Hunter Biden's 2021 book, "Beautiful Things," has seen a surge in sales on Amazon following his federal trial on gun charges. Between June 2 and 3, the book's ranking on Amazon jumped significantly, from 338,000 to 12,900. Before June 5 ended, it had climbed even higher to around 4,200.
The book received positive reviews upon its release. It elicited reactions from respectable personalities, such as the fiction writer Stephen King, who referred to Hunter's memoir as a "harrowing and compulsively readable memoir." USA TODAY noted that people fighting adversity, especially substance abuse, could relate to Hunter's journey and story.
The book describes Hunter's life filled with tragedy, starting with a car accident at age two that killed his mother and sister. Then, in 2015, he lost his brother, Beau Biden, to brain cancer. These personal hardships, along with his failed marriage and battle with addiction, are detailed in the memoir.
The book candidly explores his journey through substance abuse and the difficult road to recovery. Despite the challenges, the story concludes with Hunter finding sobriety, getting married, and embracing the joys of life with a newfound appreciation.
While Amazon sales surged, the total impact on overall sales remains unclear. As of May 25, BookScan reported that 28,086 hardcover and softcover copies of the book were sold in the U.S., with over 11,000 e-books sold through February.
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Hunter faces three felony charges related to the gun purchase, including accusations of lying about his drug use on a federal form. During the trial, prosecutors played an audio excerpt from the book in which Hunter describes learning to cook crack in a hotel in 2018.
Hunter's ex-girlfriend testified in court that he was using crack cocaine frequently, claiming he was abusing it "every 20 minutes or so" when they first met. Zoe Kestan, who met Hunter in New York, described him withdrawing cash for drug deals.
Hunter could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all three federal counts. Despite the allegations, Hunter has pleaded not guilty, with his legal team arguing he was in recovery at the time of the weapon purchase.
US President Joe Biden privately expressed guilt to close confidants about the impact his career has had on his family, fearing that his son Hunter's trial could result in incarceration or jeopardize his sobriety. Concerns among Biden's inner circle have grown as the trial unfolds, anticipating added personal strain on the president.
On June 3, First Lady Jill Biden and other family members showed up to court in support of Hunter. Testimony from Kathleen Buhle, Hunter's ex-wife, and Hallie Biden, his brother Beau's widow with whom Hunter had a relationship, poses a challenge for the president because it coincides with the anniversary of Beau's death, a difficult day for the family annually.
The prosecution, aiming to establish Hunter's drug use during the purchase, is expected to conclude its case on June 6, having called several witnesses, including Hallie Biden, Delaware state police officers, a DEA agent, and a forensic expert. Among these witnesses was Gordon Cleveland, a former employee of the gun store where Hunter bought the weapon, who testified about the purchasing process.
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