Book Review: J.D. Vance (2016), Hillbilly Elegy, Harper Colins

This book tells the supposed true story of J.D. Vance’s (JDV) upbringing amongst poor whites in the Appalachian region of the United States, along with many disillusioned Americans. It is a compelling account showing why it is so difficult for someone from this region to “make it”. The author, JDV, provides an authentic description of how he grew up in this difficult environment. He has an impressive memory, providing many details, including personal ones, often revealing intimate feelings in an honest way. Many readers and critics have however, called Hillbilly Elegy an exaggeration, a manipulation, or even a farce — complete with references, and more so, since he has come into power at the Vice President of the United States. The critiques include stereotyping Appalachians, blending memoir with political agenda, misrepresentation of his background (saying that he exaggerates his poverty), unreliable narration and omitted context. We shall here though, review the book from a more neutral perspective.

This brief review discusses first the general economic, social, and value-based conditions in a white-dominated blue-collar “trash” part of the US, namely Kentucky and Appalachia, the “Hillbilly” region of the US. Then we shall briefly review JDV’s personal life, during his upbringing as well as his later educational career. The final part of this review shall focus on the book’s – and thereby also JDV’s – conservative philosophy.

“Hillbilly” Kentucky/Appalachian Mountains

Life here is poor, as the economy, largely based on coal and steel, is deteriorating. This is so when it comes to Middletown too, the steel mill city where JDV grew up. The “best” people are migrating away, say, to large, more prosperous cities, such as in Ohio. There is a great deal of misery, both social and economic. Alcohol abuse, other abuses such as opioids, and violence are common. “White trash”!

JDV’s personal life

The author’s early life seems to have been excessively chaotic, with an alcoholic mother, often violent, who married five times. JDV’s biological father (the mother’s first husband), disinherited him when he was six. It was the author’s grandparents (Wawaw and Papaw) who cared for him and provided some sense of stability in his upbringing. Still, his grandparents were also typical “Hillbillies”, i.e., often violent themselves, and with their own interpretations of what was “right or wrong”.

JDV’s educational career

The author was barely able to complete high school (perhaps not surprisingly, given the lack of stability around him). He then enrolled in the US Marine Corps, serving for years, including in Iran. (He does not say much about his experiences in Iran, however, but more about his 15 weeks in boot camp training). After this, he spent one year and 11 months at Ohio State, graduating with two majors. He then went on to Yale Law School, earning a LLD degree in two years, as number 18 of the 200 members in his cohort group. Here is where he met his wife, Usha, another Yale student.

Book’s philosophy

As already highlighted, this book details JDV’s upbringing in a very “messy” environment, family wise, poor, with no opportunities, and with a Hillbilly set of values regarding law and manual work, rather than aspirations for college or beyond. The author points out that the general sense of pessimism is far greater here than what one might find in typical black or Hispanic communities. This community apparently breeds conservatism. The fact that JDV was able to break out from this sub-performing society and eventually become a successful lawyer from Yale probably added to his personal sense of conservatism. Interestingly, JDV has not protested against Trump’s “attacks” on leading US universities, such as Harvard or Yale.

Conclusion

This book is a must read, not so much for its detailing of Hillbilly life in Kentucky and the Appalachians, but for how it points towards the basic values that seem to drive JDV. And here is a reasonable probability that JDV may become the next US President. Thus, the book may help us to prepare for this – with a person in the White House probably even more conservative that the current President Trump.

This author recommends it therefore for its insight into what makes JDV “tick”, and what his personality profile represents in the leadership role he is now in. What has apparently made Hillbilly Elegy contentious is not just that it is a “memoir”, but that it seems to repackage a political narrative of blame and single-minded personal triumph as universal truth. Many Appalachians, academics, and cultural critics see it as oversimplified, at times inaccurate, and manipulative, even a “con job” that played into partisan and media narratives. If readers choose not to read it as an interesting personal profile, it should at the very least be read as an exercise and reminder, that beware of what we read. As Timothy Snyder wrote in his small but powerful book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (2017), where amongst other useful lessons and messages he warns against the manipulative power of lies and propaganda, especially when delivered in polished, authoritative formats — including books, newspapers, and digital media. Put bluntly, just because something is printed, repeated, or widely believed does not make it true.