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The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden: A First Historical Assessment
Leading historians offer the first look at Biden’s four years in the White House
The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden presents a first draft of history by providing insights into how this one-term president fits within the broader historical forces shaping the United States in the twenty-first century. Acclaimed political historian Julian Zelizer brings together some of today’s leading scholars to give balanced and strikingly original assessments of the major issues of the Biden years, from education and reproductive rights to the economy, labor relations, climate policy, race, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the culture wars.
These incisive essays trace the full arc of Joe Biden’s presidency from its early successes to the setbacks that ultimately consumed it. His domestic legislative achievements were hailed by some as the most momentous of any American presidency since the Great Society while his foreign policy ably met the challenges posed by the nation’s great power rivals. Yet by late 2024, Biden’s legacy was in tatters, overshadowed by immigration, inflation, the war in Gaza, and the president’s obvious physical decline.
Written in a clear and accessible manner, The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden moves beyond the day-by-day journalistic coverage to provide the first comprehensive scholarly account of the Biden administration’s achievements and eventual downfall.
With contributions by Kathryn Cramer Brownell, María Cristina García, Joel K. Goldstein, Michael Kazin, Daniel C. Kurtzer, Joyce Mao, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Timothy Naftali, Ekaterina Pravilova, Noah Rosenblum, Paul Sabin, Timothy Stewart-Winter, Sean H. Vanatta, John Witt, and Mary Ziegler.
The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden presents a first draft of history by providing insights into how this one-term president fits within the broader historical forces shaping the United States in the twenty-first century. Acclaimed political historian Julian Zelizer brings together some of today’s leading scholars to give balanced and strikingly original assessments of the major issues of the Biden years, from education and reproductive rights to the economy, labor relations, climate policy, race, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the culture wars.
These incisive essays trace the full arc of Joe Biden’s presidency from its early successes to the setbacks that ultimately consumed it. His domestic legislative achievements were hailed by some as the most momentous of any American presidency since the Great Society while his foreign policy ably met the challenges posed by the nation’s great power rivals. Yet by late 2024, Biden’s legacy was in tatters, overshadowed by immigration, inflation, the war in Gaza, and the president’s obvious physical decline.
Written in a clear and accessible manner, The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden moves beyond the day-by-day journalistic coverage to provide the first comprehensive scholarly account of the Biden administration’s achievements and eventual downfall.
With contributions by Kathryn Cramer Brownell, María Cristina García, Joel K. Goldstein, Michael Kazin, Daniel C. Kurtzer, Joyce Mao, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Timothy Naftali, Ekaterina Pravilova, Noah Rosenblum, Paul Sabin, Timothy Stewart-Winter, Sean H. Vanatta, John Witt, and Mary Ziegler.
- GenresPresidents
456 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 16, 2026
The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden: A Historical Assessment is part of a running series that I have followed since the end of the Obama administration, and it remains a must read for any political junkie or history lover. What makes this series stand out is its honest and largely nonpartisan approach to evaluating presidencies through the lens of how historians are likely to remember them years from now.
This book is extremely in depth and does an excellent job presenting multiple points of view while capturing both the successes and failures of the Biden presidency. The overarching conclusion of the book is fairly clear: President Biden oversaw one of the most legislatively successful presidencies in modern American history. However, the authors argue that his greatest weakness was his inability at times to see the political and cultural landscape through a lens different from the one he developed during his Senate career beginning in the 1970s. Ultimately, the book presents his decision not to step aside during the 2024 election cycle as the defining mistake of his presidency, paving the way for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
That said, this is not a casual political read. While I am giving the book four out of five stars, the reason it falls short of five stars is because of how academically dense it can be. Readers without a background or strong interest in history, political science, or public policy may find parts of it overwhelming or difficult to follow. Likewise, readers who struggle to analyze politics through a nonpartisan lens may find themselves frustrated by the book’s balanced critiques and praise of both sides.
Overall, it is a fascinating and thoughtful historical assessment that rewards readers willing to engage with politics beyond simple partisan talking points.
This book is extremely in depth and does an excellent job presenting multiple points of view while capturing both the successes and failures of the Biden presidency. The overarching conclusion of the book is fairly clear: President Biden oversaw one of the most legislatively successful presidencies in modern American history. However, the authors argue that his greatest weakness was his inability at times to see the political and cultural landscape through a lens different from the one he developed during his Senate career beginning in the 1970s. Ultimately, the book presents his decision not to step aside during the 2024 election cycle as the defining mistake of his presidency, paving the way for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
That said, this is not a casual political read. While I am giving the book four out of five stars, the reason it falls short of five stars is because of how academically dense it can be. Readers without a background or strong interest in history, political science, or public policy may find parts of it overwhelming or difficult to follow. Likewise, readers who struggle to analyze politics through a nonpartisan lens may find themselves frustrated by the book’s balanced critiques and praise of both sides.
Overall, it is a fascinating and thoughtful historical assessment that rewards readers willing to engage with politics beyond simple partisan talking points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2026
Very informative but missing inside info
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews