Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

Written by J. D. Vance

Narrated by J. D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy recounts J.D. Vance's powerful origin story...

From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate now serving as a U.S. Senator from Ohio and the Republican Vice Presidential candidate for the 2024 election, an incisive 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.

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

""You will not read a more important book about America this year.""—The Economist

""A riveting book.""—The Wall Street Journal

""Essential reading.""—David Brooks, New York Times

Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for more than forty years, has been reported 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 one of their grandchildren would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that J.D.'s grandparents, aunt, uncle, and, most of all, his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, never fully escaping the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. With piercing honesty, Vance shows how he himself still carries around the demons of his 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9780062477521

J. D. Vance

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 Ohio State University and Yale Law School, he was elected to the United States Senate representing Ohio in 2022. In 2025, he entered office as the Vice President of the United States of America.

Reviews for Hillbilly Elegy

[HelmutS · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly an amazing career. This book gives us an imagination what happens if this man will become president of the US one day. Let’s hope for the sake of the whole world it won’t happen.

[Joy Oglesby · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very insightful!!! Also highlights causes of failures in people groups without casting undue blame!

[stevendwales · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book about a pretty amazing journey. There were great lines I cannot remember (audiobook), but one detail that struck me was that the most affordable colleges for the truly poor are the most elite, such as Harvard and Yale, thanks to the many grants they offer those from families earning below $30K a year (or whatever that floating floor number is at the moment). That was a revelation to me (still paying for law school decades later).

A good memoir with NO politics. But if I were to address politics, I would say this:

Vance discusses both sides of many questions, bringing the unique voice of a poor hillbilly to a party too often associated with the rich.

[E Aboudara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t know much about JD Vance until I saw the film on Netflix, this was long before he became Vice President. I don’t agree with everything he covers in this book, however he is quite different actually from most American politicians today, especially in the GOP. This is particularly true in his upbringing and how he has overcome much from his childhood and teenage years.

Thank goodness he had grandparents who looked out for their grandchildren as his mother became an addict and this caused innumerable problems for JD and his immediate family during his formative years. Also thank goodness for the USMC, for continuing to protect the nation, and the ability in the US to earn access to a university education through the GI Bill program. JD was able to complete his education and even go on to a top law school where he ultimately met his wife, Usha. I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this book.

[Dana Skeen Lomba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story but I could do without all the cussing. But great book

[Kristin Siemens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So personal and raw. An honest view of the working poor, Appalachian culture, from one of our own. Well done.

[Deb Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A man who persevered even in the midst of incredible trials and heartbreak. He will make a great #48 President!

[Diana Monday · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Writer did a splendid job providing the reader with a sense of life in this area. Yet his story isn’t atypical. The issues span further than the Appalachians. During the 60s and 70s there were thousands that migrated north for work. People came north and settled near one another. Book seems well written/ read well. Interestingly, author is currently running for vice president on the Republican ticket which seems to stand in contrast with his background. Would love to have a conversation or hear him speak on that.

[Samuel Mirakian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written inspiring, easy to read, a book everyone should read.

[bruce.a.gustafson.jr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book, great story, great narration, and a great man. JD Vance for president 2028!!!

[nicole.c.clay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. Very moving and relevant with today’s world. Absolutely a must. Provides great insight into someone who has the potential to be one of the nation’s next great political warriors.

[Sandy Solis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read book for all who want a glimpse into the life of the poor among us, this book is the personal story of J. D. Vance. He grew up in a tumultuous home and eventually found stability and a new life afforded to him by hard work and education. The scars of his upbringing have formed him into the man he is today because he had people around him who spoke life to him. The insight he provides into the life and family structure of those who struggle in poverty is enlightening. While likely not every family in poverty is the same, he still provides a picture of what it's like to be surrounded by hopelessness and despair. Truly a thought provoking memoir and one I won't soon forget.

