Zusammenfassung zum Buch "A LONG WAY DOWN" mit zusätzlicher Analyse verschiedener Passagen im Buch.
James David Vance's maternal family comes from Breathitt County and moved to Middletown in the Rust Belt, where Vance grew up in a working-class family that lost its foothold through economic change, unemployment, divorce and drug use. Thanks to a firm will of his grandmother, Vance was able to graduate from school and leave town. At the age of 18, he did military service with the Marines. He studied at Ohio State University and graduated as a Juris Doctor at Yale Law School in 2013.
Vance works as a financial manager in an investment firm in San Francisco that belongs to a group of companies founded by Peter Thiel. In 2016, Vance published the following autobiographical book on his family's history and its social and economic problems.
Table of Contents
- Themes
- Hillbillies
- Politics and Economy
- Education
- Review
- Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
- A Troubled Home Life
- Saved by His Grandparents
- Achieving Upward Mobility
- Key Themes
- Aversion to Work
- Blame-Shifting
- Culture of Honor
- Poor Education
- Pessimism
- Economic Mobility, Social Stagnation
- Social Capital
- Full Summary
- Introduction
- Social Decay
Objectives and Key Themes
The book examines the social and economic struggles of the Appalachian white working class in 21st-century America. It explores the cultural, psychological, and societal factors that contribute to the community's challenges. The author, JD Vance, provides a personal account of his own experiences, highlighting the impact of dysfunction, poverty, and a lack of opportunity on his family and community.
- The cultural and social values of Appalachia and their impact on individuals' lives.
- The challenges of escaping poverty and achieving upward mobility within a dysfunctional community.
- The role of education, personal responsibility, and social capital in achieving success.
- The impact of drug addiction, violence, and lack of work ethic on the community's well-being.
- The social and political forces that contribute to the decline of the Appalachian white working class.
Chapter Summaries
- Themes: This section introduces the book's central themes, including the definition of "hillbillies," the relationship between politics and the economy, and the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty. It provides a glimpse into the author's personal experiences and his perspective on the Appalachian white working class.
- Review: This section presents a concise overview of the book's key takeaways, emphasizing the author's personal journey from poverty to success, his observations about his family and community, and the cultural factors that contribute to the community's struggles. It also highlights the book's significance in understanding the experiences of the white working class in America.
- Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis: This chapter introduces the author's family history and childhood experiences, focusing on the challenges faced by his mother, Bev, who struggles with drug addiction and unstable relationships. The chapter highlights the impact of his dysfunctional home life on his own development and the importance of his grandparents' support.
- A Troubled Home Life: This chapter delves into the author's experiences growing up with a mother struggling with substance abuse. It highlights the emotional trauma he endured as a child, including his mother's threats of violence and her constant cycle of relationships.
- Saved by His Grandparents: This chapter describes the crucial role of the author's grandparents in his life. Their love, support, and guidance helped him escape the negative influences of his family and community. They instilled in him the importance of education and the belief that he could achieve success.
- Achieving Upward Mobility: This chapter narrates the author's journey to achieve upward mobility. It describes his experiences in the Marines, where he gained discipline and self-confidence. It also highlights his successful academic career at Ohio State University and Yale Law School.
- Key Themes: This section delves into the book's central themes, providing insights into the cultural pathologies of the Appalachian white working class. It examines the aversion to work, blame-shifting, the culture of honor, poor education, pervasive pessimism, economic mobility versus social stagnation, and the lack of social capital. These themes provide a deeper understanding of the community's challenges and its limitations.
- Full Summary: This section provides a comprehensive overview of the book's key arguments. It introduces the rural, white working-class in America as a complex and under-studied group. It explores the cultural factors that have led to their decline and the need for social change to address their challenges.
Keywords
This book examines the complex realities of the Appalachian white working class, focusing on themes such as poverty, dysfunction, cultural values, upward mobility, education, social capital, and the impact of political and economic forces on the community's well-being. The author's personal story, his insightful observations, and his analysis of the cultural and societal factors that contribute to the community's struggles make this a compelling read for understanding the social and economic challenges faced by this segment of the American population.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2019, Hillbilly Elegy. A memoir of a family and culture in crisis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/590740
