrives on compelling narratives, drama, and public fascination, Biden offers none of the above. His $10 million memoir deal isn’t just a financial disappointment — it’s a symbolic one. For a man who spent nearly half a century in Washington, it’s telling that his final chapter is being greeted with a collective shrug.
Simply put, Biden’s presidency may be ending the same way it was run: quietly, awkwardly, and with far less enthusiasm than the media ever wanted to admit.
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