Paula G. (Paulathegreat) reviewed on + 148 more book reviews
I don't know why this book is marketed as explaining why people vote for Trump. Everyone I know who voted for Trump did so because Hillary is even worse. It doesn't take a book to explain that.
Other than that, this was a very good book. Vance was raised in the Rust belt, but his family was from Appalachia. Both of these places were home to him.
Appalachia is the third world of the United States. Like most third world places, it has a number of issues both internal and external. Like most third world peoples, the ambitious of Appalachia tend to go to other places in order to advance. Vances's grandparents moved to work in the factories; factories that were recruiting whole families of Appalachians. It was in Kentucky that JD's grandparents were themselves. However, going to Ohio made them much more prosperous.
In both Ohio and Kentucky they had their share of personal and family struggles. Vance presents them lovingly and realistically. There was a lot of violence in their lives much of it perpetuated by them. There was also a lot of substance abuse. Both Vance's mother and grandfather were alcoholics. However, there was also a lot of love and loyalty.
Vance looks unflinchingly at the problems in both of these cultures: the fatalism and defensiveness of Appalachians who see themselves as victims of outside forces, the assumptions of youth that they too will spend their lives in the factories.
I would recommend this book for anyone who wanted to understand poverty better, who wanted to read about real family life, or who wants to understand why some people move up and others get stuck. It does not, to me, explain any politics.
Other than that, this was a very good book. Vance was raised in the Rust belt, but his family was from Appalachia. Both of these places were home to him.
Appalachia is the third world of the United States. Like most third world places, it has a number of issues both internal and external. Like most third world peoples, the ambitious of Appalachia tend to go to other places in order to advance. Vances's grandparents moved to work in the factories; factories that were recruiting whole families of Appalachians. It was in Kentucky that JD's grandparents were themselves. However, going to Ohio made them much more prosperous.
In both Ohio and Kentucky they had their share of personal and family struggles. Vance presents them lovingly and realistically. There was a lot of violence in their lives much of it perpetuated by them. There was also a lot of substance abuse. Both Vance's mother and grandfather were alcoholics. However, there was also a lot of love and loyalty.
Vance looks unflinchingly at the problems in both of these cultures: the fatalism and defensiveness of Appalachians who see themselves as victims of outside forces, the assumptions of youth that they too will spend their lives in the factories.
I would recommend this book for anyone who wanted to understand poverty better, who wanted to read about real family life, or who wants to understand why some people move up and others get stuck. It does not, to me, explain any politics.
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