Blaming others for its woes won't solve US problems

Former US president Donald Trump won the presidential election partly due to the support of millennials and voters in the Rust Belt spurred by Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, a promising US political star.

So, what drives Vance? His best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, offers insights. The autobiographical book captures Vance's journey from a small town in the Rust Belt to Yale Law School. Marked by four main themes, Hillbilly Elegy provides a window into Vance's beliefs and values, and sheds light on the stories behind the 2024 US presidential election.

The book Hillbilly Elegy puts emphasis on character. Vance admires the integrity of his community — their kind acts including helping strangers dig cars out of snow and greeting everyone with warmth, their respect for traditions such as paying respect to funeral processions, their deep connection to the roots — as seen in him feeling uncomfortable in revealing his prestigious school background even as a student — and their sense of gratitude, like Vance's appreciation for his mentor, Amy Chua, who advised him to apply for an editor's position in pursuit of a feeder judge's post and to give priority to his relationship with his girlfriend over a distant job opportunity. He says these were the best pieces of advice he received in his life.