Debbie B. reviewed Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis on + 3 more book reviews
I found this to be an interesting blend of personal memoir and an almost academic look at what it means to be a hillbilly. I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
Lenka S. reviewed Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis on + 819 more book reviews
This is a decent book in Number of ways. The autobiography of the author very is interesting. His story is inspiring and very real in every sense. It does not appear to be embellished or altered to protect the feelings of anyone in his family. But then he him self admits that not all his memories are quite in since with what his family recollects, and might have happened in different timeframe then he remembers. All in all this really is an honest portrayal of one man's life from poverty to Yale Law School graduate and all that comes with that success.
As a child of 13, he becomes religious almost to a point of being a fanatic, thanks to his real father who was (for a while) part of his life, and made him a religious zealot. He grows out of that obsession, and picks up a new one. He seems to display the same Obsessive compulsive traits his Mother has (which his entire family seems to display), though he seems to be oblivious to the fact, even to this day. Like his family, and indeed many of the Iris/Scottish people he seem to share the same obsessive compulsive impulsive behavior, that makes them extremely Unpredictable und Violently Temperamental but also fiercely loyal and very protective. The Author seem to have been able to make this disorder work in his favor. He is clearly of high intellect and he used his obsessive compulsive doggedness to push him self to graduate Ohio State in less than two years at the top of his class with two degrees. He did this while working full time. He also served as a Marine in Iraq, and was a M16 shooter specialist. He is a "Mensch" A perfect example of a humanity. Though this might irritate the low-achievers and the lazies-with-excuses, he should be given credit for what he earned. No-one has handed him anything on silver platter, and he certainly didn't whined until someone threw him something.
Interestingly, he credits his life's success and ability to rise out of poverty, to his Mamas and Papaw, more then anyone else in his life. The true Hillbillies, in every sense of the word. His Hillbilly Elegy (defined as "a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.") is really a tribute to the two of them. I think many people miss the point, and think that he is identifying him self as the hillbilly and this Elegy is just a self praise, or some political tribute to Trumpism. They are wrong. There is nothing political in this book. What you do get is One man who understand just how lucky he was to be blessed with the brains, the opportunity, and grandparents who believed in hard work to push him into achieving something more.
His success certainly makes him credible to comment on this country's policies and social programs that are supposed to assist those most in need. None of the author's observations, conclusions, or recommendations are over the top. His final assessment of his own life, and the opinions he has on what this country can do to improve, are all reasonable and well based. His conclusions regarding what Government can fix, and what it cannot, might be hard for some to accept, but unless you have the real life experience of making it out of poverty, I would think you would give this book a read to see why poverty is not all about politics; it is a consequence of culture, and the only real way to change culture is from within the home. This book should make you be open to the idea that oppression for some can be self-imposed by one's own family and friends. It is a rare case -in America- when oppression is a consequence of social policy, in this day and age.
The path to the American dream is really the same for all people everywhere, HARD WORK, and EDUCATION. But only in America is it possible to break trough the rigid social standards and become successful. It is what makes America different, that the path is open to all who are willing to work hard and stay on it. This man is a proof.
Final words: I appreciated the statistics and the references through out the book, helping me understand the subject matter. It made it easier to check the data accuracy and get some background on the Hillbilly culture, during reading. A specially since I suspect the Elegy is in a way, to the whole Hillbilly culture, its glory and its failings, not just to his grandparents, and their glory and their faults. My only complaint is that the book, tends to have ups and downs and would have benefited from better editing, that would have made a bit smoother reading.
As a child of 13, he becomes religious almost to a point of being a fanatic, thanks to his real father who was (for a while) part of his life, and made him a religious zealot. He grows out of that obsession, and picks up a new one. He seems to display the same Obsessive compulsive traits his Mother has (which his entire family seems to display), though he seems to be oblivious to the fact, even to this day. Like his family, and indeed many of the Iris/Scottish people he seem to share the same obsessive compulsive impulsive behavior, that makes them extremely Unpredictable und Violently Temperamental but also fiercely loyal and very protective. The Author seem to have been able to make this disorder work in his favor. He is clearly of high intellect and he used his obsessive compulsive doggedness to push him self to graduate Ohio State in less than two years at the top of his class with two degrees. He did this while working full time. He also served as a Marine in Iraq, and was a M16 shooter specialist. He is a "Mensch" A perfect example of a humanity. Though this might irritate the low-achievers and the lazies-with-excuses, he should be given credit for what he earned. No-one has handed him anything on silver platter, and he certainly didn't whined until someone threw him something.
