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Hillbilly Elegy
- A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
- Narrated by: J. D. Vance
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
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Publisher's summary
Winner, 2017 APA Audie Awards - Nonfiction
From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America's white working class.
Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis - that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over 40 years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck.
The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.'s grandparents were "dirt poor and in love" and moved north from Kentucky's Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually their grandchild (the author) would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving generational upward mobility.
But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Vance's grandparents, his aunt, his uncle, his sister, and most of all his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life and were never able to fully escape the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. Vance piercingly shows how he himself still carries around the demons of their chaotic family history.
A deeply moving memoir with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
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Van Halen's rise in the 1980s was one of the most thrilling the music world had ever seen - their mythos an epic party, a sweaty, sexy, never-ending rock extravaganza. During this unparalleled run of success, debauchery, and drama, no one was closer to the band than Noel Monk. Throughout Van Halen's meteoric rise and abrupt halt, this confidant, fixer, friend, and promoter saw it all and lived to tell. Now, for the first time, he shares the most outrageous escapades.
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Van Halen ❤️
- By Diane Rodriguez on 09-01-17
By: Noel Monk, and others
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The Worst Hard Time
- The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
- By: Timothy Egan
- Narrated by: Jacob York
- Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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The dust storms that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, Timothy Egan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black dust blizzards, crop failure, and the death of loved ones. Brilliantly capturing the terrifying drama of catastrophe, he does equal justice to the human characters who become his heroes.
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Excellent history ruined by Egan's bias & cynicism
- By Nathan on 03-21-23
By: Timothy Egan
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Twelve from Hell 2
- The Ultimate True Crime Case Collection
- By: Ryan Green
- Narrated by: Steve White
- Length: 48 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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This Ultimate True Crime Case Collection contains disturbing accounts of some of the most brutal and bizarre true crime stories in history. Told from the killer’s perspective, Green’s riveting narratives draw the listener into the real-live horror experienced by the victims with all the elements of a classic thriller.
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Sometimes less can be a good thing
- By Wendy on 03-12-23
By: Ryan Green
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The Escape Artist
- The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
- By: Jonathan Freedland
- Narrated by: Jonathan Freedland
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba became one of the very first Jews to escape from Auschwitz and make his way to freedom—among only a tiny handful who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. He did it to reveal the truth of the death camp to the world—and to warn the last Jews of Europe what fate awaited them. Against all odds, Vrba and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers, and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen.
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Good
- By Matt on 11-10-22
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Hidden Figures
- The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
- By: Margot Lee Shetterly
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets and astronauts into space. Among these problem solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation.
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Great Story of a History Obscured
- By Cynthia on 09-18-16
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A Little Thing Called Life
- On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between
- By: Linda Thompson
- Narrated by: Linda Thompson
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson breaks her silence, sharing the extraordinary story of her life, career, and epic romances with two of the most celebrated yet enigmatic modern American superstars - Elvis Presley and Bruce Jenner.
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Yuck!
- By Joyce A. Brannon on 09-06-16
By: Linda Thompson
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The Watchmaker's Daughter
- The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom
- By: Larry Loftis
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The Watchmaker’s Daughter is one of the greatest stories of World War II that listeners haven’t heard: the remarkable and inspiring life story of Corrie ten Boom—a groundbreaking, female Dutch watchmaker, whose family unselfishly transformed their house into a hiding place straight out of a spy novel to shelter Jews and refugees from the Nazis during Gestapo raids. Even though the Nazis knew what the ten Booms were up to, they were never able to find those sheltered within the house when they raided it.
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Good effort!
- By Michele on 03-07-23
By: Larry Loftis
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Grateful American
- A Journey from Self to Service
- By: Gary Sinise, Marcus Brotherton
- Narrated by: Gary Sinise
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Theater icon, award-winning film and television star, and American patriot Gary Sinise shares the never-before-told story of his journey from trouble-making Chicago kid to cofounder of the legendary Steppenwolf Theater Company, world-famous actor, and tireless advocate for America’s active duty defenders, veterans, and first responders.
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Very Grateful
- By itseaya on 02-12-19
By: Gary Sinise, and others
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Unspeakable
- Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice
- By: Jessica Willis Fisher
- Narrated by: Jessica Fisher
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Using the written word as her witness statement, Jessica Willis Fisher tells a lacerating story of finding her voice after two decades of silence and an unforgettable story of risk and faith.
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"Don't tell" culture exposed
- By Angela on 11-03-22
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Summary of Hillbilly Elegy
- By: FastReads, J. D. Vance
- Narrated by: Anthony Pica
- Length: 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Hillbilly Elegy is a powerful, riveting memoir that tells us about J.D. Vance’s journey from a young, troubled boy to a graduate of Yale Law School. He grew up in Appalachia - in a small town that was drug-torn and filled with misery. It’s very difficult to discern the discontent and rage coming from the working-class whites in modern America, but this audiobook helps you understand why they behave the way they do. Yes, they may seem like a "bunch of lunatics," but at the end of the day, they are just like us.
