I read it several years ago and found it disappointing in substance and style. What seems to be lost on everyone is that J.D. Vance wasn't raised in Appalachia. He was raised in Middletown, Ohio, which lies between Cincinnati and Dayton. As a Rust Belt City, it certainly has seen better days, but to equate it with rural Appalachia is wrong. Additionally, I have friends who were raised in Appalachia and their insights to this region as well as other, better books have been more educational and enriching.
Michael - Thanks for the shout-out. I wondered who I gave that book to. After the VP announcement, Doug said he wanted to read the book. We'll get another copy. Please pass it forward to someone near to you now. Best wishes to you. I enjoy reading your posts. BTW, T is getting married!
Thank you greatly for giving this book a fair and just read. I come from a then unvisible small town in Ohio. Everyone can learn from this book, which I bought some time ago, even if we are totally opposed (as I am) to Trump and the current Vance.
It's like the importance of reading Soul on Ice
by Eldridge Cleaver or the writings of Malcolm X. Read them to learn! You don't have to follow them into revolution.
One of the (unfortunate, in my mind) recurring themes in what I refer to as, "the Oppression Olympics" is how white culture--or white supremacy culture--overvalues personal responsibility. I find that argument specious and frankly, reeking of bovine feces. The best course of action, in almost any situation, is to use logic I initially heard from Glenn Loury. "No one is coming to save us." If the calvary arrives, great! If they don't, well, I was already making my way the best I could. Win-win.
The other criticism that stuck out to me was the mention that Vance's book--which I have NOT read, yet--painted too stark and negative a picture of, wait for it, hillbilly life! I am used to this lament when it comes to Black folks. To hear it about white people is humorous. For both cases, my feeling is the same, however. Who cares? If ALL the folks in the armpit of Appalachia aren't married to their cousins or sporting only a couple teeth, what difference does it make? Vance's book is a personal journey, not a scientific study.
All that said, I truly appreciate your sharing of it, and your reflections on it, DMS!
The sole reason I don't want to read it is because JD Vance profits from it.
Yup. As I mentioned in the article, a friend passed along a copy to me. So I get it.
I read it several years ago and found it disappointing in substance and style. What seems to be lost on everyone is that J.D. Vance wasn't raised in Appalachia. He was raised in Middletown, Ohio, which lies between Cincinnati and Dayton. As a Rust Belt City, it certainly has seen better days, but to equate it with rural Appalachia is wrong. Additionally, I have friends who were raised in Appalachia and their insights to this region as well as other, better books have been more educational and enriching.
Thanks for filling us in on the backstory of this, Mary. I supposed it’s a cautionary tale for any biographical book.
Michael - Thanks for the shout-out. I wondered who I gave that book to. After the VP announcement, Doug said he wanted to read the book. We'll get another copy. Please pass it forward to someone near to you now. Best wishes to you. I enjoy reading your posts. BTW, T is getting married!
Thank you Christine. Much love to you and Doug.
Thank you greatly for giving this book a fair and just read. I come from a then unvisible small town in Ohio. Everyone can learn from this book, which I bought some time ago, even if we are totally opposed (as I am) to Trump and the current Vance.
It's like the importance of reading Soul on Ice
by Eldridge Cleaver or the writings of Malcolm X. Read them to learn! You don't have to follow them into revolution.
That’s exactly the cord I was trying to strike. Curious as to what is the actual town is that you’re from.
Eastlake
was hardscrabble rural
right on Lake Erie
me and my buddies are rednecks
who call ourselves Lake kids
lived in both sides of Cleveland
I'm a green eyed sister
It is important to read books that differ from our views.
One of the (unfortunate, in my mind) recurring themes in what I refer to as, "the Oppression Olympics" is how white culture--or white supremacy culture--overvalues personal responsibility. I find that argument specious and frankly, reeking of bovine feces. The best course of action, in almost any situation, is to use logic I initially heard from Glenn Loury. "No one is coming to save us." If the calvary arrives, great! If they don't, well, I was already making my way the best I could. Win-win.
The other criticism that stuck out to me was the mention that Vance's book--which I have NOT read, yet--painted too stark and negative a picture of, wait for it, hillbilly life! I am used to this lament when it comes to Black folks. To hear it about white people is humorous. For both cases, my feeling is the same, however. Who cares? If ALL the folks in the armpit of Appalachia aren't married to their cousins or sporting only a couple teeth, what difference does it make? Vance's book is a personal journey, not a scientific study.
All that said, I truly appreciate your sharing of it, and your reflections on it, DMS!