Why did the memoirs of a little person become a super best-seller, widely circulated by elites in American politics, business, technology, academia, and finance?
In American society, people often use terms such as "hillbilly" to describe white blue-collar workers struggling to survive in difficult circumstances. "What is more terrifying than poverty is the loss of hope" is the most serious problem faced by this group.
In "Hillbilly Elegy," J. D. Vance tells a true story of what social, regional, and class decline can do to those who are born into it. Vance's maternal grandparents moved north from the Appalachian region of Kentucky to Ohio, hoping to escape the horrific poverty. They worked their way into the middle class, culminating in their grandchildren graduating from Yale Law School, a traditional sign of successful generational upward mobility.
As the family story slowly unfolds, we discover that Vance's grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, and, most importantly, his mother, all struggled to adapt to the demands of middle-class life without ever fully escaping drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma. Vance grew up in such a chaotic and heartbreaking environment, but it was the love and loyalty of these "rednecks" that made him what he is today.
Taken together, there are only a handful of cases like the author's that have successfully escaped poverty. The majority of white blue-collar Americans are still unable to get rid of hereditary poverty and hardship, as if it is an innate shackle that is firmly around their necks. What is the reason that prevents them from finding a suitable way out in the United States, a country that prides itself on freedom?
"Hillbilly Elegy" is an extremely moving memoir that contains vivid characters and many humorous elements. It records what it is like for a generation to be upwardly mobile, and also reflects on the phenomenon of a large number of people losing the American dream. This book is also a profound social commentary. Through the author's growth story and experience, from the perspective of an "insider", it leads us to have a more macro perspective and deeply explore the difficulties and crises faced by the American blue-collar class.
Reader comments
This book resonated with me very much. I also started working after graduating from junior high school. I have experienced many of the scenes described in the book. It was really not easy for Vance to come out of such an environment. Just like he said, "All I have is a good job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, and two lovely dogs." This is also my dream. I believe that as long as we work hard, we "country people" can also live the life we want.
It has reference significance for children growing up in rural China
What he writes is very similar to the situation of many of us in China, and it helps us understand the United States. Allow us to clearly look at our current life
If only I could have read this book 10 years ago, it would have had a huge impact on my life.
Communities need to be broken down, and the closed rural culture needs new ideas.
This book resonated with me very much. I also started working after graduating from junior high school. I have experienced many of the scenes described in the book. It was really not easy for Vance to come out of such an environment. Just like he said, "All I have is a good job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, and two lovely dogs." This is also my dream. I believe that as long as we work hard, we "country people" can also live the life we want.
It has reference significance for children growing up in rural China
What he writes is very similar to the situation of many of us in China, and it helps us understand the United States. Allow us to clearly look at our current life
If only I could have read this book 10 years ago, it would have had a huge impact on my life.
Communities need to be broken down, and the closed rural culture needs new ideas.