Hillbilly Elegy - JD Vance - 2016

 

This book is worth reading. I am not even sure how he wrote this in his early 30s. How did he find the time? Anyways Vance is not who I thought he was. 

He had a terrible childhood and did not really understand some parts of life that are pretty basic to me. (For example: of course you should wear a suit/dress nice to an interview).

Other parts I found super relatable. I never know how to use the correct utensils at a fancy restaurant. It was funny that he considers pajamas for the upper class. 

My aunt from Ohio does not like this book because she says it presents an unfair stereotype of people in the Appalachia region. I cannot speak to this and perhaps she is right because she knows Ohio much better than me. However, I would say that he is likely telling the truth about his life and the towns in which he lived. Therefore at least some of his views are representative of that region of the country. 

I like Vance a lot more now. He came from nothing, tried hard, asked questions, and ended up with a hot wife (usha) and a great life. Before reading I thought he was silver spoon from the jump, but that is not true at all. 

As far as his public policy proposals, in the book he kind of does not give a clear response. He likes some ideas from the democrats and some ideas from the republicans. He seems to believe that it is not up to the government to fix many problems in the Appalachia region of the country. He even goes as far to say that many problems are not fixable (at least by the government) because they are cultural. He implores the people to make the positive changes themselves. I actually do not know what to think about this argument. Are the problems of the white working class mostly cultural? I am unfamiliar with this argument. 

It was also quite weird reading about the white working class/hillbillies as a special interest group. He speaks of them like a minority group (blacks, Latinos, for example). To me perhaps hillbillies are a minority group. However, I do not really think the white working class (blue collar) is a special interest group. Maybe they are. Don’t most Americans fall into this group (or maybe most whites are white collar???). 

Anyways he is a really good writer. The beginning of the book is better than the end. His grandma is funny as hell. There is a really good discussion about social capital which I totally agree with. I hate social capital but you do need it to be successful.

There is also a really good message about not just doing things to get the credential/degree/whatever. This is a mistake I have made many times.

There is also a good message about the “fakeness” of the job interview process. Again I totally agree with Vance here.   

I will have to read about Trump and Kamala to see if they also came from nothing. As far as I can tell Vance is me and my dad and is the common man in America. 

I say page it for sure and broaden your perspective.