JD Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Ironically Reaches #1 On New York Times’ Best Sellers List

Following the announcement of JD Vance (R-OH) as former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, Vance’s 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” has ascended to the top of the New York Times Bestseller’s list for non-fiction.

The book, which delves into Vance’s tough childhood in the small town of Middletown, Ohio, has sold over 750,000 copies since the announcement on July 15. To keep up with the surging demand, his publisher, Harper, a HarperCollins imprint, is printing hundreds of thousands of additional copies. The surge in popularity of Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy” has been nothing short of remarkable. By July 20 alone, the memoir sold an impressive 200,000 copies in paperback, rocketing to the number one spot as the best-selling print book across all genres, according to Circana Bookscan.

This marked a dramatic increase from the previous week’s sales, which totaled just 1,500 copies according to The New York Times. Sales for the e-book and the audiobook, narrated by Vance himself, also experienced significant boosts. Since its release, the memoir has sold around three million copies and was even adapted into a movie by acclaimed director Ron Howard.

The book, a memoir by Vance, offers a profound exploration of the American white working-class through the lens of his own family history, centered in the Appalachian region. Vance delves into the struggles and resilience of people living in these often overlooked communities, discussing themes of poverty, addiction, and the American dream. Vance paints a vivid picture of his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and Jackson, Kentucky, depicting the impact of social, economic, and cultural forces on his family and neighbors.

His narrative is both personal and reflective, as he connects his family’s experiences with broader social issues, making the case that many people in these regions feel abandoned by the American political and economic systems. This feeling of disenfranchisement, Vance argues, has led to a cycle of poverty and despair that is difficult to break. Despite the hardships, the memoir is also a story of personal triumph—Vance’s journey from a troubled childhood to a Yale Law School graduate highlights the potential for overcoming adversity.

On the first day of the Republican National Convention, Trump unveiled his choice of Vance as his vice-presidential candidate. The announcement, posted on Trump’s preferred social media platform, Truth Social, ignited the renewed interest in Vance’s work propelling “Hillbilly Elegy” to the top spot on Amazon’s bestseller list at the time. Ohio’s first-term senator was a surprise pick among some Republicans who favored Governor Doug Bergum (R-N.D.) or Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

The selection of Vance, a Marine veteran and a first-time entrant on a presidential ticket, was a move within the Republican Party aiming to attract voters from the Rust Belt states—a region that resonates well with the themes of Vance’s memoir. Following Trump’s announcement on July 15, Vance formally accepted the nomination on July 17, during the convention. His acceptance speech, infused with references to his personal journey as detailed in his book, struck a chord with many attendees.

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