Katie Roche's Blog

Book Review-"Beautiful Things" by Hunter Biden

"Beautiful Things" by Hunter Biden, is harrowing in many parts and shocking in others. The descriptions of Beau’s life, illness and death were especially moving. And his accounts of drug binges and his struggle to stay sober are powerful. How this intelligent, well-educated man from a high-profile family could fall so far from grace is astounding. But Biden does a fantastic job of illustrating his life as an addict. He explains in great depth what smoking cocaine feels like, and how it helped him escape his pain. Which answers the question of why a man with such potential would throw it away on drugs.

Hunter Biden is no saint. His irresponsibility and impulsiveness has caused great pain to his family. He opened them up to suspicion and tarnished his father’s reputation. And he never learns from his mistakes. Whether it be money- he describes financial pressures as a young man, but he overlooks that he created those pressures. Or relationships, such as with Hallie and various other women. Or of course, with the drugs and alcohol. And eloping his current wife is likely to be another impulsive action that doesn’t work out.

For all his faults, he is honest. Even though he thinks before he acts and takes responsibility after the fact. This book provides a candid account of Hunter Biden’s life, exploring controversial aspects of his life, including his relationship with Hallie Biden, his brother’s widow, his time working at Burisma and his addiction. As well as his recent recovery, which he credits his current wife, Melissa Cohen with. Although one thing Hunter Biden is careful not to talk about is his father’s policies or his own political views.

And unlike the Trumps, he doesn’t try and deflect from his own mistakes by talking about other people’s wrongdoings. A whole chapter of Donald Trump Jr’s first book, Triggered and much of his second book, Liberal Privilege were devoted to Hunter Biden and the Biden family. In contrast, Biden only mentions Donald Trump Jr. once. He acknowledges that the Biden name has been a big influence on his life. But he also points out he’s a Yale law graduate who passed the entrance exam with flying colours. And that the job opportunities he was offered are comparable to those offered to other Ivy-league graduates. The book also dispels the myth the Trumps make that the Bidens are just the same as them. That Hunter lived a life where he got everything for nothing. While the Biden’s aren’t poor, they’re not in the same league as the Trumps. Biden hasn’t had the life of unearned luxury they make him out to have had. (Cash for nothing, allowed to not work, nobody said “no”). It shows the Trumps make false equivalencies. That’s not to say Biden isn’t too easy on his son at times.

Indeed, the book shows Joe Biden to be a caring, accepting but perhaps permissive father. Hunter is an adult who is free to make his own mistakes. But like everyone, he needs some guidance. And it’s reasonable to expect his father to provide that. Take his relationship with Hallie. Why did Joe give his blessing? The relationship was never going to work. It caused a lot of pain to Hunter’s wife, and both his own children and his nephews and nieces. If Joe didn’t give his unconditional support, Hunter would have been angry at first. But in time, he’d see it was for the best. Then again, maybe Joe knows his son will make bad decisions no matter what he says, and feels it’s best just to go along with it. Joe is unflinchingly patient with his son. Which can’t have been easy.

The book does have some negatives. First, it’s waffly in sections, especially in the chapters about Hunter’s early life. While it’s detailed, there are places where the details could be cut down. Hunter also overlooks some serious issues in his life. Just two sentences are devoted to his love child with a stripper. For a man who talks so much about the value of family, this child doesn’t seem to count. Even though they are as much part of the Biden family as Hunter’s other children. Does this child not deserve a loving father, like Joe was to him and Beau? Or to have the companionship of siblings? This child is regarded as another mistake, like the drugs, spending and so many other things.

As well, he is overly defensive. He describes his work for Burisma as a “loud and unmistakeable fuck you to Putin”. This is pure spin. You can tell at this point Biden has spent all his life around politicians. And that he’s a lawyer. Biden wasn’t doing some fantastic humanitarian work by taking the position. It was short-sighted to take the job. Although, he admits he liked the money too. It’d be better if he admitted it was a mistake and moved on.

This is a heart wrenching book that is mostly well-written. It’s not perfect. But it tells us a lot about who Hunter Biden is and what kind of a father Joe Biden is. It also provides an excellent insight into addiction. Indeed, it’s a powerful story that would be interesting even if Hunter weren’t the son of the president. He tells it well. Conservatives complain that Hunter gets an easy ride. But this book reminds us that Hunter has experienced an uncommonly tragic life. And that he’s such a fragile man. Which is perhaps why he isn’t held to the same standards of other politician’s children.

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