An exploration of J.D. Vance's story as an unconventional hillbilly from Middletown, Ohio. I couldn't have picked a better time to read it. It carries emotional weight and explores the sociology of some white working-class regions in Appalachia.
Regardless, I expected more from the storytelling and writing. It's very repetitive, and I could feel Vance generalizing a lot of his experiences to fit a unique success story. There are probably too many unnecessary attempts and anecdotes to showcase his upward mobility through his time in the Marine Corps and later as a Yale graduate.
My Notes
Briefly outlining J.D. Vance's life.
- Hillbilly refers to an unsophisticated country person, as associated with the remote regions of the Appalachians.
- Vance was raised by his grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw, who moved from Jackson, Kentucky, to Middletown, Ohio.
- His community consists of working-class white people who are said to have a strong work ethic and are very patriotic
- His mother was a drug addict. She was unstable and had multiple boyfriends throughout Vance's childhood.
- After high school, Vance escaped the hillbilly life by joining the Marine Corps. He served during the Iraq War from 2003 to 2007.
- He later graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in political science and Yale Law School.