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A memoir--and a manifesto--like no other, by a true maverick in American politics

With a foreword by Nick Saban

Dead Center: It is where Senator Joe Manchin III has stood his entire life. For him, it’s where the real solutions lie, if we are ever going to tame the anger, bitterness, intolerance, and tribalism that have infected our political system.

Through 43 years in politics, and 15 years in the Senate, Joe Manchin has stayed close to his roots, basing his principles in when, where, and how he was raised. Treat people with respect. Find dignity in work. Put people first and country before party. Be fiscally responsible and socially compassionate. Only vote for what you understand and can explain to your constituents. That’s it.

Dead Center is more than Senator Manchin’s declaration of independence from the extremes on both sides. In this revealing and entertaining memoir, Senator Manchin combines eyebrow-raising, never-before-told stories from inside the Senate and the White House with insights into how government does--or doesn’t--work.

A memoir by one of America’s most recognized leaders, Dead Center offers a path forward from our polarized political gridlock to governance based on what our American founders practiced: Common Sense.

Joe Manchin served as a United States senator from West Virginia from 2010 to 2025. Born in Farmington, West Virginia, Manchin entered politics in 1982 as a member of his state’s House of Delegates. After working his way up in the state politics, he was elected as the governor of West Virginia in 2004. Since retiring from the Senate, he has shifted his focus to building Americans Together, an organization he founded with his daughter to develop support for centrist politicians and candidates.