In the well renowned book Hillbilly Elegy future Vice President J.D Vance paints a vivid, emotional picture of his life growing up in rural Appalachia and reflects on how his harsh living conditions changed him. This story hits its climax when he comes of age and goes off to the Marines where he learns discipline and finds his own identity. His time in the Marines trained him for a grueling college life and a path to Yale Law School, one of the most prestigious law schools in the world. This book undoubtedly was the best I have ever read.
His concept for writing this book was to shed light on how “hillbillies” are commonly left out of the conversation about minorities, despite his claim that hillbillies are the most oppressed. The book makes a compelling argument for why they would be a minority, but not the most oppressed. There are many more communities such as the indigenous peoples, who suffer more. Even if I disagree with the main thesis, it’s still an illuminating read and has value to any reader.
Besides his main thesis, Hillbilly Elegy is a testament to southern culture and what it means to be a family. Vance reflects on his toxic family life and the complicated mix of loathing and love he feels for them. It is a beautiful testament to the limits of love and when you must let go. The importance of positive influence and people who care about you is a major part of his story. He attributes his success of going from a broke hillbilly to our next vice president to the fact that his grandparents never gave up on him. This by far was the most impactful part for me, as my grandmother, who like Vance I call “Mamaw” played a major role in my childhood, and I saw many similarities between his Mamaw and mine, especially the unwavering love and snarky comments.
It was actually Mamaw who bought me this book, and I finished this beautiful memoir in the same day I got it. Vance writes with a captivating prose which sinks the reader in. His writing style is similar to the way a family member tells a story about their own life, the intimacy and openness is definitely what stands out in his writing. His willingness to share his worst moments and reflect on them was touching and had a beautiful simplicity. This book reminds me a lot of The Glass Castle and many story beats hit the same, although I didn’t enjoy The Glass Castle and was surprised how much I enjoyed Vance’s memoir.
Vance’s memoir runs around 250 pages and can be finished in a delightful afternoon. This short novel was written prior to his sprint into politics. He would write this book in 2016 and announced his campaign for senator in 2021. This book is not inherently Republican or Democrat, but he does frequently point out the failings of the government in rural Appalachia and expressed why Appalachians transitioned from typically being Democrats to being Republicans. It is important to mention that if I had not known who he was prior to reading his memoir, it would have been difficult to pin down his political affiliation. This book is a must read for those with a passion for social studies and people who like to see the world through a new lens.
