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I recently read Hillbilly Elegy, and one of the key insights I got from there was success seemed to be related to a stable home / family, and in particular a pr

I recently read Hillbilly Elegy, and one of the key insights I got from there was success seemed to be related to a stable home / family, and in particular a presence of mentors and role models. I wouldn't be surprised if part of the success of Asians (South Asians + East Asians) also stems from the fact that divorce is looked down upon and extraordinary efforts are made to prevent it from happening. Divorcees are often social pariahs in these cultures.

JPKab 9y ago
Grew up in Appalachia. I agree with some of the points made by Vance in Hillbilly Elegy. I don't think he has a lot of details right, and he's not from Appalachia himself. However, he's not wrong on cultural dysfunction. I should also point out that Hillbilly Elegy has been embraced by the same political class that rejected the same key points made by Charles Murray here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/books/review/charles-murray-examines-the-white-working-class-in-coming-apart.html?mcubz=3 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/books/review/charles-murra... I should also note that Vance's book could only have succeeded as a critique of working-class white culture. Had a black man written a book like this about cultural dysfunction in his own community, he'd be vilified and marginalized as an "Uncle Tom" blaming the victims.