Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2017: Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location. Middletown, Ohio is 99 miles from Columbus. First of all, I am dying to talk to my friends who grew up in rural Appalachia about their take on this book. For me (and, likely, for other urban middle-class readers, especially those who grew up in stable family situations), the memoir portion of this book is a glimpse into a nearby but wholly different world. 
 The 2016 election and its resulting attention on this group of voters -- poor, white, rural -- really catapulted this book to fame. It is strongest in its final 1/3, when Vance, now a Yale-educated lawyer, uses the vantage point of his upward mobility to analyze his childhood community. He does this as a young 30-something, which makes me curious about his take in another 30 years. Also, in liberal circles, it's frowned upon to blame the victim of poverty or addiction. Because he is a member of the community he is criticizing, Vance is able to, perhaps, have more leeway in brutal honesty: he acknowledges the terrible truths, but does call out hillbilly culture for making bad choices and succumbing to "learned helplessness." Is this fair? I'm not sure. I am uncomfortable hearing that people facing crippling odds just need to try harder. The idea of putting one's thumb on the scale to help those who are struggling, via a positive relationship if nothing else, is probably my biggest takeaway. 
 Even if you haven't read the book, I highly recommend this American Conservative interview with the author. Trump is not mentioned in the book, but the interview views the book's ideas through the lens of the election. "What does it mean for our politics? To me, this condescension is a big part of Trump's appeal. He's the one politician who actively fights elite sensibilities, whether they're good or bad. I remember when Hillary Clinton casually talked about putting coal miners out of work, or when Obama years ago discussed working class whites clinging to their guns and religion. Each time someone talks like this, I'm reminded of Mamaw's feeling that hillbillies are the one group you don't have to be ashamed to look down upon. The people back home carry that condescension like a badge of honor, but it also hurts, and they've been looking for someone for a while who will declare war on the condescenders. If nothing else, Trump does that." 
 Thanks to Emily for the loan of this book. :)