High School English Teacher Reviews HILLBILLY ELEGY

[@mikesbookreviews]

I remember being interested in the movie when it came out since I, too, grew up in poverty and managed to break the family cycle.

[@iWizard]

I think you'd really like it, esp. since it's a coming-of-age story. Actually, as someone who shifted between lower and lower-middle-class growing up, so much of this book resonated with my daily experiences.

[@Sammyspack]

I just started it and I’m loving it. Your review of it was dead on! Great work!! The brutal honesty of his life and interactions are enlightening and often times funny. And you’re right- INSPIRATIONAL! Easy to read and reminds me of what people have said about Demoncopper head.

[@iWizard]

Thanks for watching. I've been wanting to read Demon Copperhead, especially since David Copperfield is one of my favorite novels. :) Cheers!

[@luizpaulo-qm5dc]

Great! Thanks!

[@iWizard]

Absolutely! :) And thanks for watching!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Great review!! I'm currently reading this. I love your music pairing. Perfect!

[@iWizard]

Thanks very much, Penny! I had a great time with it. :)

[@BrentAlanBeck]

Bourgeois is a paradoxical meaning. The point there is the experienced and the inexperienced. And how too often the inexperienced will hinder the lives of the experienced.

[@iWizard]

I guess I'm referring to bourgeois in the sense of Deirdre McCloskey's book The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce. Here's an article about this: www.cato.org/policy-report/may/june-2006/bourgeois-virtues

[@BrentAlanBeck]

@@iWizard Thank you. I was under the inclination you quoted Vance about Bourgeois though? Bourgeois is largely defined as superficial, unbalanced, narrow minded, enamoured by shiny objects etc, but never seeing the depth of anything because the bourgeois doesn't have to. We're saying the same thing I may boldly emphasize, only using different words in doing so. Thank you again.

[@someokiedude9549]

I've eyed this book for a few years now. It was pretty humorous seeing Vance as Trump's VP, and I instantly thought of this book when I heard the news. My thoughts on Trump aside, this seems like it could be an interesting one. Great review as always Jordan.

[@iWizard]

Thanks for watching, as always! I have a couple of your videos to catch up on. Yes, this book is certainly worth reading. You really can see that Vance has changed his views in the 8 years since he wrote this. Whether this is a result of political ambition and/or cynicism, I can't really say. But I enjoyed this book so much! Recommended for anyone who loves the coming-of-age genre. :)

[@LiamsLyceum]

Most books by politicians really don’t interest me but this seems like it might be worth the time. Maybe I’ll try it out.

[@iWizard]

Yes, well worth the read. And you're right; people tend to change when they become politicians... and not for the better. That said, because this book was published well before Vance became a politician, it doesn't have that same phony, unctuous, oleaginous feel of a politician's memoir. I think you'll enjoy it. :)

[@darrickdean1849]

I watched the film and enjoyed it, but have not read the book. I heard the film follows the book fairly well, but it sounds like the book goes into a lot more depth.

[@iWizard]

I'm the reverse, haha. Haven't yet seen the film. Heard it's quite good. The book's definitely worth the read. He goes into depth about certain socio-economic issues and problems that a film really can't examine in the same ways.

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Absolutely!! Oliver Anthony is a perfect pick ....for Demon Copperhead as well. Also, Tyler Childers is another artist I would suggest for books with similar settings and scenes.

[@iWizard]

Yeah, it was the first thing that popped into my head. I've never actually listened to Tyler Childers. Where should I start?

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

@@iWizard Nose to the Grindstone and Shake the Frost.....both are damn good songs. Also, Deadmans Curve.......also Charleston Girl. Lol. He's really good.

[@BrentAlanBeck]

While I've got your immediate and direct attention here, I love Hardy's, Mayor Of Casterbridge. How would a version of Hardy's be written as opposed to a Keynesian version? Thank you!

[@iWizard]

A version of Hardy's what? Also, by Keynesian, are you referring to Keynes the economist?

[@BrentAlanBeck]

4:43 "And the reason I say the Keynesian story and not Thomas Hardy or something like that..." - iWizard KZbin Channel What do you want to hear if you don't remember your very own words you speak above? I wouldn't know how to properly respond only improperly.

[@iWizard]

@@BrentAlanBeck Ah, I was saying "Dickensian," not Keynesian. By Dickensian, I mean the Victorian novelist Charles Dickens.

[@iWizard]

Anyhow, thanks for your thoughts. The only Hardy I've ever read is Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd. I'll have to check out Mayor of Casterbridge.

[@BrentAlanBeck]

​@@iWizard I don't think you need the "i" in your "slang?" "Dickinsan" is more aptly applied. Okay now that, that is cleared up here, you say the book is written in moreso a Charles Dickens style rather than a Thomas Hardy style. For my educational advancement, if the book was written of your experience & bibliography of reading Thomas Hardy, how then, would the above book BE DIFFERENT. If the book was instead written in a Hardy style not a Dickens style? Doing the best I can here.

[@iSamwise]

Literally had a JD Vance ad before this video. 😂😂😂

[@iWizard]

haha, they got you! :) Thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Watching from England. Lots of changes going on over the last forty years for sure. Seems that the Democrats in the US and Labour in England have moved their support base from working class people to University graduates and recent arrivals. Good luck to our great countries and best wishes.

[@iWizard]

I agree with this. Best wishes from the states! Thanks for watching!

[@BrentAlanBeck]

What "film?"

[@iWizard]

They made Hillbilly Elegy into a movie in 2020. I hear it's quite good.