I’m having trouble writing a review for this book as it is a real story and is based on Tara’s real life. So I will say, I have a lot of respect for Tara and how she endured her treacherous childhood and also how she took her life down a different path and thrived in her adulthood. When I read this book synopsis it sounded like such an incredible story, and I still believe that it is, however, I did not enjoy reading this book. I found it really hard to focus on, was never fully invested and tbh I was waiting for it to end. I know this is an unpopular opinion and I really really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it felt like a chore to read. Oh well, on to the next one!

Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover on her childhood life with her Mormon family in Idaho and her journey as she breaks free to pursue an education, and eventually earn her PhD.

I usually have a hard time reviewing memoirs, because I find that the stories are so personal to the author. However, Tara Westover's Educated is a really engaging story that I had a hard time putting down, and for this reason alone, I would recommend it to potential readers. Tara's childhood life is difficult. She grows up in a family that doesn't trust authorities, and are so wary of anything legal that she never finishes grade school, never goes to a doctor, and only acquires a birth certificate years after she's born. It's an extreme situation that often includes abuse and complicated family relationships, however, it is really enlightening on what can happen when you're so far removed from society.

What works for this book is the investment in seeing how Tara made her way out of her situation, and the strange fascination with a world that's so different from anything I have ever seen or known. I’m also so amazed that the author was able to go to university and graduate with a PhD at Harvard given her life circumstances. It’s quite amazing.

I always struggle giving reviews/ratings for memoirs. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book and even really what It was about! I could not believe I was actually reading a true story! It was truly inspiring the whole time I just wanted to hug Tara and tell her she is a warrior!!! loved It!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Quite possibly one the best books I've read recently. What an eye opening, mind blowing account of coming of age in a Mormon environment. The danger, the prejudice, the education and the journey that Westover experiences and goes on is not only gripping but challenging in all the right ways.

This story isn't from a time gone by, this is recent history and it opens your eyes to how your childhood can shape you yet not hold you down forever. This book is about family and all its complexities. Whilst not favourable to her immediate family, Westover isn't lazy and doesn't condemn her parents straight off, she explains why they believe what they do and dives deep into how fragile the relationships within families can be manipulated and betrayed. This isn't a hate letter to her parents but a way for her to process the beliefs she was fed and her awakening to other perspectives. She invites you into her story, lets you live in the environment and follow her journey. The most important take out from this book for me, is the power of education. I truly believe it is our one inexhaustible tool to a better world.

This is a book that opens your eyes and heart. It challenges you in realising that everyone's story is different and we must be more empathetic and willing to learn from each other.

A very Compelling, inspiring but heartbreaking memoir.

It’s easy to read as a fiction book and to forget that this is in fact a nonfiction account of the author’s life growing up in a survivalist, eccentric mormon family in Idaho.

From an abusive and stifling life in her father’s shadow to becoming self-reliant and independent, this story is Tara’s journey, often treacherous and precarious but one that lead her to discover her own self.

From being a barely schooled child spending days scavenging in her father’s junkyard to becoming a student in Cambridge and Harvard, this is an incredible story of a real-life success and metamorphosis.

Though the book is difficult to read and believe at times it is a very intriguing story nevertheless.

Highly recommend reading.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

One of the best memoirs I have ever read! The events that occurred throughout Tara Westover’s childhood are completely shocking yet the overall message conveyed by her story is incredibly moving and profound. She has a beautiful command of language, which allows the reader to feel like they’re truly walking in the her shoes and experiencing her pain and growth. Her story also provides insight into the role of family dynamics and the effects of religious fanaticism. It enhances understanding of how and why people stick by their loved ones even when they bring about an immense amount of suffering. Despite the truly horrific events that take place within her story, Tara Westover has managed to craft a deeply moving and inspirational memoir that is sure to be a classic.

I'll admit it. Homeless-to-Harvard stories aren't my schtick. There's too much cinematic drama, expected slip-ups that ultimately make for an eye-roll and less-than-engaging story, no matter how truly extraordinary and true it is.

Enter: Educated. What a force, this book. Westover's frank recollection makes a reader feel he or she is in the room - you feel her pull to something outside the world she knows, you see the impossibility that surrounds her every basic desire.

