"Hillbilly Elegy" by JD Vance

Vance, now a successful venture capitalist, grew up poor in the hills of the Appalachia.

"Hillbilly Elegy" is his account of life during that time — dark moments, times of joy, and Vance's perspective on the culture that pervades life in America's forgotten towns.

"While the book offers insights into some of the complex cultural and family issues behind poverty," Gates writes, "the real magic lies in the story itself and Vance's bravery in telling it."