The Author has done amazingly well for himself. Not sure how his story is going to help anyone, really. I found the book tedious and hopeless.
“J.D. Vance grew up in the Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio, and the Appalachian town of Jackson, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served in Iraq. A graduate of the Ohio State University and Yale Law School, he has contributed to the National Review and the New York Times, and works as an investor at a leading venture capital firm. Vance lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his family.”
Sample reviews, which jibe with my thoughts about the book:
“Within every socioeconomic group you will find what Mr Vance has attributed to the hillbilly way of life. I find his book offensive to us that grew up in the south in poor areas. This book is why most people believe we are always barefoot and pregnant. This book was a waste of a day I can’t get back.”
“This is not an age of political correctness: it’s an age of sentimental correctness; and, Vance assures us with Hallmark card certainty that his sentiments are correct. He adores his sister and Mamaw and Papaw. He’s a devout family man with the best of intentions. He goes to church and believes in Jesus. He’s a conservative who doubts the ability of government to make effective change. Fine and dandy. But I wouldn’t want to sit next to this guy on an airplane. I think the conversation would always get steered to himself. He finished Ohio State in two years, with honors. And then went to Yale and became editor of the “prestigious” Yale Law Review. And to ice the cake, he served as a Marine in Iraq. I mean, this dude’s a physical and mental mensch. Man is the measure of all things, said Protagoras. And Vance is the measure of all men.
I think Mr. Vance might be posturing himself for a shot at political office.
Anyway, read it if you like. But this ain’t no Steinbeck.”
“If I were to sum up what I learned, it would be that unless you have a “social network” of people working in front of or behind the scenes on your behalf, you’re screwed. This book doesn’t offer any hope, but only points out why opportunities like his will never happen for many Americans. I think a lot of people will be put off by his arrogance. I wanted to stop reading at chapter 3 but was encouraged by a friend to give it a chance. It only got worse. I’m sorry I wasted my time and money.”
Several people I know read & really liked it & suggested I read it. I tried, but lost interest about 30 or 40 pages in. I picked it up again a few months later & didn’t get much further.
Why would you hold it against him that he was a Marine and he served in Iraq?
I read the book. It wasn't as cinematic as, say, Cold Mountain, but it was a critical look at the enculturedf problems of white poverty pockets in that part of the U.S. that are ignored and spit upon by the entire rest of the nation, which incldentally just sent a billion dollars and torched a few cities over a black druggie who contributed substantially to his own death at the knee of a police officer.
Thanks for the reviews. No interest in the book or the movie. Author seems smug and arrogant. It really comes down to him profiting off the hill people just like every carpetbagger since the 1860’s.