Abstract

On the opening page of Hillbilly Elegy, author J. D. Vance confesses that he fi nds the idea of publishing his memoir, at age 31, "somewhat absurd." Humbly, he shares, "I'll be the fi rst to admit that I have accomplished nothing great in my life, certainly nothing that would justify a complete stranger paying money to read about it.... I wrote this book because I've achieved something quite ordinary, which doesn't happen to most kids who grew up like me" (p. 1). The book is the story of one kid's rise from poverty, one kid's victory over long odds; in short, it is a success story. Americans have always demonstrated an appetite for success stories"particularly when the main character is White. Still, the popularity of this title, especially on college campuses, is nothing short extraordinary. A quick perusal came up with a number of universities that have designated the book as a common read on campus, including the University of Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee State University, Miami University of Ohio, the University of Denver, and many others that have brought J. D. Vance to campus to speak. Evidence even suggests that a Ron Howard-directed movie is in the works.

How to Cite:

Theobald, P., (2017) “Book Review of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis”, Journal of Research in Rural Education 32(8), 1–3.

Rights: Copyright