Queen of the Spoiler Alert, I, of course, knew Tara Westover was going to be just fine. Better than fine, in fact. Which is what separates Westover's skill as an author and storyteller that much more stirring. Educated has become one of those required-reading recommendations for me.

This book is really good! I had thought about reading it for a long time
and just never had. It's crazy what people go through because of the
family and their beliefs. Especially children. This was hard to read
what Tara had gone through so very young. It was written very well. I am
so glad I decided to read it, it is a 5-star book!

Thank you so much, Tara Westover, the publisher, and NetGalley for the
chance to read and review this great book.

This book gave me all of the feels. I honestly think I experienced every emotion possible while reading this book. I laughed when I read stories of Tara doing goofy things as a child of the mountain, cried when I read of the abuse she endured, got angry every time I read what her parents would (or should I say wouldn't) do when she looked for help, I felt everything through her experience and then some. I've read my fair share of books about fundamentalists and doomsday preppers but to read from the point of view of Tara was something else. She truly stuggled with escaping her family because she loved them wholeheartedly, regardless of what they said or did to her because that's all she knew for so long. This book reminds you that brainwashing is real and comes in many forms. It also reminds you that you can do anything that you want, regardless of your situation, if you focus on it and want it hard enough. Nothing came easy for Tara and her siblings, but the ones who truly and deeply wanted to get an education did. This book is definitely not an easy read, but I found myself wanting to not put it down.

Amazing. Fascinating life story told well. I would warn any reader that this is not at all a typical story of homeschooling. But it is, unfortunately, one that happens all too often. The author shows a lot of determination in breaking away to pursue her own dreams and also shows how complicated familial bonds can be.

So excited to FINALLY read this beauty! Will post a full review as soon as I’m finished! As an educator, I cannot wait to finally delve into this work! I have heard many coworkers discussing this book!

<i>Educated</i> is the memoir of Tara Westover, a woman who grew up in a very conservative Mormon family and never went to school until she was 17.

The memoir has won a lot of prices, thus, when I saw it was a Read Now on NetGalley, I could not withstand the temptation to pick the book up. Do I regret it? No. Would I reread this book anytime soon? Also no. But I do think this book was so interesting since Westover lived a vastly different life compared to myself. It makes me appreciate the privileges I have like my education and how normal it was for me to pursue a university career (even if I don't know what to do with it now. That might even underscore it).

<spoiler> I found that Tara was so brave to pursue her education up till the point she even got her PhD in History in 2014. She endured abuse and lost contact with most of her family which you would not wish upon anyone. </spoiler> I read in someone's review that everyone with higher education should read this book. I do not fully agree with it but I understand their point because the book shows that higher education is not universal right (yet, hopefully). If you are interested in Westover's story, be sure to pick it up. She has quite the story to tell.

TW: abuse

Tara's riveting memoir about growing up in a secluded, 'prepper' type family, where drama and danger lurked around every turn of the page, had me awestruck. You always hear of these stories, but never get that first-hand account of how one can survive it. Her stories of family, loyalty, and distrust of the establishment opened my eyes to this world and how grateful I should be for being raised and educated away from fear and danger. She delves into what might be her father's and family's greatest problem (mental health issues) and does not shy away from any of the ugly truths. All in all, a good read.

Firstly, this book made me grateful for my privileged life and normal family. Even though we have mental illness in our family, no one is violent or abusive, and for that I am so grateful. Listening to Tara's story is heartbreaking and fascinating. I love her constant regard for the fallibility of memory, and the role of historians. She's a historian by her education, and she's the historian of her life, for better or worse. Some events didn't make sense to me, like getting a scholarship at BYU based on mere grades. That was not my experience. I did get scholarships, and I did have good grades, but I always thought it was more than that, and I definitely had to fill out laborious applications. As a fully engaged member in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was saddened that she was taught such a perverted form of the gospel. Nothing her dad taught her is in line with the Church's teachings. I wish that she had been able to truly access the power of the atonement of Christ to heal and feel our Heavenly Father's unconditional love.
This memoir is important because it opens the reader's eyes to other people's experiences. We read about "crazy survivalists" and about abuse and paranoia, but to immerse ourselves in another person's life is a much more effective way to feel empathy. Definitely looking forward to discussing this at book club.

