Politics usually feels like a choreographed dance where nobody ever trips. Then came 2024. Then came the Kamala Harris book 107 days, and honestly, it’s about as un-choreographed as it gets. Released in September 2025, this 320-page memoir from Simon & Schuster isn't some dry policy paper or a victory lap. It’s more like a ticking clock.
Basically, the title refers to the exact window of time she had to transform from a Vice President into a presidential nominee after Joe Biden stepped aside on July 21, 2024. Most campaigns take years to build. She had roughly three months.
What the Kamala Harris Book 107 Days Gets Right (and Wrong)
If you’re looking for a "tell-all" where she trashes everyone in the West Wing, you might be disappointed. But if you want to know what it feels like to wake up and realize you have 100 days to save a party, this is it. Harris writes with a level of "salty" language and profanity that surprised a lot of people. It’s refreshing, kinda. She isn't just "The Vice President" here; she’s "Pioneer" (her Secret Service code name), and she's stressed out.
One of the big sticking points for critics like those at MSNBC is how she handles her ties to Biden. In the book, she admits that being his VP was a "ball and chain" in some ways—mostly because of his 41% approval rating. But then, she also kicks herself for that infamous moment on The View. You remember the one? When she was asked what she’d do differently than Biden and said, "There’s not a thing that comes to mind."
In the book, she reveals her staff was "beside themselves" with that answer. She was too. She admits she was guarded when she should have been bold.
The "What If" Factor
The most controversial parts of the Kamala Harris book 107 days involve her running mate selection. She's remarkably blunt about passing over Pete Buttigieg. She writes about how she wanted to say "screw it" and just pick the person she felt was best, but the fear of "asking too much of America" stopped her. Being a Black woman married to a Jewish man was already a "lot" for the electorate to swallow, she felt. So, she played it "safe." Does she regret it? It sounds like she's still wrestling with that.
Inside the Campaign Pressure Cooker
The structure of the book is actually pretty cool. It doesn't meander through her childhood in Oakland (she already did that in The Truths We Hold). Instead, it’s a countdown. Each chapter is a day, or a set of days, leading to November 5.
- The Denial: She admits she didn't believe they were losing on election night. She was stuck in the "bargaining" stage of grief.
- The Strategy: How "joy" became a literal campaign pillar because they didn't have time to build a traditional platform.
- The Reality: The mass shootings, hurricanes, and international wars she still had to manage as VP while trying to win a swing state.
It's a lot. Honestly, you've gotta wonder how anyone stays sane in that environment. She recounts David Plouffe—the strategist behind Obama’s wins—telling her straight up: "People hate Joe Biden." That's a tough pill to swallow when you're the one standing right next to him.
Why People Are Still Talking About It
Since its release, the book has sold over 350,000 copies in its first week alone. People are hungry for the "inside scoop" on why 2024 ended the way it did. Some Democrats, like David Axelrod, haven't been kind, suggesting the book’s timing or honesty might actually hurt her future political chances. Others, like Rachel Maddow, praised her for being "beautifully impolitic."
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What’s interesting is that she doesn't use the book to announce a 2028 run. She’s currently a private citizen, not holding office. She’s been doing an 18-city tour, talking to crowds that still seem to see her as the leader of the "resistance," even if the election results said otherwise.
Actionable Insights for Readers
If you're planning on picking up a copy or just trying to understand the fallout of the 2024 cycle, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Context: Don't read this as a history book. Read it as a primary source from someone who was in the room. It’s biased, of course. It’s her truth.
- Compare the Narratives: Read this alongside the post-election analyses coming from the GOP side to see where the messaging actually disconnected.
- Watch the "Viewpoints": Pay attention to Chapter 14. It’s where she deals with the "change election" vs. "incumbency" conflict. It’s probably the most honest assessment of political strategy written in the last decade.
The Kamala Harris book 107 days is ultimately a story about what happens when you run out of time. She argues that 107 days just wasn't enough to introduce a "new" version of herself to the public. Whether that's an excuse or a cold, hard fact is something readers have to decide for themselves.
If you want to understand the modern Democratic party’s internal struggles, this is probably the most essential thing you can read this year. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s very, very human.
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To get the most out of the memoir, I recommend listening to the audiobook version. Harris narrates it herself, and you can hear the frustration—and the occasional laugh—in her voice when she talks about the chaos of the trail. It makes the 320 pages move a lot faster.