Synopsis
J. D. Vance grew up in the hills of Kentucky. His family and friends were the people most of the world calls rednecks, hillbillies or white trash.
In this deeply moving memoir, Vance tells the story of his family’s demons and of America ’ s problem with generational neglect. How his mother struggled against, but never fully escaped, the legacies of abuse, alcoholism, poverty and trauma. How his grandparents, ‘dirt poor and in love’, gave everything for their children to chase the American dream. How Vance beat the odds to graduate from Yale Law School. And how America came to abandon and then condescend to its white working classes, until they reached breaking point.
Publisher information
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008220563
- Number of pages: 272
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 21 mm
- Weight: 200g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Non Fiction Book of the Month - June
This soon to be major motion picture is a must read.
An important and honest read about American politics and offers an insight as to why people put their... READ MORE
Life in the poorest areas of America.
I had a mixed reaction to this book. I enjoyed the personal element and family anecdotes, but they were interspersed with 'sociobabble' - analyses and comm... READ MORE
Hillbilly Struggles.
James David Vance recounts his life up to and including his graduation from Yale Law School. If there is one pervading element of the human condition withi... READ MORE
A great bio, interesting story and stimulating read about culture and class.
I really enjoyed this book.
There are two things going on with this book. The first is a straightforward account of one man’s growing up poor and disad... READ MORE
Learning about J.D. Vance
I enjoyed learning about J.D. Vance. He seems down to earth and someone that learns from his experience. I loved hearing about his grandparents and relativ... READ MORE