About the Book
Hillbilly Elegy recounts Vice President J.D. Vance's powerful origin story...From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate now serving as the Vice President of the United States, an incisive account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America's white working class. THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "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 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, 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.
Key Themes and Analysis
The book delves into the socio-economic challenges faced by the white working class in Appalachia and the Rust Belt. It explores themes of poverty, addiction, family dysfunction, and the elusive nature of the American Dream. Vance provides a personal perspective on these issues, drawing from his own experiences and observations.
- Cultural Crisis: An in-depth look at the cultural disintegration within a specific segment of American society.
- Upward Mobility: The personal and societal costs and challenges associated with achieving upward mobility from a disadvantaged background.
- Family Dynamics: The profound impact of family history, including abuse, alcoholism, and trauma, on individual lives.
About the Author
J. D. Vance grew up in the Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio, and the Appalachian town of Jackson, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served in Iraq. A graduate of Ohio State University and Yale Law School, he was elected to the United States Senate representing Ohio in 2022. In 2024, he became the Republican nominee for Vice President. Vance lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his family.
Product Specifications
| ASIN: | 0062300547 |
| Publisher: | Harper |
| Publication Date: | June 28, 2016 |
| Language: | English |
| Print Length: | 272 pages |
| ISBN-10: | 9780062300546 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-0062300546 |
| Item Weight: | 1.1 pounds |
| Dimensions: | 6 x 0.93 x 9 inches |
Related Media
Official Product Video
Video 1: An official promotional video for "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis." This video provides a brief overview and highlights key aspects of the book, including its status as a New York Times Bestseller and its adaptation into a Netflix film.
