Reviews with content warning for Addiction - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

I would give Hillbilly Elegy 2 stars. While JD Vance's memoir offers an interesting perspective on the struggles of working-class Americans, the book is poorly written and lacks depth. Vance's writing is often clumsy and repetitive, and his analysis of the issues facing Appalachia is superficial and simplistic. The book also suffers from a lack of focus, as Vance jumps from personal anecdotes to broader social commentary without a clear thread connecting them. Overall, Hillbilly Elegy is a disappointing read that fails to live up to its potential.

Hillbilly Elegy is a memoir by JD Vance that explores his experiences growing up in a working-class family in Appalachia. Vance discusses the challenges he faced as a child, including poverty, addiction, and family dysfunction. He also provides a broader analysis of the social and economic issues facing the region, arguing that a lack of opportunity and a culture of hopelessness contribute to the cycle of poverty and despair. While the book has received significant attention for its insights into the struggles of working-class Americans, it has also been criticized for its simplistic analysis and poor writing.

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basil_plant's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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pezfilledcookies's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

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demartinodoc's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

2.25

I had high hopes for this book, but was really disappointed overall. It comes across as narrow and perhaps incorrect at times- A redeeming factor is acknowledging that it is relatively dated and the author makes repeated references to the fact he is telling it as he remembers. This read may be more enjoyable as a text read and not an audiobook, as overly repetitive sentences about the same exact subject can get a little bit tough to listen to at times. Was very close to not finishing, but it did make me think quite a bit about our current economic systems so I decided to power through (plus, I was in a car and already listening). The author’s lines of thinking can at times literally imply he is smarter or better than going through the trouble of learning more about trauma and other major fields of study from the professionals and instead relies on his own “research”. Interesting read, but probably won’t reread or recommend.

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jdromsky's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

I agree with the praise on the front cover of my copy that this book “is essential reading for this moment in American history.” Hillbilly Elegy was incredibly informative but lovingly so: author JD Vance just wants to tell his story and explain how his life has led him to draw certain conclusions about the world.

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