by J. D. Vance
First published 2016
J.D. Vance, a former Marine, vividly recounts his turbulent coming-of-age in the Rust Belt. Born into a family plagued by addiction and dysfunction, he narrowly escapes the cycle of poverty, abuse, and trauma that defined his childhood. Hillbilly Elegy is a poignant, unflinching memoir that offers a rare window into the struggles of America's white working class.
Genres: family-life, autobiography, social-issues, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Appalachian Region, Kentucky, United States
272 pages · Hardcover · William Collins
Content warnings: abuse, addiction