Summary of Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover: Key Takeaways & Analysis Included

by Ninja Reads

Short on time? Or maybe you’ve already read the book, but need a refresh on the most important takeaways. In a quick, easy read, you can take the main principles from A Memoir!Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover. It tells the story of her experiences growing up in and subsequently leaving a radical, survivalist Mormon home. Abused by a loved and trusted older brother, Westover struggles for years to escape the cycles of abuse and finally finds her escape through her education. It's a story of struggles and triumphs and the conflict in the mind of a woman torn between family loyalty and her survival instincts. Published in 2018, Educated debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list and received numerous awards and accolades. With glowing recommendations from people like Bill Gates, Oprah, and Barack and Michelle Obama, Educated has met with wild success. A beautifully crafted book, it’s a story of awakening, self-discovery, and healing.

101 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2019

Reviews

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, it’s my own fault. I didn’t realize this audiobook was not the original “Educated”. I listened to the original as an audiobook about a year ago and loved it. Our book club read it, upon my recommendation, and I checked this out from the library at the last minute before leaving on a trip. I thought I’d re-listen to it before we discuss in book club. Admittedly, I’m not a fan of Cliffs Notes or abridged editions, but this fell far short of even those. She spent just over an hour summarizing chapter by chapter, but you never get a feel for the writing style. I think she directly quoted passages only 2 times.

[Flyingzebras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a summary. No key takeaways and analysis noted.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reading the summary of "Educated" caused secondary traumatic stress for me. (Huuk! Gack! Barf!) While I don't identify with the book on a literal level, seeing an example of something extreme draws out the subtle instances of it, which is why I probably find the story upsetting.

Also, the author and I went to the same University. I am disturbed by this and any parallels between the author and myself because they destroy the emotional distancing ploy of "that's not relevant to me or my situation".