Recently, there has been many discussions about the book that catapulted J.D. Vance to fame—The Hillbilly Elegy.
In fact, there are several books exploring similar themes, particularly the decline of the American Dream since the 1970s, largely attributed to the offshoring of manufacturing jobs and deindustrialization. These works often focus on the struggles of working-class and middle-class Americans in the Rust Belt.
One good book is The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer (2013), which I highly recommend. It’s a must read for anyone who wants to understand America today. The title of the book The Unwinding implies that before the 1960s, American society was stable and rigid, with everyone seemingly tightly bound together by a coil. However, in the subsequent decades, this coil suddenly loosened and began unwinding, leading to the sense today that things are falling apart.
While Vance offers a personal memoir of his experiences growing up in a poor white family, Packer's book presents the stories of five diverse characters—some fortunate and super successful, others disheartened and unfortunate—woven into a broader and more somber narrative of American life. Both books feature poignant stories reflecting the harsh realities of American society.
Packer uses these personal narratives to illustrate seismic changes, revealing the dramatic transformation of American society from 1978 to 2012. This period saw a shift from economic prosperity and robust institutions to economic decline, social fragmentation, polarization, and political dysfunction—conditions that are prevalent today.
The three subjects—Jeff Connaughton, Dean Price, and Tammy Thomas—once held the deeply ingrained American Dream. But over three decades, all three were left with nothing but the sadness of shattered dreams. Why did this happen? Was it because they were not hardworking enough? Packer does not directly answer these questions. However, he portrays a collective image of several newly successful figures in American society, allowing readers to deduce the answers through the stark contrast.
Packer's book effectively contrasts the nation’s glorious past with its miserable present. Through a blend of investigative journalism and narrative non-fiction, Packer crafts a compelling account that, though rooted in reality, feels almost fictional in its dire gravity. Technically, he often lets his characters do the talking, which makes it more realistic.
The book evokes a profound sense of both sadness and anger, prompting readers wondering how and why.
By placing individual stories within a larger historical context, Packer helps readers understand the forces driving the transformation over four decades, making the changes more comprehensible through the lens of personal experiences.
The Chinese saying: "积重难返" (jī zhòng nán fǎn), meaning: "deeply entrenched problems are hard to change" or "deep-rooted issues are difficult to overcome." It implies that problems that have accumulated over time are challenging to rectify.
The Unwinding is not merely a historical account but a stark mirror reflecting the tumultuous journey of American society. Though I generally maintain an optimistic outlook, the book delivers a jarring reality check, truly challenging any overly hopeful view of the nation’s trajectory.