Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance was recommended to me by my cousin Michelle and my brother. Reading this book is an attempt to understand the forces that put Trump in office.
Started: 1/24/2017
Completed: 2/8/2017
Recommendation: well written, good read
Recommended By: cousin Michelle and my brother.
Review:
I feel like I intellectually understand one hillbilly family. I am unclear exactly how "typical" this family is and I do not feel like I understand what encouraged them to put a billionaire in office. There is oddly a strong rejection of both the "elites" and the "rich." There is no doubt that Trump's "rough language," comfort with chaos, and projection of loyalty would appeal to this family. There is equally no doubt that the family feels abandoned by the working man's party. As with many proud and strong Americans it also seems clear that this family has no interest in handouts as long as they can be avoided and strongly values both privacy and personal property. Having established all of this, it isn't clear that any of them voted and, if they did, for whom they voted (although I suspect Trump or the acclaim associated with the book would be very misplaced).
I think it is unfair to ask a single book to explain the last election cycle and so do not expect that of this book. I think it is fair to add this book to the ungainly tower of analysis that will attempt to understand what happened in terms that will result in a "pivot" or collection of actions that will somehow assuage the pent-up anger that clearly runs through the community described in the book. The author took a shot at that at the end of the book and he did not seem thrilled with his own ideas.
One thing this book gives: an appreciation for how deep seated the problems are and how the existing problems are "doubling down" and creating more monstrous problems of their own. There is no "quick fix" even if it would be well received for this family or its community and it is clear that Trump doesn't have a snowflake's chance of solving it. It took generations for this community to sour and we haven't even begun to try and help them recover. It will be generations more before they will be ready to offer any kind of coherent support for any political party.
Like an addict cloying at anything that looks like a fix, this family will surely grasp at anything that looks good without giving anything the kind of consideration that such choices require. They simply do not have the luxury of time in the midst of their fight for identity and survival.
I feel like I intellectually understand one hillbilly family. I am unclear exactly how "typical" this family is and I do not feel like I understand what encouraged them to put a billionaire in office. There is oddly a strong rejection of both the "elites" and the "rich." There is no doubt that Trump's "rough language," comfort with chaos, and projection of loyalty would appeal to this family. There is equally no doubt that the family feels abandoned by the working man's party. As with many proud and strong Americans it also seems clear that this family has no interest in handouts as long as they can be avoided and strongly values both privacy and personal property. Having established all of this, it isn't clear that any of them voted and, if they did, for whom they voted (although I suspect Trump or the acclaim associated with the book would be very misplaced).
I think it is unfair to ask a single book to explain the last election cycle and so do not expect that of this book. I think it is fair to add this book to the ungainly tower of analysis that will attempt to understand what happened in terms that will result in a "pivot" or collection of actions that will somehow assuage the pent-up anger that clearly runs through the community described in the book. The author took a shot at that at the end of the book and he did not seem thrilled with his own ideas.
One thing this book gives: an appreciation for how deep seated the problems are and how the existing problems are "doubling down" and creating more monstrous problems of their own. There is no "quick fix" even if it would be well received for this family or its community and it is clear that Trump doesn't have a snowflake's chance of solving it. It took generations for this community to sour and we haven't even begun to try and help them recover. It will be generations more before they will be ready to offer any kind of coherent support for any political party.
Like an addict cloying at anything that looks like a fix, this family will surely grasp at anything that looks good without giving anything the kind of consideration that such choices require. They simply do not have the luxury of time in the midst of their fight for identity and survival.
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