Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance is a stark, beautifully written and sometimes humorous memoir about the author’s growing-up years in a troubled family. Vance’s Appalachian family was originally from Jackson, Kentucky, but later moved to the “Rust Belt” of Middletown, Ohio. In his memoir Vance describes the mind-set of poor, white Americans. The memoir is a passionate, personal analysis of a culture in crises.
Vance and his half-sister were mostly raised by loving grandparents. His mother was an addict; he barely knew his father. His mother went from husband to husband, and even though some of these men were decent, they were never around long enough to help a growing boy get a sense of direction for his life.
Vance did poorly in school, had spotty attendance, and often made unwise choices. After barely graduating from high school, a cousin urged him to join the Marines, a choice that made all the difference in the life he subsequently lived. When he enlisted, he was out of shape, had a sour attitude, and couldn’t begin to imagine what he would do with the rest of his life. By working hard—and that not always by choice—he learned his own self-worth, and gained confidence both physically and mentally.
With his new-found confidence, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, Vance attended and graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus. At the University, he learned how other people lived, that he could contribute to society, and that he could be someone he never dreamed possible. He learned that successful people look at the big picture, not just present-day challenges.
He applied and was accepted at Yale Law School. At Yale he met yet a different class of people, and was introduced to other lifestyles and opportunities. His expanding self-worth influenced his future choices.
Hillbilly Elegy is a powerful book. As one who’s “been there,” Vance describes the problems with so many of the working class poor, how their lifestyle reflects bad choices, resulting in the next generation making the same self-defeating decisions. It’s easy to be critical of people like this, but the remedies are complex and often elusive. Hillbilly Elegy is a fascinating study of a profound problem in today’s American culture.
