Hillbilly Elegy

J.D. Vance 2016
Read: 2017
Non-Fiction

This is a New York Times Bestseller book about a lawyer in San Francisco who grew up in the self-described hillbilly lifestyle in the Appalachian Mountains. My dad recommended it to me and he was right! It’s a great reminder of how cultures can stymie us into not wanting anything beyond what we have. It shows how cultures can blame others for their misfortunes, and advocates the old “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” attitude. The hard thing is, you may be the only one among your family, your friends, and even your schools who believe that you can pull yourself out of this situation. While the story is fantastic, it does not offer ideas for how more than the isolated and somehow highly motivated individuals can get out of it. It seems to say that there is nothing you can do about culture and poverty, other than somehow rise above it as an individual. Great book, lots of humor (his grandmother is fantastic), and no small amount of sadness. I have a lot of admiration for Mr. Vance and anybody who can overcome the odds. I just wish we could make the odds a little better, through better schools or other programs. Still, I highly recommend it.