Surge in Interest for Sen. JD Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy" Following Vice Presidential Nomination

WASHINGTON — The appointment of Senator JD Vance as former President Donald Trump's vice-presidential running mate has significantly increased interest in Vance's 2016 memoir, *Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis*. The announcement has led to a notable rise in both the sales and visibility of the book, underscoring its renewed prominence in the political sphere.

Immediately following the announcement on Monday night, Hillbilly Elegy saw a dramatic ascent to the top position on Amazon.com’s bestseller list, a stark contrast to its prior ranking of No. 220. By Tuesday, coinciding with Amazon Prime Day, the book not only maintained its high position but also became the subject of intensified scrutiny and polarized reviews. This surge in interest has prompted a wave of new critiques and discussions about the memoir's themes and implications.

Simultaneously, the 2020 film adaptation of *Hillbilly Elegy*, directed by Ron Howard and starring Amy Adams as Vance’s mother and Glenn Close as his grandmother, experienced a resurgence in popularity. The film climbed to No. 6 on Netflix’s Top 10 movies nationwide list. This renewed visibility further highlights the impact of Vance’s vice-presidential nomination on public engagement with both the book and its cinematic counterpart.

Representatives from Amazon and Netflix have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the spike in interest and the associated increase in sales and viewership.

Hillbilly Elegy provides a detailed account of Vance’s challenging upbringing in Appalachia, characterized by his family's struggles with poverty and addiction, and traces his path through the Marines and Yale Law School. Published by HarperCollins, the memoir initially received a range of reviews. The American Conservative praised it as “the most important book of 2016,” commending it for its insightful examination of the white working class's difficulties and resilience.

Conversely, the book faced criticism from some residents of Appalachia who felt that Vance’s portrayal of the region and its inhabitants was flawed. Kentucky author Silas House, in an interview with public radio station WUKY, accused Vance of displaying “contempt for both groups” and argued that the memoir did not accurately represent the Appalachian experience.

The renewed discussion of *Hillbilly Elegy* comes in the wake of Vance’s nomination as Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, which has heightened public interest in his previous work. Trump, who had previously endorsed Vance in the 2022 Senate race, cited the memoir’s depiction of hardworking Americans and Ohio's “American Workers” as pivotal factors in his selection.

Following the announcement, numerous new reviews of *Hillbilly Elegy* have surfaced, with some readers acknowledging Vance’s vice-presidential candidacy as a key reason for their renewed engagement with the book. Additionally, Goodreads, the book cataloguing platform owned by Amazon, temporarily restricted ratings for the memoir due to “unusual behavior” on its page. In response to inquiries, Goodreads referred NBC News to a policy introduced in October designed to “protect the authenticity of ratings and reviews on Goodreads.”

The surge in interest in Vance’s memoir and the subsequent discussions reflect the broader influence of political developments on cultural works and illustrate how public figures’ past endeavors can gain new significance in the context of their current roles.