Summary of Educated a Memoir by Tara Westover

by Dennis Braun

Educated (2018) is the memoir of Tara Westover, who grew up in a Mormon family in rural Idaho, and, despite never attending school, was able to earn a PhD from the University of Cambridge. However, she had to pay a high price to achieve her academic dreams. Indeed, she lost her family in the process.

46 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2018

Reviews

[Margaret McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the most depressing book I have ever read. Just when the reader thinks the daily dysfunction of mental and physical abuse is leveling off and a somewhat normal story is about to unfold, we are hit with another violent or extremely disturbing memory by the author. It was hard to believe that human beings would choose to exist in this environment once they were old enough to escape it. The parents should both have been in jail or a psychiatric unit - for the father’s cruelty and for the mother’s never-ending enabling of his behavior. In her complicity, the mother was as bad as the author’s father and it was hard to determine which one I found more repulsive.

What I found more annoying though were the violent incidents recounted by the author once she reached the age of being able to leave home. Her re-telling of countless acts of abuse by her brother made me see her not as a victim but rather someone unable to learn from past mistakes. I think this memoir shows women at their worst even though the author portrays herself as an underdog attempting to break away from her family and her father’s grip.

I became weary reading the blow-by-blow unprovoked violent incidents with her brother that proved to be ongoing. She knowingly put herself in some of these situations and then seemed to want the reader’s sympathy as she described the abuse in detail. None of these incidents were prefaced with the wisdom of someone looking back. It was as if the author wanted each to unfold in their maximum gruesomeness for their ultimate shock value. I found the intentional sensationalism exhausting.

Although this memoir is beautifully written, the author has used her writing skills to pull us into her dysfunctional upbringing one train-wreck at a time so that it no longer becomes just a memoir. Instead it’s more like an over-the-top horror movie in which the viewer yells at the screen to warn the victim of what’s to come.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westover's memoir made me revisit the chasm that opened between me and my family years ago and be grateful, as is she, that there is life on the other side. I was in awe at the author's ability to self-educate and smiled to recognize the warm hand of education that has become a constant companion that continues to draw me to read and travel far beyond the limitations of my childhood environment. The violence and paranoia was hard to understand ... the ignorance was familiar. Inspiring.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

How one family member pulled herself away from such controlling parents that were to say the least the strangest of strange. How family accolades means everything even if you know how messed up they are.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, but after finishing it, I didn’t feel like the story was done. I hope she writes more about her life as an adult.

[Ken Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. An inspiration memoir

[Rikardo Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

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“Educated” by Tara Westover is a compelling and powerful memoir that chronicles the author’s journey from a secluded and abusive upbringing in rural Idaho to her pursuit of education and self-discovery. Westover’s memoir offers a profound exploration of the transformative power of education, the complexities of family dynamics, and the resilience of the human spirit.
The story begins with Westover’s childhood in a strict and isolating household, where she is raised by survivalist parents who distrust the government and formal education. Denied access to traditional schooling and medical care, Westover and her siblings face physical and emotional challenges as they navigate a harsh and often dangerous environment.

Driven by her own curiosity and a desire for knowledge, Westover finds the courage to leave her family behind and pursue education. She embarks on a remarkable journey, teaching herself the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics before eventually gaining admission to Brigham Young University. Her educational pursuits open doors to new perspectives and opportunities, but also bring her into conflict with her family’s beliefs and traditions.

Through vivid and introspective storytelling, Westover reflects on the complexities of her relationships with her family members and the struggles she faces as she confronts the stark divide between her past and her present. She grapples with questions of loyalty, identity, and the meaning of family, all while striving to reconcile her newfound knowledge and experiences with the world she left behind.

“Educated” is a testament to the transformative power of education and the human capacity for personal growth. It delves into themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of truth. Westover’s memoir highlights the importance of questioning societal norms and challenging deeply ingrained beliefs in order to forge one’s own path.

The book is emotionally charged, painting a vivid picture of Westover’s personal journey and the complexities of her upbringing. Westover’s prose is introspective and evocative, allowing readers to empathize with her struggles and triumphs as she breaks free from the constraints of her past.

In summary, “Educated” is a remarkable memoir that explores the transformative power of education and the strength of the human spirit. Tara Westover’s compelling narrative offers a poignant reflection on the complexities of family, the pursuit of knowledge, and the quest for personal identity. Through her courageous journey, she inspires readers to question their own beliefs, embrace the possibilities of education, and strive for personal growth and understanding.

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[Neil Pasricha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The energy that shot out of the pages kept me gripped late into the night for weeks. The book took me far, far away before slingshotting me back to a here and now that felt strange and familiar. We open in the 90s on the side of an Idaho mountain where “cliffs appeared suddenly [and] feral horses, belonging to my grandpa, ran wild over thick banks of water hemlock, and there were more than a few rattlesnakes.” Tara tells her tale in endless tight, gripping stories from her vantage point as the youngest of seven in a large family with an extremist father who works at “scrapping” and doesn’t trust the government or doctors or schools. (“I may as well surrender my kids to the devil himself as send them down the road to that school.”) No one goes to school. They wander, work, get hit in the head by metal tossed at them by their dad, fall off skids high in the air on unstable forklifts their dad is steering and crack their heads on concrete, get into car accidents in the middle of nights in their car full of kids lying everywhere with no seatbelts, and drive with their mom to high-risk pregnancies helping deliver babies for people who would rather die than go to a hospital. This book isn’t as good as everyone says—it’s better. Slap to the face, splash to the face. And it’s two books, really. The first half you’re living a wild, thrilling, confusing, loving, frenzied upbringing of self-discovery and the second you’re with Tara as she goes to BYU then Cambridge then Harvard then Cambridge again. Together they make a sour-sweet-sour read that is a wondrous eyes-open summary of the supremely talented Tara Westover’s first 34 years. A take-your-breath-away book.

[Evelyn Widham]

You loved The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, or Wild, by Cheryl Strayed? Here comes a powerful and unforgettable Educated.
If you need a read for a memoir that is inspirational and has tremendous heart, pick up* Educated by Tara Westover.* This book was an emotional rollercoaster to read, not only to learn about the incredible resilience of Tara but also for this brutally honest story. Her fight for freedom from her chains is incredible; of sheer will, she educated herself to the point where she was admitted into institutions like Cambridge and Harvard.
It wasn’t so much her academic success that caught my attention, though; it was the emotional heft of her journey. Educated is a powerful exploration of family loyalty versus individual freedom & identity, capturing Tara´s final pain but also hope and resilience. It’s a reminder that education is so much more than degrees; it’s about finding your voice and fashioning for yourself a life worth living.

[Spencer Lein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how the book includes another viewpoint of what life could be like as someone else. It reminded me how lucky I am to have a decent life, compared to the one in the book. However, it made me a little uncomfortable when I was reading abt the abuse, that’s probably just me, that was still a factor that kept the story interesting, so it still helped putting the story together. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to walk in someone else’s shoes. Someone who wants to see through the eyes of others. Someone who wants to see the world through a different point of view.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book of unbelievable events. It is hard to believe that parents were holding Tara back instead of encouraging her to pursue the education she so desperately wanted. It made me apreciate my mother and her unending support of education and success.

[Deborah Leyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a summary of this book satisfied me with the essence of Tara's story. She seems remarkable, but I just didn't love the style in which this was written.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting. Not as great as maybe I heard it would be. The writing style is a little disconnected.
That Tara sure went through a lot!!

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

difficult to read at times