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Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Audiobook6 hours

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

Written by J. D. Vance

Narrated by J. D. Vance

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, a powerful 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

Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on 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 their grandchild (the author) would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving generational upward mobility.

But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Vance’s grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother, struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, and were never able to fully escape the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. Vance piercingly shows how he himself still carries around the demons of their 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.

Editor's Note

Illuminating examination…

Even as the Vance family manages to achieve some semblance of ‘The American Dream,’ J.D. Vance shows how deeply the scars of poverty—and the familial and societal ills that it engendered—have compromised the health and happiness of each generation. A must-read for those interested in the ramifications of American social, economic, and political policy.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateJun 28, 2016
ISBN9780062477521
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Author

J. D. Vance

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 the Ohio State University and Yale Law School, he has contributed to the National Review and the New York Times, and works as an investor at a leading venture capital firm. Vance lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his family.

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Reviews for Hillbilly Elegy

Rating: 4.02451897893008 out of 5 stars
4/5

4,262 ratings330 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    J.D. Vance describes his life growing up in the rust belt and explains the hillbilly lifestyle and their values. I have heard it called racist and supports the alt-right and I have heard people say its a political guide that provides insight into the rust belt. It is insightful to his life and gives a little bit background information about the region, but nowhere is it a complete look. This book has been made out to be more than it is imo, and I also think it tried to fill this image to an extent and fails because this is not a scholarly study into the region, it is one man's experience, is it a common experience yes, but it lacks scientific data to back it up, some stats were provided here and there, but a lot of it is Vance's observations, which are interesting, but it needs to be more. It is definitely not racist, he doesn't put his people's struggles above others and of course he's not going to go into great detail about black issues because he does not know them, he does mention similarities and questions why these two groups aren't on the same side more often. As a memoir it was interesting, as a political explanation to that regions voting habits, it does not exist. This book would of been better if it didn't try to be about this regions politics.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A very interesting and compelling story, but his analysis seems somewhat amateurish and simplistic. Many of his conclusions can easily be applied far beyond the hillbilly culture. It's a very negative story beyond his personal success.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Thought provoking and very interesting. His story brings to the front the complex issues facing an often overlooked group of people who are hard hit by the changing face of the U.S. Economy in a way that is engaging and real.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very great testament of overcoming life's struggles loved it
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I will be the first person to admit that I am not a big reader of non-fiction, unless it is history. I’m a big fan of history. Memoirs are probably my second least favorite thing to read but I’d heard many a good thing about Hillbilly Elegy and given the current political climate I thought it might be illuminating. I will note going in to this review that while I am not a child of Appalachia my background has many similarities to the author’s. My childhood was challenging but not near as horrifying as Mr. Vance’s. His mother and I are of an age. I am (at least on one side) of the Scotch-Irish descent he describes. Neither of my parents went to college – my father barely got through high school. I grew up in a big city though, at least until I was 12, then we moved to a very rural area so I made the opposite life change that he did. In a lot of ways this made the book somewhat personal. In other ways I was far removed from the story.I will note that the beginning of the story, I would say the first 4 or 5 chapters were more compelling than the balance of the book. That part focused more on Mr. Vance’s early life and presented the hillbilly part of the memoir. I will admit that this part of the book left me, if anything, angry. Angry at the attitudes he portrayed and wondering at what caused them to grow. Because again, I had grown up with some similar issues and yet I had grown out of it with hard work and a bit of education. Laziness was never part of my life – until retirement when it’s allowed.So where did this laziness come from? This is the big question and apparently there are no answers. Some people can get out of bad circumstances but it seems that it’s epidemic in this area and that is sad. And it makes me angry.The rest of the book, being a memoir carries the reader through Mr. Vance’s time as a Marine and acceptance to Yale Law School. This section of the book was not as interesting for me. It seemed that the author just went to law school because he didn’t want to have anything to do with blood. As if the only options available to him were doctor or lawyer. Once there he was by his own description a fish out of water but he was fortunate to have a great mentor in one professor. He also met the woman who would become his wife.Overall I did enjoy the book. It engendered a lot of strong emotions and lots of great discussion with my husband as he had read the book before me. His childhood was far more stable than mine so he didn’t read into some things as I did, although I will note that he is also Scotch Irish. Hmmmm.It is, I feel a book worth reading and may call for a second go through. There is a lot that needs to be done in this area of our country but it is going to take forward thinking. Looking back is not going to get anything done.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Appalachian culture summed up beautifully in this poignant memoir. As an Appalachian native myself, I loved being reminded of the resilience, ingenuity, and grit that my culture instilled in me. I was also able to recognize unhealthy learned behaviors that I should have shed long ago. Thank you for sharing your story, so many similarities to my own tale.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book much more than I had thought. It wasn't as much a case study as it was his experiences. He shared the good, bad and ugly and had great insights that got me thinking! I am thankful my neighbors encouraged me to read this nonfiction book (a genre I don't willingly pick up often!)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Makes you hopeful. You don’t have to be a product of your environment .
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Phenomenal real hopeful sad and so good to hear. He has bridged two worlds. Will be neat to see how his career unfolds for the benefit of others. I predict he does great things!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The author is able to bring the reader to his childhood and the issues faced by being raised without a strong nuclear family and lack of the support in a failing community. It is definitely one of my favorite books. It is informative, emotional. The author helps us to understand the Hillbilly reality with sympathy and care for the characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Being a descendant of a working class family and marrying into one also, this book resonates with me. This book doesn't have all the answers but it does take a good hard look at some of the problems and begins to dissect them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book.It was one of the most memoral books I've ever read.I didn't want it to end. Great writing.Great story too. I give it a 10. 10 being the best Thank you!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was so well written, but I absolutely cannot fathom that this man still supports Trump after all the things that have been leaked about him. Such a shame, because I would’ve been okay if he was republican, but I cannot and will not support a Trump ‘cheerleader’.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What I loved about this story is how it was about one man's life and experience while also telling the larger story. Such a great book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I wasn't fond of the cursing, but I understand why it was there. Overall it was an excellent book and very eye opening.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I grew up in northern Appalachia in poverty. If you want to read a truly non-cliche book about true life poverty- that is written with care and crafted in words you won’t soon forget— read Glass Castle. Vance’s flippant attitude towards his heritage in this book and the stock character stereotypes lacked depth and left me wondering how much was actually true if his character development was so basic. The writing style is boring and at times I had to put it down out of annoyance as the cliches just kept coming. This was an overrated book. It’s words between covers—but not well -or even carefully written words.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Truly an inspiring tale of the American Dream. Against all stereotypes. Heart warming.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The most touching book I've read in a long time. Poignant and moving.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Getting to know the Hillbilly lifestyle and the dynamics of the family as they moved through different chapters of life, addiction, etc.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed this book very much. It is insightful, heartfelt and leaves The reader with insights about America. This is an important work and I hope many people read this.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Captures your attention and doesn’t let go. Very well written, and you close the book feeling you know the family and the town. You may even shed a tear or two in between the flaps. I did…
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This really helped me to lessen my stress! what a great story, thank you for writing this” If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on Novel Star, just submit your story to hardy@novelstar.top or joye@novelstar.top
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    That was one of the most intense and enlightening books I have ever experienced!! Thank you so much for helping us to understand the hillbilly culture! I pray it can make a difference in many lives of those who suffer in this world!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an honestly told story by J.D.Vance. The case he makes is that Hillbelly's must take responsibility for their lives. One could say the same thing about African Americans, Hispanics, and people who live in poor helpless third-world nations. I am wondering whether vast swaths of humanity have difficulty coming to terms with the modern world. Maybe it is time we reinterrogated some of our liberal presuppositions.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Highly recommend for anyone, especially those affected by childhood trauma/abuse. I happen to live in KY( though not Appalachia) and found myself learning a lot about the rural culture of my state. Read by the author, which gave it a more genuine feel. Great listen!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an excellent book. It isn’t hard to understand why it has been so successful. Vance does something difficult and rare. He tells his own story with an honest and humble perspective, acknowledging the failures and humanity of those around him and himself. In doing so the truth is revealed that every person holds the propensity for evil but also the divine spark, compelling them with courage to confess their own failures and sacrifice for the good of others.

