Hillbilly Elegy

By J. D. Vance

Categories: Politics & Social Sciences

J. D. Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, in a family with roots in Appalachian Kentucky. He was raised largely by his tough, loving grandparents while his mother struggled with addiction. He traces his path through the Marine Corps, Ohio State, and Yale Law School. Along the way he reflects on the poverty, broken families, and loss of hope he saw in the white working-class communities he came from.

Recommended by 7 people

• Max Levchin
• Jason Calacanis
• Bill Gates
• Ryan Holiday
• Dave Ramsey: “Just finished Hillbilly Elegy in 1.125 settings. WOW!!! One of my favorite books of the last 10 years. I KNOW these people. GREAT!”
• Ben Shapiro: “The revisionist history on the book "Hillbilly Elegy" is fascinating. The book came out in 2016 and was a massive bestseller because it personalized and commented on cultural pathologies that lead to long-term poverty in rural white communities.”
• Bill Nye: ““Hillbilly Elegy” provides the reader with insight into how the United States got into its current mess... I hope J.D. Vance’s story will help us learn to work together and improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”