Hillbilly Elegy: A Tough Love Analysis of the Poor Who Back Trump

In Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance takes a hard look at the lives of the poor and working-class who voted for Trump.

Vance, who grew up in poverty in Appalachia, knows firsthand the struggles that many Americans face. He writes with compassion and understanding about the challenges of poverty, addiction, and violence. But he also doesn't shy away from criticizing the choices that many poor people make.

Vance argues that the welfare state has created a culture of dependency and irresponsibility among the poor. He believes that the government needs to do less, not more, to help the poor. He also argues that the poor need to take more responsibility for their own lives. They need to get an education, get a job, and stay out of trouble.

Vance's book has been praised for its honesty and insight. It has also been criticized for being too judgmental and for blaming the poor for their own problems.

Whether you agree with Vance's conclusions or not, Hillbilly Elegy is a powerful and moving book that sheds light on the lives of the poor and working-class in America.

Nominee for Best Memoir Autobiography 2016

WEB July 15 2024 Updated 6:43 PM

"I am not a senator, a governor, or a former cabinet secretary," J.D. Vance wrote on the first page of Hillbilly Elegy.

This review was originally published on Aug. 15, 2016.

Vance has become a spokesman for the cell phone-wielding, working-class white voters who helped elect Donald Trump.

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