Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance Book Review

This is a compelling examination of life in Appalachia and the struggles of the white working class in America. J.D. Vance blends personal narrative with social analysis, creating both a heartfelt memoir and an intelligent commentary on the economic and cultural challenges facing rural communities. He explores generational poverty, addiction, and the decline of traditional industries while emphasizing themes of personal responsibility and upward mobility.

I never expected to be interested in these topics, but Vance presents them in such a clear and engaging way that they feel both accessible and important. He takes complex social and economic issues and makes them easy to understand, bringing these struggles to readers who may have never considered them before.

I was blown away by this book. J.D. Vance, the current Vice President of the United States, is also an American author, lawyer, and politician. Born in 1984 in Middletown, Ohio, he grew up in a working-class Appalachian family and later served in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning a law degree from Yale. Vance went on to work in venture capital and entered politics, becoming a U.S. Senator from Ohio in 2023.

In Hillbilly Elegy, he highlights the economic decline of his hometown, noting that between 1980 and 2010, manufacturing jobs in Middletown plummeted from 40,000 to just 12,000. He also discusses the opioid crisis, pointing out that in some Appalachian counties, opioid prescriptions outnumber residents.

Vance examines both systemic struggles and personal responsibility. He describes how nearly 70% of white working-class kids grow up in single-parent homes or unstable family situations, making upward mobility more difficult. Education is another challenge—while many first-generation college students enroll, only 11% graduate within six years.

Despite these obstacles, Vance argues that personal choices still matter. He credits his own success—rising from a troubled childhood to Yale Law School—to the discipline he learned in the Marines and the support of his grandmother. He believes that while economic and cultural hardships are real, taking responsibility and finding mentors can help break the cycle of poverty.

This book is eye-opening and well worth the read.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance Book Review

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