Interestingly, he credits his life's success and ability to rise out of poverty, to his Mamas and Papaw, more then anyone else in his life. The true Hillbillies, in every sense of the word. His Hillbilly Elegy (defined as "a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.") is really a tribute to the two of them. I think many people miss the point, and think that he is identifying him self as the hillbilly and this Elegy is just a self praise, or some political tribute to Trumpism. They are wrong. There is nothing political in this book. What you do get is One man who understand just how lucky he was to be blessed with the brains, the opportunity, and grandparents who believed in hard work to push him into achieving something more.
His success certainly makes him credible to comment on this country's policies and social programs that are supposed to assist those most in need. None of the author's observations, conclusions, or recommendations are over the top. His final assessment of his own life, and the opinions he has on what this country can do to improve, are all reasonable and well based. His conclusions regarding what Government can fix, and what it cannot, might be hard for some to accept, but unless you have the real life experience of making it out of poverty, I would think you would give this book a read to see why poverty is not all about politics; it is a consequence of culture, and the only real way to change culture is from within the home. This book should make you be open to the idea that oppression for some can be self-imposed by one's own family and friends. It is a rare case -in America- when oppression is a consequence of social policy, in this day and age.
The path to the American dream is really the same for all people everywhere, HARD WORK, and EDUCATION. But only in America is it possible to break trough the rigid social standards and become successful. It is what makes America different, that the path is open to all who are willing to work hard and stay on it. This man is a proof.
Final words: I appreciated the statistics and the references through out the book, helping me understand the subject matter. It made it easier to check the data accuracy and get some background on the Hillbilly culture, during reading. A specially since I suspect the Elegy is in a way, to the whole Hillbilly culture, its glory and its failings, not just to his grandparents, and their glory and their faults. My only complaint is that the book, tends to have ups and downs and would have benefited from better editing, that would have made a bit smoother reading.
kickerdad -
To be honest, I'm not sure why I was interested in "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance. When I first saw it online, it called to me and I ordered it. When I first received it, I opened it as I do most new books and randomly read a passage or two. After a comment about this book emboding the Scotch-Irish culture in America I was hooked. My grandfather used to proclaim he was Scotch-Irish (something I am working diligently to validate). Then reading a heart wretching memory about a decorated Christmas tree being being tossed out the front door, coupled with my own past of being born into a blue-collar town (steel not coal), I was reeled in.
Many of the reviews of "Hillbilly Elegy" seem to be heavily political. While Vance addresses policy and its effect on culture - how policy is often set by those with limited or no experience with the problems they are setting policy to resolve; and how these policies, from within the circumstances being addressed, often make situations worse. Overall, I did not think of the book as political. The book is a blending of personal history and a study of society evolution focusing on people from eastern Kentucky; the trials and tribulations, and how, even after you move away, you can never leave your past behind.
I loved the pace, tone, and structure of the book. Vance is a great story teller, able to imbue sincere emotion into experiences often difficult to even think about much less share with the world. [4.5/5]
Many of the reviews of "Hillbilly Elegy" seem to be heavily political. While Vance addresses policy and its effect on culture - how policy is often set by those with limited or no experience with the problems they are setting policy to resolve; and how these policies, from within the circumstances being addressed, often make situations worse. Overall, I did not think of the book as political. The book is a blending of personal history and a study of society evolution focusing on people from eastern Kentucky; the trials and tribulations, and how, even after you move away, you can never leave your past behind.
I loved the pace, tone, and structure of the book. Vance is a great story teller, able to imbue sincere emotion into experiences often difficult to even think about much less share with the world. [4.5/5]