[alinevada · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book. I grew up in a remote, isolated region of America. Flyover country they call it. While many of the experiences Vance describes are not mine, they are unfortunately for many Americans. The feeling of otherness and outsider are common for folk leaving their culturally distinct areas for university and cities where they will be anonymous for perhaps the first time is captured beautifully in Vance's story. This is a quintessentially American story and universally human tale at the same time. In reading other reviews it is evident that others have let their politics color their take on this triumphant story of a man climbing his way out of bleak beginnings. It is well told and there is a wealth of lessons contained within the pages.

[kamrinshafer · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

A misleading fluff piece about a man who desperately wants to be bigger than he is, harder, poorer, more come uppedness... whatever. Better relegated to where it belongs as fanfiction and left to die.

[Tish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best memoirs I’ve read. Clear, easy to follow, eye opening to my own struggles. HIGHLY recommend.

[Karen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written! Reminded me of my home. Hope he gets in as vice president

[Bette Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Much better than thr movie. Really enjoyed listening to.this and there was a lot of things that opened my eyes

[vaclava.kloudova · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

raw, scary, beautiful, inspiring, insightful, eye-opening. Brave endavour by author to open up.

[brenczkowski-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Being that the author just became the VP for the US it felt right to read the book and learn a little more about him. The book does tell a lot about his upbringing in a very poor area with a lot of social issues. Not only issues within the community but also his home life. After reading the story, it’s amazing he has come as far as he has. Reading the book brings to light how there are some very poor areas in our country and we are blessed if we are not in that situation. I give him credit for pulling up his bootstraps and making it as a lawyer, husband and father. The book was good and a little long winded. It could have been short.

[txkg72bq7v · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Just wow. Such a great book with so many great insights, inspiring stories and heartbreaking moments. Highly recommend this book! I loved getting to know our VP from his own words.

[boundtogetherforgood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

David and I watched this film in the Fall of 2024 and really enjoyed it. I like J.D.'s writing style, and I understand his roots because mine are slightly similar. My parent's families weren't hillbillies, per se, but they were poor and from the Midwest (southern Illinois), and from an area that has always seemed to identify as a part of the South though it is a part of the Midwest also (southern Indiana).

[penny.wrc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a mom in recovery from addiction this brought up some painful memories. I’ve been clean for over 20 years but sometimes the pain I coursed while using still haunts me. I didn’t know a lot about JD Vance when I started, but I thought the book showed a lot of insight into the situations and life choices that made him who he is today.

[Amy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a clear and truthful story complete with valuable perspective.

[sbell2355 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the reflective journey from childhood trauma to a responsible adult.

[Cayla beth Lindsey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shocking, powerful, and unfortunately relatable for almost everyone who grew up in a low or middle class family. Parts of this elegy brought me and my wife to tears as it brought so many childhood memories back to our minds. Highly recommend.

[rogirl00_197274202 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved the powerful life story depicting his family and his culture. I learned a lot. I just wish we could have skip the huge amount of profanity.

[coryjohn21 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great Book! Go Vice President Vance! Make America Great Again!

[Kimberly Wilcox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Honest, Courage, Truth. Thank you for sharing your story JD Vance.

[yc62rz5tr8 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

A horrible book by a horrible person, a fiction book masquerading as a memoir with zero insight. Spare yourself the misery and read “White Trash” by Nancy Isenberg if you actually want to understand Appalachia and poverty in the US.

[briandrewz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I feel very conflicted about my rating and review of this book. On one hand, it's a sad story about a culture that I had only vague notions and facts about. On the other, I think it's supposed to inspire people. The only inspiration I took away was when Vance left his family for the Marines and decided to better his life. In the prologue he talks about how there are no villains in the story. You could've fooled me. Telling your own child they would blast you in the face with a gun, threatening people who come onto your property bearing you no malice or ill-will, destroying a store because a man told your child not to play with an expensive toy on the shelf, taking an electric saw to somebody because they insulted your mother or sister, swearing profusely in front of children at any opportunity, drug addiction...these are not good qualities.

I definitely applaud Vance's decision to make something more of his life. However, this book just made me feel sad, and I didn't enjoy reading it.