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J.D. Vance on his new book Hillbilly Elegy

Hoover Institution

704.4K Views . 2016-11-11

Recorded on October 27, 2016 J.D. Vance chronicles his life and the history and issues of hillbillies in America. Vance, a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, writes about growing up in a poor Rust Belt town and how his family never fully escapes the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma in their lives. Vance paints a broad, passionate, and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. Interested in more of Uncommon Knowledge content? Check out Uncommon Knowledge on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UncKnowledge/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncknowledge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_knowledge_show/ Website: http://www.hoover.org/publications/uncommon-knowledge

JD Vance, author of 'Hillbilly Elegy', discusses his family's chaotic upbringing in Appalachia, highlighting his grandmother's strong personality and her near-fatal attempt to burn his drunken grandfather with gasoline.

Hillbilly Elegy
Appalachia
Family
Scot-Irish

  • JD Vance, author of 'Hillbilly Elegy,' grew up in a dysfunctional environment in Appalachia and the Rust Belt.
  • Vance's grandmother, Mamaw, was a strong and determined woman who played a significant role in his life, even saving his father from a potential fire.

Insights from the YouTube Video Transcript:

1. A Family's "Extraordinary" Chaos: The Story of Mamaw and Papaw

This excerpt vividly paints a picture of JD Vance's family and the environment he grew up in. The anecdote about Mamaw pouring gasoline on Papaw after he came home drunk, although jarring, highlights the chaotic and unpredictable nature of their lives. It also showcases Mamaw's fierce personality and her "extraordinary" way of enforcing her rules. The story underscores the theme of resilience and the unconventional nature of his family, foreshadowing the complex and often challenging environment he depicts in his memoir.

**2. Beyond the "Hillbilly" Stereotype: Identifying

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