Hillbilly Elegy and the Primacy of Personal Responsibility

That way of life in America has changed, but for the hillbillies, the change has ranged from disappointing to catastrophic. As J.D. says, again and again, he was exceedingly lucky to escape the enveloping Hillbilly tragedy and experience the American dream. He urges upon us the lessons of sociology, psychology, morality, and government policy that might make such salvation more common.