J.D. Vance on his new book Hillbilly Elegy

Recorded on October 27, 2016

J.D. Vance chronicles his life and the history and issues of hillbillies in America. Vance, a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, writes about growing up in a poor Rust Belt town and how his family never fully escapes the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma in their lives. Vance paints a broad, passionate, and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans.

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[mph]

I'm probably not the kind of person one would expect to read this book. I'm like the polar opposite of J.D. Vance. I'm a black, Muslim female from an upper-middle class family who has pretty much never had any personal experience with the lives of hillbillies. But a friend of mine said he read this and he recommended it to me. I must say, this is seriously one of the best book I've read in a while. It really opened my eyes to a side of America that I was very ignorant to. It made me think, and it honestly changed my perspective on a lot of things.

[GB]

That's my hometown and J.D. Vance's book accurately describes my experience growing up there. Growing up seeing the same situations Vance describes. I left Middletown after my military service and college. I still love that town but find myself crying on occasion when I return for the increasing number of funerals and fewer and fewer weddings. I too owe everything I have to those that touched my life there as a child.

[JWForce]

Reading the book now. There's a story on page 149 in the paperback where Vance is "unusually upset" that he cannot spend time with his nieces and nephews, and tells Mamaw about it. Instead of telling him to "quit [his] damn whining, " she empathizes, but reminds him that making something of his future and getting educated will give him the sort of security that will enable him to have quiet weekends at home with family. "She showed me what was possible... and made sure I knew how to get there." It's only halfway through, but somehow, it seems like that's the sentence that his book hinges upon

[tommydaley]

I grew up in the town right next to his. I am now in college on full academic scholarship and attending medical school next year. His call to action at the end, to accept that it will be harder for us than it is for someone else, is a message I have heard before and I cannot explain how true it is. I watched the learned helplessness he described, was surrounded by it, even felt it myself at times. I take great pride in his accurate characterization of our hometown, revealing the desperation felt by the entire region. Also, its MiddleTOWN, not MiddleTON. That drove me insane

[brendame]

From J.D Vance's book "Hillbilly Elegy" Chapter 8...for a long time, much of my failing school district qualified for vouchers - but it was striking that in an entire discussion about why poor kids struggled in school, the emphasis rested entirely on public institutions. As a teacher at my old high school told me recently, "They want us to be shepherds to these kids. But no one wants to talk about the facts that many are raised by wolves" ....

[SpeakerBuilder]

OMG, finally, someone told the truth about the failure of the welfare programs, and the alternative to create work based systems. Don't give them money; instead, create jobs and work, that would empower them to build their lives and return their sense of dignity!

[joanpeters]

I enjoyed that book more than any book I've read in many years. Food for thought on an epic scale.

[spencerandersen]

I read Vance's book for my Appalachian History class. Although Middletown, OH is NOT Southern, it has essentially become an enclave of eastern Kentucky (which is both Southern and Appalachian; I consider them two distinct but often intertwined regions of the United States.)

The big question is whether or not he is a hillbilly. I believe based on his family, he was. This book is trying to condemn how the "white trash" or "hillbilly" culture makes people feel victimized and helpless. It's both raw, gripping, depressing (especially through the second half, which was a bit of a slog for me), but ultimately hopeful in nature.

Many people condemn the "boostraps" mentality he supposedly peddles in this book, but Vance never argues in favor of completely scrapping the social safety net. (If he did, he would be a libertarian.) Sometimes, the system was necessary to help him achieve his dreams. But the difference is he didn't feel trapped in a cycle of poverty - he used what was around him, got help from his grandmother (who has such a foul mouth she'd make Martin Scorsese blush), and found his own version of the American dream. That to me is a powerful message: as Theodore Roosevely famously said, "Do what you can with what you've got, where you are."

[robfedele]

IThank God we still have some honest Conservative intellectuals who are speaking out 🇺🇸

[shawn]

Great story. Some of us didnt rise out of that life with such honor and grace.

[groundhog]

J.D. Vance's book is at times hilarious and then stinging in its honesty. He spares none of his kin a honest recounting of their vices and faults but manages to also preserve a lovely magnanimity to them. His story isn't just the crisis of the Scotch-Irish of the rural east. It can also be seen as a meditation on the state of American culture and institutions.