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Summary of Hillbilly Elegy
- By alexandra gillis on 09-27-17
By: FastReads, and others
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The Rainbow Comes and Goes
- A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss
- By: Anderson Cooper
- Narrated by: Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Though Anderson Cooper has always considered himself close to his mother, his intensely busy career as a journalist for CNN and CBS affords him little time to spend with her. After she suffers a brief but serious illness at the age of ninety-one, they resolve to change their relationship by beginning a yearlong conversation unlike any they have ever had before. The result is a correspondence of surprising honesty and depth in which they discuss their lives, the things that matter to them, and what they still want to learn about each other.
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Enjoyed the early parts
- By Dedrick on 07-06-16
By: Anderson Cooper
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Animal Dreams
- A Novel
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Animal Dreams is a passionate and complex novel about love, forgiveness, and one woman's struggle to find her place in the world. At the end of her rope, Codi Noline returns to her Arizona home to face her ailing father, with whom she has a difficult, distant relationship. There she meets handsome Apache trainman Loyd Peregrina, who tells her, "If you want sweet dreams, you've got to live a sweet life."
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She reads my heart
- By Sue Spahr Hodges on 08-03-18
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The Impossible First
- By: Colin O'Brady
- Narrated by: Colin O'Brady
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Prior to December 2018, no individual had ever crossed the landmass of Antarctica alone, without support and completely human powered. Yet, Colin O’Brady was determined to do just that, even if, 10 years earlier, there was doubt that he’d ever walk again normally. From the depths of a tragic accident, he fought his way back. In a quest to unlock his potential and discover what was possible, he went on to set three mountaineering world records before turning to this historic Antarctic challenge.
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Impossible Last
- By Mike MacSkivvy on 02-27-20
By: Colin O'Brady
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The Sound of Gravel
- A Memoir
- By: Ruth Wariner
- Narrated by: Ruth Wariner
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Ruth Wariner was the 39th of her father's 42 children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can ascend to heaven only by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible.
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Unputdownable
- By Lesley A. on 01-16-16
By: Ruth Wariner
What listeners say about Hillbilly Elegy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mrs. Hurtt
- 11-30-16
BRAVO, J.D. Vance
As a veteran of the social work profession and a native Ohioan, I've not read anything even remotely closer to the reality of the white working poor in America as what Vance manages to honestly and brutally conveys in Hillbilly Elegy. Respectfully, often reverently the intention is shamelessly pick through his own family's ruins in the context of his own new normal. I found myself shouting "YES, exactly that, YES!" more times that I could count throughout his narrative. The moments that I physically responded by outbursts of hysterical laughter, the "church head nod", and clapping were usually in response to the so-real-I-could -almost-smell-her-in-the-room doctrine of Mamaw. Here's your front row seat in class, America, pun very much intended. Take your time and let this one marinate for the next four years while the Trump administration gets good and comfortable. It's going to take a while to right this ship.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Golanka
- 03-04-17
Memoir with a larger view
This memoir goes beyond a personal or family history; it illuminates social and political issues affecting millions of Americans (ultimately all Americans).
The story J.D. Vance tells is a timely one. It adds an important perspective to the discussion of our society in today's world.
The book is well written and easy to read. (And pretty short.)
As for the narration, it is nice to hear the author read his own story. However, he is not a professional narrator and while J.D.'s voice is fine, it did not enhance the story. I was a bit disappointed that when he quoted someone--himself or others--from his past, J.D. didn't alter his voice to speak with the dialect/accent he grew up with (he mentions this, but never lets us hear what that sounded like).
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Kim Carson
- 02-07-17
Heart warming and heart wrenching
If you know the people or places JD Vance is talking about, this book will have you laughing and crying at the same time. If you don't know these people or places you will by the end. His personal narration makes it even better.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jeff Lacy
- 04-14-17
Wonderful life story close to home
This is a wonderful life story close to home not in its poverty or abuse but in its people. I laughed and cried with Papaw and Mamaw and empathized with J. D.'s account. This is a very entertaining and compelling memoir, one of the best I have read. It deserves all of its accolades.
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- Jonathan
- 09-21-16
Important book about the American we don't hear about often
Vance's life story is critical for anyone interested in the complexity of poverty, class, education, and childhood in America. It's a story rarely told and a community rarely discussed when we talk about the challenges Americans face.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Sharon
- 09-15-17
the first Audible book I will listen to over again
Very gripping story of a poor child in a disadvantaged and dysfunctional home. His upward mobility against all odds is a miracle. The statistics are jaw dropping in all of his research showing the listener the rise and fall of the American working class . A great book.
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- Julie S.
- 09-07-20
Eloquently Written and Read
This is not an anthropological review of "Hillybilly" culture, this is a coming of age story from a wickedly-bright and insightful young man whose open eyes and heart enabled him to thrive in the rest of the world while not turning his back on his family, his childhood, or his people.
Personally, this was a gift because it gave me compassionate insight into the ways in which people who are not like me think, live, and survive.
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- TJM
- 08-23-20
Interesting story
Struggled the first half yet found the second half interesting. Glad I stayed with it.
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- karen moten
- 07-10-17
Painfully familiar
i'm from Kentucky and kept having epiphanies, then looking around to share them with someone.
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- V. Powell
- 07-09-17
Southern woman agrees
As a women who grew up in the south I can relate to the author's experiences. This book should be required reading for our politicians, government employees, and decision makers.
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1 person found this helpful