Ep. 587: "High-Hatting"

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

In this novel, Milo, a bored and apathetic boy, finds a mysterious tollbooth in his room. He drives through it in his toy car and enters the Kingdom of Wisdom, where he embarks on a journey filled with curious characters and peculiar places. Along the way, Milo learns valuable lessons about the importance of thinking, learning, and appreciating the world around him. His adventures ultimately transform him from an unthinking and compliant boy to a young adult with greater consciousness and a firmer sense of self.