The book Hillbilly Elegy is a memoir by JD Vance. He shares his memories of his time growing up and how he beat the odds and became an accomplished scholar. It begins with his early beginnings and talks about the hillbilly culture he grew up with. He then talks about his time in college and how the values ​​he learned from this culture, such as honor and loyalty, brought him to where he is now. The main point of the novel is that we want to “understand what happens in the lives of the poor and the psychological impact that spiritual and material poverty has on their children”. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. He starts by talking about his parents and grandparents. He explains where they come from and that there is a history of poverty to his culture. Explain how almost no one ever gets a college education in hillbilly culture. He also explains the importance of storytelling in his storytelling and that the values ​​of honor and loyalty come from these stories. These are the two main things that JD carries with him throughout his life that have stuck with him. The next part talks about his early upbringing and the domestic violence he witnessed between his mom and dad. His dad was an alcoholic which led to many horrific stories, including one where his mom tried to set him on fire. This is where JD begins to get into the main point of his memoir about how children with difficult upbringings are more likely to carry it into their lives in the future. Despite having such a harsh upbringing, JD managed to overcome all of this and become a successful scholar. JD's mother always said that education is the key and the way out of this life of poverty. This is another lesson JD learned and carried with him well into his college career. After his mother remarried, they moved after a period of time and this is where his parents started fighting. This led to a downward spiral for his entire family. Her mother attempted suicide after her husband discovered she was having an affair and shortly after her father's death. His mother fell into drug addiction and erratic behavior and he eventually moved in with his mom. JD eventually graduated from high school and was accepted to Ohio State University, but instead chose to join the Marines. After he was sent to Iraq, his mother died. When he returned from the Marines, he attended Ohio State University and excelled in college. He graduated in less than 2 years and worked long hours while doing so. He decided to attend law school and was accepted to Yale University. While attending Yale, there was a large social gap between him and the elite class there. Though there was a big gap, he met a girl named Usha who helped him along the way. Finally, after graduation, he married Usha. Through this experience, he learned many valuable skills and how to navigate different social classes. But there was always something dragging him back after making so much progress. There was always something that found a way to bring him back to his old life. JD now spends his time trying to be a symbol and mentor to those who come from a similar upbringing to his. Although it is a memoir, it also goes deeper and explains the problems of the working class of the East as a whole. These statements sometimes seem too broad and controversial. This may be intentional because he is an inspiring member of the Republican Party. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get an essay.