Hillbilly elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis is a deeply personal, thought-provoking, and remarkably honest memoir that resonates strongly with anyone familiar with the culture, values, struggles, and resilience of Appalachian families and Eastern Kentucky heritage. As someone with roots and family connections tied closely to the Appalachian region, I found this book especially meaningful because it captures many of the realities that people from the region understand firsthand — the pride, loyalty, hardship, work ethic, family complexity, and generational challenges that are often misunderstood or overlooked by outsiders. J.D. Vance writes with authenticity and emotional depth while balancing personal storytelling with broader observations about family dynamics, economic struggle, cultural identity, addiction, opportunity, and social mobility. The memoir does not attempt to romanticize hardship, nor does it dismiss the strength and character found throughout Appalachian communities. Instead, it presents a nuanced and human portrayal of life within that culture. One of the strongest aspects of the book is its honesty. The stories feel genuine, personal, and at times difficult, yet they are also filled with resilience, humor, sacrifice, and determination. Many readers from Eastern Kentucky, Ohio Valley communities, and Appalachian backgrounds will likely recognize familiar experiences, attitudes, and family dynamics within its pages. The writing itself is engaging, intelligent, and accessible. The memoir moves naturally between personal history and larger social commentary without losing emotional connection to the people and places at the center of the story. It encourages reflection not only about Appalachian culture, but also about family responsibility, identity, opportunity, and perseverance. Whether one agrees with every perspective presented or not, Hillbilly Elegy remains an important and impactful memoir that contributes meaningfully to conversations about Appalachian America and working-class family life. It is a compelling, respectful, and emotionally powerful read that will resonate strongly with many readers who share similar roots and experiences.

Este é um dos melhores livros que li nos últimos tempos. O autor conta sua trajetória de vida desde quando era uma criança em família pobre no interior dos Estados Unidos até quando se formou em Direito em Yale, uma das mais renomadas faculdades dos EUA. Juntamente com sua história de vida, o autor faz uma análise da cultura das pessoas à sua volta e em como essa cultura reforça o comodismo, prejudica a meritocracia, e torna quase impossível que pessoas pobres tenham chances (e condições) de sair da pobreza. Apesar de o livro aparentemente tratar de uma cultura diferente da nossa, achei que muitas das descrições e análises se aplicam bastante à realidade brasileira.

This book is worth reading even if you don,t like or trust the author who is running for Vice President! He rightfully calls attention to the serious problems which have been long neglected in certain parts of the U,S. Hopefully the next administration will try to do something positive for these unfortunate Americans! Thank you Amazon!

A fine family history that offers much insight into what has happened to the children and grandchildren of the generation of poor whites who - like their black contemporaries - who moved from rural America (in this case Appalachia) to work in the factories of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan in the postwar years. This brought a new prosperity to these families for a time; but by the late 1970s, the de-industrialization of the American Rust Belt has left their descendants in an environment where there is little work and little hope. Vance presents a portrait of family life that is disintegrating, of widespread abuse of prescription drugs, and of widespread abuse of the welfare system. However, he is also critical of liberal social programs that he believes have contributed to people feeling little sense of agency, and he argues that too many people blame 'the government' instead of trying to do something about their situation themselves. Vance's portrait of his own extended family - rife with problems, but also a source of love and strength - is colourful and well told, and the lessons he draws from it will be thought-provoking for anyone who wants to understand the anger and despair that characterizes too many Rust Belt communities today.

It’s rather hard to believe in the truthfulness of a chap who isn’t an actor but has made so many changes in his name. Moreover, he also has absolutely turned 180 degrees in his attitude towards Donald Trump — from Never Trumper to Obedient Crumpet. And his views on women are alarming to say the least