Hillbilly Elegy: A Tale of Rust Belt Decline and Cultural Crisis

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

By J.D. Vance

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis is a bestselling 2016 memoir by J.D. Vance that explores the Appalachian values of his Kentucky upbringing amidst a backdrop of social, regional, and class decline.

A True Story of Struggle and Resilience

In Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance shares the true story of growing up in a Rust Belt town in Ohio with a family rooted in the hills of eastern Kentucky. As a former marine and Yale Law School graduate now serving as a U.S. senator, Vance offers a unique perspective on the social isolation and economic struggles that plague many rural communities.

A Bestseller and Critical Success

Vance published Hillbilly Elegy in June 2016, and the book quickly became a commercial success, topping the New York Times Bestseller List. It has also received critical acclaim for its honest and poignant portrayal of a family and culture in crisis.