Friday, November 10, 2017

The Book of Joe by Jeff Wilser

My latest Blogging For Books offering is The Book of Joe. The life' wit' and (sometimes accidental) wisdom of Joe Biden

  If you're already a fan of Joe Biden (me!) you will find this little novelette a real treat. The book is filled with short Joe Biden stories, witticisms, and highlights of his political career.
 I loved the tone of this book. It flows along with the right amount of commentary without being blithe. It's also the perfect size for a weekend read. It explained the history behind the plagiarism scandal of the 80's- which I've heard about but did not know the details of- the scandal  ended up being a simple gaffe that got blown out of proportion - like Howard Dean's howl - during a brutal campaign season. There are also stories about the painful losses in his family and how he came through them, his bromance with Obama, and a glimpse at what he's really like when the microphones are off. (Not a spoiler alert: He's a great guy.)
  Inspiration can be gleaned by other politicians on how to handle public office with dignity. He's always stayed classy, even in the face of a gaffe controversy. He actually owns up to them - a rare commodity in a politician nowadays - and tries to learn from his mistakes.
  The stories of the loss of his son Beau are very touching, as is the sweet story about how he courted Jill. I also enjoyed the tales from his rebel rousing teenage years when sneaking off during spring break. With self-discipline he went on to accomplish great things when he just as easily could've took a path to self-destruction.
  Little book, Big read. I definitely recommend this for everyone.


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