[JeffreyB]

My background is similar to JD's but without an Ivy league degree. My parents were both from rural KY (Casey Co in south KY, Harlan Co in east KY) and moved to SW Ohio. My dad was total garbage: wife beater, wouldn't hold down jobs, constantly cheating on mom (yet would accuse her of same). When I was 1 he shot his head off in a drunken argument with one of his girlfriends. The bed frame I used growing up had been used by my older brother. One day dad and brother got into a shootout and dad shot into the bedroom. Mom patched the headboard with wood putty. They named it the Alamo Bed.  Thankfully my mom was hardworking, calm, and good with money. Her family was part of a very strict Christian sect but it protected me from drugs, alcoholism, and revolving door of men that JD experienced. Somehow 4 of the 5 kids my parents had turned out better than the average American in terms of education (all 4 of us graduated college) and income.

[annekeinick]

This is a great interview. Eye-opening for this Liberal Canadian. However, as a neighbor to the north, the political climate in America effects us greatly and in many ways, the cultural group he speaks of also exists in Canada. I have read some of the comments and I will give my two scents to the debate. As a whole, Americans and Canadians alike, have become so individualistic. For centuries, people did not exist purely within the 'nuclear family'. As much as 1950 America or Canada is vindicated as a time of hard work and family values - it no longer is the reality for many people. Divorce rate remains high, families are very different and often dysfunctional. My generation continues to go it alone at the great expense of our communities and children. Of course, I do believe that the state plays an integral role in creating programs to assist people in need - however, I think it is time for people as a whole to look to the benefits of multigenerational relationships, community programs, churches, schools, etc - as a meeting point to discuss the real challenges we face and listen to the stories of people like JD Vance to reflect on why he was successful despite multiple barriers and why so many are not. Lastly, I think there is so much value in what JD Vance stated about the importance of giving back - whether it be your time, money or simply to listen to gain greater insight into a culture that is deteriorating.

[desertredsky]

Hillbilly Elegy – A brilliant read that speaks for the largely lost and forgotten Scots-Irish culture in Australia / New Zealand. Whilst this culture has been submerged by assimilation into a generic antipodean culture (as opposed to the distinctive character of its Appalachian incarnation - usually only surfacing through the stage image of rock singers like Bon Scott, Jimmy Barnes and Brian Johnson or through apotheosised ‘convict culture’ in Australia) there is much about your people’s sensibilities that deeply resonates in the antipodean identity, albeit largely unrecognised. This was noted by a fellow cultural countryman of yours (Joe Bageant) during his tours of Australia.

J.D. Vance, I’m certain you would recognise the spirit of your own people’s aspirations downunder.

[BillKing]

For anyone who found this enlightening, I would urge you to watch Steve Bannon's 2018 address to the Oxford Union. He mentions J. D. Vance and elaborates on some of the economic issues which hit the American working class so hard, and underlay the election of Trump.

[DSpace]

J.D. Vance is a great personality. I can't wait to read his book!

[climatescientist]

Whos here because of Trump Vance 2024! ??

[vanharding]

Peter Robinson: I have a BFA & MFA in Theatre Arts and had a special effects company in LA. I have a MS in oriental medicine and today live in northern California. By all labels I am suppose to be a liberal. I voted for Trump. I am Scotch-English-Scandinavian and a direct descendent of Miles Standish of Plymouth Colony. One of my great-grandfathers  was a General in the Revolutionary War (colonist) and another was a Colonel in the Civil War (north). My parents were born and raised in New Hampshire and moved to Georgia in 1954 when my father served in the US Army (Korea). I was raised in Northern Georgia and love Appalachian culture...so too did my former wife who was raised in LA.  Scot-American are people of humanity! They live in their hearts and not arrogant intellect.

[MRCKify]

Very glad to see this interview; I believe there couldn't be a better time to listen to Vance. A contemplative Veteran's Day to all.

[Johnnyredtail]

I and the author's background is somewhat similar. Thankfully I was adopted at two months. However the family I adopted into were also of Scots/Irish/English decent. I'm sure that Granite City Steel employees are now rejoicing over Trump's election. It had to shut down operations a few months ago. My Grandfather retired from there after 40 years and many of my uncles as well as my father either worked there or one of the other two major steel mills that have since closed their gates. The U.S. Navy was my out.