JD Vance Proves That Anybody Can Make It in America; Hillbilly Elegy; A Review

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 Currently, JD Vance is the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican party in the United States. However, this piece will not discuss his political views, at least not in depth. What it will do is discuss Senator Vance’s 2016 book, Hillbilly Elegy. It will highlight his upbringing and the influence of a sound support system on a person. By the end of this review, if you agree with JD’s political leanings, hopefully, you will see things the way I do. I believe that America is indeed the land of opportunity.

JD Vance is only two years older than me. He was born on August 2nd, 1984 in Middletown, Ohio. He grew up extremely poor but learned that family was essential early on. Throughout the book, he highlights misadventures in his youth. One of my favorite stories from the early portion of the book occurred when his Memaw and Pepaw ransacked a store because a clerk was rude to JD. It was funny because I listened to it on audio, but back in the 80s, I could see my dad or mom doing the same thing. Maybe not to that extent, but my mom and dad don’t put up with people disrespecting family.

Although Mr. Vance tells a story and can look back on it and laugh, he uses it to highlight a crucial factor about his upbringing. I’m paraphrasing, but he said that “hill people protect their own.” His grandparents raised him. His upbringing might have been strict, but it made him a muscular adult. There is much more to the story, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who still wants to read the book or watch the Netflix movie version.

Although I may not have grown up dirt-poor, my parents also instilled in me the values of honesty and hard work. Like Mr. Vance, I was not expected to do much for a different reason. As a kid, society's low expectations for me were due to something beyond my control. JD did not choose the family he was born into, just like I did not choose to have a physical disability. What we both did, however, was make the best of our circumstances. I went from a three-month T-Rex/human to a powerful disability advocate who believes in the saying, “You get what you give.” I’m not saying that my life has been any harder or easier than anyone else’s; I am saying that everyone has problems and struggles. You can either let them beat you, or you can take control of your life just like Senator Vance and I, and who knows what you will accomplish.

In conclusion, I give this book ten apple bites out of ten. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read an uplifting story and understand what the American spirit can do. As a final note, remember that this book was written before JD Vance got into politics; therefore, it is a good read for everyone.

Until next time, when we review The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, happy reading.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Bookworm,

Jay

 

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