NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "A riveting book."—The Wall Street Journal "Essential reading."—David Brooks, New York Times From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck. The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love,” and moved north from Kentucky’s Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually their grandchild (the author) would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Vance’s grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother, struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, and were never able to fully escape the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. Vance piercingly shows how he himself still carries around the demons of their chaotic family history. A deeply moving memoir with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
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About the author
J. D. Vance
Author
James David Vance is an American politician, author, attorney, and Marine Corps veteran who is the 50th vice president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 2023 to 2025. During his tenure as vice president, Vance has also served as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee.
Hillbilly Elegy
by J. D. Vance
Books Like Hillbilly Elegy
If you're looking for books similar to Hillbilly Elegy, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
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A groundbreaking examination of America's hidden social hierarchy and its impact on individual lives. Wilkerson explores how social structures create barriers to mobility and opportunity. The book provides a broader context for understanding social and economic challenges. It offers a comprehensive analysis of systemic barriers similar to those discussed in Hillbilly Elegy.
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An immersive investigation into the challenges of low-wage work in America. Ehrenreich goes undercover in various minimum-wage jobs, revealing the economic struggles of working-class Americans. The book provides a systemic look at economic hardship and social mobility. It complements Vance's personal narrative with broader sociological insights.
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A compelling narrative about American manufacturing and economic transformation in the Rust Belt. Macy tells the story of a furniture company owner fighting to keep jobs in America against global competition. The book explores themes of economic decline, family legacy, and working-class resilience. It provides a detailed look at the economic challenges facing communities similar to Vance's background.
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A powerful investigation of the opioid crisis in rural America, exploring its devastating impact on working-class communities. Macy provides a compassionate and detailed account of addiction's human toll. The book reveals the complex social and economic factors contributing to the epidemic. It shares Vance's approach of combining personal stories with broader social analysis.
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A comprehensive historical examination of class in America, focusing on the marginalized white working class. Isenberg provides deep sociological insights into the economic and social challenges faced by poor white Americans. The book explores systemic barriers and cultural stereotypes that have long impacted lower-income white communities. It offers a scholarly complement to Vance's personal narrative about social mobility.
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A deeply researched account of economic disruption in a Wisconsin manufacturing town after a GM plant closure. Goldstein follows multiple families navigating job loss and economic transformation. The book reveals the human stories behind economic statistics, similar to Vance's approach. It explores themes of community resilience and economic challenge.
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An empathetic exploration of conservative working-class Americans in Louisiana, examining their political and economic perspectives. Hochschild seeks to understand the emotional landscape of a community often misunderstood by coastal elites. The book provides deep sociological insights into working-class identity and political sentiment. It shares Vance's approach of combining personal narrative with broader social analysis.
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A provocative exploration of working-class white America in rural Virginia. Bageant offers an insider's perspective on the cultural and economic challenges facing poor white communities. The book combines personal observation with social critique, much like Vance's memoir. It provides insights into the complex social dynamics of working-class American life.
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