logo

83 pages 2 hours read

J. D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture

J. D. VanceNonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2016

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Book Brief

logo
J. D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2016
Book Details
Pages

257

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Rust Belt Region • 2000s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

J.D. Vance’s memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, chronicles his challenging upbringing in a poor, working-class Appalachian culture and his journey from broken homes in Ohio to success in the Marine Corps, Ohio State University, and Yale Law School. Through vivid accounts of his family’s struggles with addiction and poverty, he examines the economic and cultural decline of white working-class Appalachians, emphasizing both systemic issues and personal responsibility. This book contains references to addiction, domestic violence, and substance abuse.

Informative

Challenging

Emotional

Melancholic

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.1

548,362 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy offers a compelling memoir that explores the struggles of America's white working-class communities. Praised for its raw honesty and vivid storytelling, it sheds light on critical social issues. However, some critics argue it oversimplifies complex problems and lacks broader sociological insights. Overall, it resonates as both a poignant and controversial read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Hillbilly Elegy?

A reader who appreciates Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance is likely interested in sociocultural narratives, American Rust Belt dynamics, or personal memoirs of overcoming adversity. Similar to fans of Educated by Tara Westover and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, they seek introspective works on familial challenges and resilience.

4.1

548,362 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

257

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Rust Belt Region • 2000s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.