Episode
Hillbilly Elegy
48:01
Published: Thu Mar 23 2023
Description
In 2016, J.D. Vance informally launched his political career with "Hillbilly Elegy," a memoir that blames the relative poverty of Appalachian and Rust Belt populations on their own culture. Despite its reactionary premise, mainstream and liberal press outlets were so enamored by the book that they accidentally made Vance a senator.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPodWhere to find us: TwitterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources:Appalachian Reckoning America’s Divided Recovery What Did Hillbilly Elegy Get Wrong? J.D. Vance, the False Prophet of Blue America Hillbilly ElitismWelfare Queens and White Trash Consumer Expenditures in 2016 Household Expenditures and Income CFPB Data Point: Payday Lending Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Chapters
In this episode, the hosts discuss the pernicious nature of JD Vance's memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which became a sensation among mainstream liberals in 2016 amidst the ascendance of Trump.
00:00 - 01:28 (01:28)
Summary
In this episode, the hosts discuss the pernicious nature of JD Vance's memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which became a sensation among mainstream liberals in 2016 amidst the ascendance of Trump. They explore the narrative surrounding Trump's victory and the way it portrayed the white working class.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The tendency of centrist liberals to be perceived as over-analytical people who seem to hunt down anything sympathetic to offer a criticism of their own people for the greater good is discussed, as well as the way that conservatives elevate black conservatives who criticize the left's stance on race issues.
01:28 - 06:07 (04:38)
Summary
The tendency of centrist liberals to be perceived as over-analytical people who seem to hunt down anything sympathetic to offer a criticism of their own people for the greater good is discussed, as well as the way that conservatives elevate black conservatives who criticize the left's stance on race issues.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker criticizes the way books often portray entrants to elite institutions as something that just happens to them and the contrast between their background and their current status.
06:07 - 11:04 (04:57)
Summary
The speaker criticizes the way books often portray entrants to elite institutions as something that just happens to them and the contrast between their background and their current status.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
This podcast episode discusses how the recession affected the job market, leading to people with bachelor's degrees taking entry-level jobs and making it harder for those without degrees to find employment.
11:04 - 15:28 (04:24)
Summary
This podcast episode discusses how the recession affected the job market, leading to people with bachelor's degrees taking entry-level jobs and making it harder for those without degrees to find employment. However, data shows that the primary reason for the discrepancy in hours worked is the lack of available jobs for those without degrees.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker highlights the practice of stereotyping certain societal groups, particularly those who receive government benefits, and suggests that policy-making based on these stereotypes should start at the top and work down to remove cultural malignancy.
15:28 - 18:25 (02:56)
Summary
The speaker highlights the practice of stereotyping certain societal groups, particularly those who receive government benefits, and suggests that policy-making based on these stereotypes should start at the top and work down to remove cultural malignancy.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker highlights the irony of using white poverty as a defense against claims of discrimination when police brutality accusations are made, and compares it to a poor region in a foreign country losing jobs due to mine closures.
18:25 - 23:08 (04:42)
Summary
The speaker highlights the irony of using white poverty as a defense against claims of discrimination when police brutality accusations are made, and compares it to a poor region in a foreign country losing jobs due to mine closures.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The idea that TV ownership is a sign of poverty is a misconception as television sets have become significantly cheaper in the recent past.
23:08 - 27:45 (04:37)
Summary
The idea that TV ownership is a sign of poverty is a misconception as television sets have become significantly cheaper in the recent past. The assumption that poor people should lead frugal lives while the wealthy are allowed to indulge in luxuries is unfair and harmful.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The negative reviews for "Hillbilly Elegy" are being criticized for denying the role that race played in peoples' perceptions of Barack Obama's presidency, while emphasizing that the critics were predominantly well-off journalists who overlooked this factor.
27:45 - 36:23 (08:37)
Summary
The negative reviews for "Hillbilly Elegy" are being criticized for denying the role that race played in peoples' perceptions of Barack Obama's presidency, while emphasizing that the critics were predominantly well-off journalists who overlooked this factor. The speaker also gave an example of how regulating cigarettes takes away an individual's autonomy.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
While the book Hillbilly Elegy blames rural whites for Trump's election, some will use their superficial acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community to distract from their far-right and racist beliefs.
36:23 - 42:57 (06:34)
Summary
While the book Hillbilly Elegy blames rural whites for Trump's election, some will use their superficial acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community to distract from their far-right and racist beliefs. Being accepting of one marginalized group does not excuse or invalidate other discriminatory beliefs and actions.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The conversation revolves around the stark divide between political leanings and how cultural resentments are built into that divide.
42:57 - 46:23 (03:26)
Summary
The conversation revolves around the stark divide between political leanings and how cultural resentments are built into that divide. The focus is primarily on economic issues, but these other factors invariably impact political outlooks.
EpisodeHillbilly Elegy
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The liberal establishment keeps stepping on the same rake of accepting influential far-right grifters who sound self-reflective to their political set, but JD Vance was always a reactionary.
46:23 - 47:37 (01:14)
Summary
The liberal establishment keeps stepping on the same rake of accepting influential far-right grifters who sound self-reflective to their political set, but JD Vance was always a reactionary. He is now moving with the winds of Republican politics and the liberal media needs to stop letting themselves off the hook by using his personal transformation as an explanation.