Hillbilly Elegy
J.D. Vance · first published 2016 · ISBN 9780062300546
Vance grew up in a working-class Ohio town shaped by Appalachian family patterns. He traces his path through the Marines and Yale Law School, exploring how his family's struggles with poverty, addiction, and instability both held him back and motivated his escape through education.
On our lists
The Best Books for First-Generation College Students
Vance examines the class dynamics and family expectations that first-gen students carry into college. He doesn't pretend the transition is smooth, but shows how persistence and finding mentors can reshape your trajectory.