This was a riveting memoir that truly read like a work of fiction. The upbringing of the author, her struggles with her family, and her unlikely success at higher learning is truly unbelievable. Which makes the story just that more powerful. I’m a late reader of this work and so I have heard of the controversy surrounding the author’s version of events versus her family’s and like most things the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Regardless this story is so compelling you will be gripped from the first chapter.

Such a powerful, engaging and gripping memoir. A remarkable book that I found difficult to put down.
*******
Tara Westover grew up in a family preparing for End of Days, she hadn’t been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she’d never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn’t believe in hospitals.

As she grew older, her father became more radical and her brother more violent. At sixteen, Tara knew she had to leave home. In doing so she discovered both the transformative power of education, and the price she had to pay for it.

#educated #netgalley

I'm always amazed in reading some memoirs just how people can overcome so much. Tara Westover's childhood is one of these stories. It was gripping and I couldn't put the book down. It led me down a path of other memoirs including Hillbilly Elegy, but this stayed with me more. Kudos to her for getting an education after all she handled growing up.

I still dont know if I can get my thoughts accurately described on how I felt about this book. I understand if memoirs arent to peoples taste but some of the people almost seemed like they didnt think anyone of Taras background could be successful through hard work, determination, and class. The abuse she went through, the family drama, the lower income bracket she was in, and her being "homeschooled" were all strongly detailed. Ive seen a lot of kids when the odds are against them that have gone to achieve great things. The fact that people believe this is all farce just blew my mind. She fought not only her family, but her own prejudices along the way. She learned, grew. People who dont travel, educate themselves on different cultures and people instances are so biased because they arent exposing to other trains of thought. Mental health can really impact a family. Being marketed as a survivalist upbringing isn't how this should be marketed. Its about how education from outside influences and exposing herself to learn made her realize that lifestyle is more extremist than survivalist. Education was her escape. I believe that some oils can help but its not a permanent solution. I use peppermint oil for my headaches but dont hesitate to use tylenol if I need to, however some people do believe its a sin to do that. So many Homeless to Harvard parallels. A dad against the government, a girl with no proper education, breaking free from family norms, seeing what she could acheive, ending up in Harvard a place where no one would have thought shed be. I was enraptured by this book and all her experiences. I dont think I got my thoughts accurately across, I feel like this is more of a book for discussion rather than just review.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me get a copy of this to read and review.

In Educated, Tara Westover details her life growing up with her religious, survivalist parents. Tara never had a formal education as her parents would not allow it; her "home schooling" was pretty much a joke. She was also put in harm's way countless times while working with her father and one of her brother's was dangerously abusive. Tara decided she wanted to go to college and studied her butt off to pass the placement test. She was accepted to BYU. Amazingly, she was accepted into a program at Cambridge. She also did some of her studies at Harvard. None of this came easy to her and Tara was met with constant struggles and challenges. Not only did she basically have to educate herself, but she felt as though she never truly fit in. Her parents also threatened to disown her, which was almost her undoing.

Some of the events in Educated were bordering on unbelievable. It's amazing that Tara and some of her other brothers were able to come out of their household alive, let alone with their various degrees. Tara shows that people can change their lives and obtain what seems to be unreachable, even when the odds are stacked against them.

Educated by Tara Westover- Educated is a memoir. Tara was born in Idaho. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure that the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s brothers became violent. Then, lacking any formal education Tara began to educate herself.

This book was extremely difficult to read. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed reading this book but I did really struggle to put it down. Tara’s life really was a rollercoaster. This book was a very tense and thought provoking read. I found myself feeling terrified and angry for Tara and was extremely upset with how much she doubted herself. This book has made me feel extremely grateful for the upbringing that I have had and for the family that I have. This book portrays a beautiful celebration of education and how much education can change a persons life. I find it amazing that Tara managed to overcome everything that she overcame and how she gave herself the education that she did.
I’d give this read 4⭐️