J.D. Vance on Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and Culture in Crisis - Full interview | VIEWPOINT 

this book was extraordinary. i get the impression some of it was difficult to write, and it must have been hard to revisit some of vance's childhood. but he's proud of being accurate and he's proud of himself and those like him who succeeded and escaped generational mindsets and difficulties. a very brave and loving look back at a brave life.

It's saturday August 10, 2019. I just found Mr. Vances book, Hillbilly Elegy today. I'm on page 48 I am really enjoying it. I live in southwest Va. about 50 miles above the Tn. state line. I find this book to be a very open and honest read. The characters are true to life. Old time people. I can't wait to finish it. I would recommend it as a very interesting read. Great story!

I just learned of this book last year and bought it, looking forward to reading it and hopefully seeing the film this year. I am building a personal library to leave as a legacy of encouragement for my family.

Please read my Appalachian memoir too "The Will of a Wildflower ".

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis is a memory of JD Vance about the values ​​of the Appalachians of his Kentucky family and his relationship with the social problems of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, where his parent's Mother moved when they were young. (Online Reading - Summary - Review - Book - Download - PDF): www.toevolution.com/file/view/203022/hillbilly-elegy-book-by-j-d-vance-online-reading-summary-review-book-download-pdf

J.D.'s Mamaw was the best. She took no bullshit off anybody. My Mamaw from WV was a Sunday School teacher so not quite the same thing.

Loved it loved it loved it

Big fan of ur book from korea

Common sense ain't so common.

I agree with JD about people's tendency to be self-congratulatory. I think that's a human tendency though. The closest to a pure meritocracy I've ever seen was the Army. In the military, you promote by being the best at what you do. Since I left the service, I found the world is rarely meritocratic. Relationships are far more important than skill. And as people exercise their social capital to advance, you start to get revisionist history. So that people eventually rewrite the story to be about success on merits, even when their success was majority caused by external factors rather than internal motivation.

IQ means nothing in this life. Its about family and support. This guy doesn't get it.

I'm confused about "working class" since he said not a lot of the people he knew had jobs. Am I remembering that incorrectly?

Watch Pegi Robinson's NDE's Part 1 & 2. Read The Will of a Wildflower. Southeast Ohio memoir.

JD Vance abandoned Never Trump, why can’t Charles Murray?

I see in him the future president of usa

JD Vance's moderate conservatism speaks to me as a liberal who has voted Democrat but believes in personal responsibility. I believe very strongly in the power of education and how it can provide people with the opportunities for a better life in an otherwise harsh and disquitable United States. I feel for JD Vance's plight and am saddened that his sister did not call 9/11, sentence their mother to JAIL for a very long Singaporean-style prison sentence abuse for a very long period of time. I have a very hard time understanding why someone like that would make the personal choices that she made. I DID NOT do such a thing when my mother died at a young age. I feel angry on behalf of JD's mother - she needs to do some atoning by being of service to him. SHE should not have done drugs. I came from my own set of disadvantaged circumstances - when I was 19 I was managing local political campaigns, when I was 21 I was leading staff for statewide political campaigns. I have drank alcohol in the past - and have members of my family who are alcoholics. When I drank I always made sure that I was comporting myself with both state and federal law and caused minimal inconsiderateness to people around me. When people told me that I needed to stop drinking in college because it was hurting my health and career prospect I rapidly stopped. I DID NOT have to stop. I could have kept drinking and ended up in rehab at best or jail at worst. I don't know why JD Vance's mother wouldn't do the same. As well, I DID NOT have children (and still do not have children because I do child planning). It is INTENSELY frustrating to see her conduct negatively effect JD. While I hope that JD forgives her, I believe that SHE needs to do the work to atone for her bad decisions! If the government needs to create more schools and stronger academic opportunities we should! Several people here have commented that Appalachia has failing schools. As a future government worker, I support additional resources to low income neighborhoods so that ambitious students can graduate from a PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY!

He was born in Ohio, he aint from the South.

How many lawyers do they really need in America! Seems to me a hillbilly who retained some of the skills of his ancestors would be more useful!

Too bad that he lost his accent.