I pick up this book in 2024 after J.D. Vance becomes the nominee for Vice President. As a foreigner, I am always curious about the figure of Trump supporters, in which Vance shall be the most representative one. Though I am not a big fan of politics, I am really intrigued by the life of poor white people in the rust belt and what makes them support Trump. I find this memoir is a good window to learn about it and really astonished by how divided one community can be even within the same race.
As a memoir, this book is well-written, heartwarming, and touching. Amoung the many books I have read about family abuse, child neglect, and poverty, this one is the most beloved story, especially in the context of Hillbilly culture.I think Vance is lucky among the Hillbilly’s, as he still gets love from his grandparents, girlfriend, and sister, even with his messy parents. He achieves his American Dream by joining the Marine Corps, going to Ohio State, and then Yale Law School through hard work and education. Personally, I really admire his effort to get out of poverty which could be inspiring for others struggling in the same situation.
However, I find some of Vance's opinions controversial, especially about social welfare, other underrepresented groups, and the role of government. I have also seen some critics about his political views, especially about the role of government in helping the poor and the working class. But overall, J.D. still provides a vivid picture of the worldview of poor people.
They drunk, they do drugs, they abuse their children while also being honorable, hardworking, and patriotic. They believe that the government, big corporations, and workers from other countries are the cause of their problems, while they are the victims. But when zooming out to the whole planet, they live in the strongest country in the world and can easily access to aids, education, and job opportunities compared with other poor people in the world. I think the elegy of Hillbilly is not only about their easy access to drugs and lack of education, but also about their mindset rooted in the culture that leads to poverty across generations even one of them make it out. J.D.'s grandfather is a good example of this, as he is a hardworking and financially successful, but his offspring still struggle with poverty and addiction. How to systematically break this cycle is still a big question for the government and the society. But I think the first step is to understand their culture and their worldview, which Vance has done a great job in this book.
Overall, if my friends ask me about a good memoir, I would recommend this book. It is well-written, honest, and heartwarming. But given the background of the author and the time it was published (2016 right before Trump's campaign), it is hard to separate it from politics, especially Trump. However, I think it is still a good practice to seek first to understand, then to be understood, especially for outsiders like me who want to know more about the social and political landscape of the United States.
