THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER IS NOW A MAJOR-MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY RON HOWARD AND STARRING AMY ADAMS, GLENN CLOSE, AND GABRIEL BASSO“You will not read a more important book about America this year.“—The Economist “A riveting book.”—The Wall Street Journal“Essential reading.”—David Brooks, New York TimesHillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of … Journal
“Essential reading.”—David Brooks, New York Times
Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for more than forty years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck.
The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love,” and moved north from Kentucky’s Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually one of their grandchildren would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that J.D.’s grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, never fully escaping the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. With piercing honesty, Vance shows how he himself still carries around the demons of his chaotic family history.
A deeply moving memoir, with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I often found myself identifying with JD not because of the way he was raised but because of the impact of the military on him. Neat guy and so happy for his success.
A good story but it did not live up to the hype.
This book is a reflection on a culture in America that is rarely written about or understood. It was an interesting and inspiring read.
Vance offers insights into a culture I was unfamiliar with and helped me understand a bit more about America’s current political atmosphere.
HillBilly Elegy is categorically one of the most informative books I’ve read this year that helped me draw a distinct parallel to the “Hill People”‘s ongoing and undying support for 45th, despite the constant upheavals and attacks on our democracy.
Currently, the U.S. Government is reminiscent of the Vietnam that we fled in 1975, whose actions resembled the dictatorship-style regime full of corruptions, dishonesty, and cronyism. The Hillbillies’ familial loyalty keeps them from admitting their relatives wrongdoings, and the daily domestic disputes and violence. This books explained to me the Hill People’s acceptance and excuses for the behaviors of those they voted into offices such as the current POTUS and his administration, for the many rollbacks of policies, most of which will be affecting them adversely like entitlement programs, healthcare, taxes, and jobs prospects. In some interviews, they would say, “Well, yes, he did this [insert falsehood or egregious acts here about our Commander in Chief], but …” and would go on pledging their continual support. Again, one could draw a parallel in the Hill People’s loyalty in those they pledged support, and their fierce personal pride, which will keep them from admitting if they had misplaced confidence in the leader whom they voted into office. Or perhaps, it lies in something more profound, if I would dare say, racism, to undo everything the previous administration has done, to erase any trace that America has ever had a Black President. Because in my humble opinion, knowingly supporting immoral wrongdoings cannot be explained in any other rational way.
This book is a timely read and gives me a deeper understanding of a population that is vastly different than mine, and whose economic and educational opportunities deemed inequitable mainly because they are slowly being left behind by modernity and technology. Increasingly, their financial and educational needs are not being met nor represented and advocated for by the officials whom they voted in to do just that (if they voted). Ironically, in the 2016 Presidential Election, they overwhelmingly voted for this new administration whose policies will worsen their prospects of employment and advancement because amongst many falsehoods, the deceptions and false promises of coal jobs returning kept many of the unemployed coal miners from attending new job skills training programs.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is unfamiliar with this demographics in the Appalachian Hills to have a glimpse into their lives and perspectives of the world and politics.
This is a must read!
It was so interesting reading of a culture that most people know nothing about.
This was listened to on audiobook on the drive from GA to NJ. It was a well told memoir and I am pretty sure the narrator was the actual author. It is a story about overcoming odds being stacked against you. This book made me think about things that need to be addressed if we ever expect things to get better overall in our country.
Hillbilly Elegy is a fun read; non-fiction that reads like fiction. Lively character development and progressive story line are enjoyable. The book’s latter chapters devolve into the author’s less than fascinating ego trip. Read: boring. Overall it was informative and an easy read.
This was interesting and so informative as to WHY so many people from the “hills” do not even try to improve their lifestyle ! Yes, these people are from every state !
Makes the Trump phenomenon very understandable. Entertaining book. Important book. Breaks my heart.
This book gives great insight into the continuing pattern of poverty and dysfunctional family life that impedes so many from living the American Dream. The author has managed to escape the cycle and explains how he broke away from what could have been a doomed existence.
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time (non-fictional)). This surpasses a current Pulitzer Prize winner on a similar subject (poverty and how to escape it). Bravissimo, this was a tour-de-force and will stay with me for a very long time.
A true analogy of actual life experiences, frustrations, problems and rewards – from an average Joe that takes on all comers. I enjoyed this change of pace.
One of the very best non-fiction books I’ve read in years. American’s heartland has mucho problems and this book addresses them VERY well. I give huge credits to the author for being “real” about these issues, not being whiny, and showing that it IS possible to triumph over adversity. Kudos to the people of Appalachia who persevere and escape the endless cycle of drug abuse, poverty, malaise etc. OUTSTANDING!!
This is the true story of J.D. Vance who lifts himself to success out of the Appalachian culture which is no small accomplishment. It gives you a bird’s eye view of an example of a life lived in poverty. What you’ll see here can be applied to just about any poor and depressed upbringing. It will give the lie to glibly telling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. It truly takes a village and, if that village doesn’t appear at all the right times, good things will never happen. This is another book that takes the reader to a world he likely will never experience, and so it will expand his base of knowledge and understanding.
A great eye-opener into the culture of the poor white people, in particular the ones that come from Applachia. They are a culture all their own with few escaping the poverty they are born into.
The author describes his life, but more importantly he comes to an understanding of his heritage and culture.
An important nonfiction read.
An amazing glimpse into a world I knew nothing about but ended up loving!