    This book was released just prior to the emergence and election of Donald Trump. Consequently, it became a critically acclaimed manual for understanding the people who swept Trump into office. But now, as I write this (in the 2020 election season) the tide has turned among the professional critics and other cultural elites. When the Ron Howard film treatment of Vance’s story was released, we suddenly learn from our betters that Vance has nothing to teach us. One critic even referred to the story as “poverty porn” leaving us to assume that Vance shouldn’t tell his own story because it would only exploit him and others who live in poverty.

    Through this book and the response to it, Vance has inadvertently revealed the state of our culture and most especially the shallowness and insincerity of those at the top who influence and largely control what we see and hear in entertainment and mass media. What is revealed in the early embrace and later rejection of his book is this: Those at the top are unwilling to learn from truthful stories like this if it reveals cracks in the narrative they have formed to support their worldview.

    The early critical support for the book was rooted in the vivid depiction of poor behavior and bad choices of those who were at the time being referred to by the elite as “deplorables” people who behave badly, but most importantly, reject the worldview and leadership of the elite. In the fog of 2016 post election shock the book seemed to support the narrative that those who rejected Obama and later Hillary Clinton were bad people who should be (but aren’t) ashamed of themselves.

    But this seeming support for the elite narrative could only be gleaned from a shallow surface reading of the book. Over time, reader reviews revealed that large numbers of people were embracing the book (and recommending it to their friends) for very different reasons. Part of what they gleaned from Vance’s story was that the narrative and policies of both the right and the left are deeply flawed in their assessment of poverty and what keeps people in it. Most importantly, that the simple black and white assessments of “racist” and “homophobic” don’t begin to describe the true perspective of poor white southerners. For instance, Vance explains that the hillbillies in his family didn’t reject Obama because he was black, but because he was a member of the elite, who, despite the lack of a biological father in his life, nevertheless was the product of privilege on many levels. By contrast they embraced Bill Clinton because, unlike Obama, he had known the life and spoke the language of poor white southerners.

    Perhaps what is most threatening to the cultural elites who now seek to dissuade you from reading Vance’s book is what it reveals about the government policies and programs intended to eradicate poverty. Put simply, while some are helpful, most create more problems than they solve. It’s one more blinking red light on the cultural dashboard revealing the simple truth that government cannot fix the human condition.

    What is telling in the response to this book is how overwhelmingly positive the reader reviews are, and especially, what people seem to gain from it. It seems that when you aren’t trying to protect a narrative that keeps you at the top, you find something refreshing and enlightening in this book. Change can happen in the lives of those trapped in poverty, and we can, even though we are flawed, help ourselves and help others to a better life.


  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoy memoirs. This was a true heart felt story.
    The language was a bit much but was told as life would have been.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As an Appalachian hillbilly myself, I like the insight offered.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very interesting audiobook. Narration by the author was well done, I enjoyed it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It was a fun read. My teen tried to read it but didn't find it interesting.