Hillbilly Elegy

BOOK OF THE MONTH

* August, 2024 *

"Hillbilly Elegy"

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

By J.D. Vance | Published: June 28, 2016

AMAC'S ANALYSIS

Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on 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.

MEET THE AUTHOR

J.D. Vance

J.D. Vance is an American author, venture capitalist, politician, lawyer, and former United States Marine serving as the Ohio senator since 2023. He is best known as the author of Hillbilly Elegy (2016), a best-selling memoir of his experiences growing up as a member of the white working class that was published as the United States was roiling with division over the upsurge in populist support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he is the party's nominee for vice president in the 2024 election. He is the first millennial vice-presidential candidate and the first to have served in the Marine Corps.

Welcome
to the Club!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How did Vance’s grandparents get to Ohio? What are the two versions of the story of how and why they moved out of Kentucky? What does this economic migration of people out of Appalachia do for communities? In what ways to Vance’s grandparents adapt, and not adapt, to their new life in Ohio? Do they see these changes positively or negatively?
2. In what ways is the absence of a father figure significant to how Vance constructs and learns masculinity?
3. From Vance’s analysis, why are people in places like Middletown, Ohio so distrustful of contemporary America? How do these perceptions and views feed into attitudes towards government and aspects of American society?
4. What public policy lessons does Vance outline from his experiences? How could they help the hillbilly community?
5. The ability to adapt is a significant theme in Hillbilly Elegy. What are ways in which adaptability, or the success or failure of people or towns to adapt to circumstances or surroundings, is present in the book? What is significant about these adaptations and their respective successes or failures?
6. BONUS QUESTION: How do you think the 2020 film based on Vance's memoir compares to the book? In what ways is the movie a hit and in what ways is it a miss?

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Toni McCormick

3 days ago

We are starting the book in our local book club. I’m using your questions for our discussion! Also, the book has tons more detail, as usual, than the movie!

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Ed Brady

20 hours ago

PRAY4USA ???????? ????
VOTE4TRUMP/VANCE

Sheri Atkinson

5 days ago

Excited to join this discussion.

David

20 hours ago

My folks came from KY also and moved to central Ohio, so I know somewhat of the struggles to integrate. I will get a copy of J.D’s book and comment then.

Dante Lui

3 days ago

what do you guys think of the magazine

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Robert Blundell

4 days ago

For reference on question 1 , 190 driving miles between Jackson KY and Middletown OH, About 140 miles in straight line. Appalachian Mountains and the Ohio River, they likely went over river into OH at Cincinnati. The KY OH connection likely explains why OH has turned more red than PA to east

UNITED WE READ

BOOK OF THE MONTH

"Hillbilly Elegy"

AMAC'S ANALYSIS

Buy J.D. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy"

MEET THE AUTHOR

Welcome
to the Club!

What We Do

Contact

Resources

UNITED WE READ

BOOK OF THE MONTH

"Hillbilly Elegy"

AMAC'S ANALYSIS

Buy J.D. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy"

MEET THE AUTHOR

Welcome to the Club!

What We Do

Contact​

Resources

Welcome
to the Club!

Contact