Tara Westover’s Educated is a case of truth being stranger than fiction. I seldom read nonfiction because I often have a hard time connecting to a book if it doesn’t have a compelling story to tell, and will find myself fighting boredom and finally abandoning the book. That was never a danger with Educated. Westover’s memoir is horrifying and poignant and powerful, and it captivated me in a way that few books outside the fantasy genre have. It’s a story that I can’t stop thinking about, and I truly believe that it will stay with me for a long time to come. It also made me insanely thankful for my family and upbringing, my freedom and education.

Tara was raised on Buck’s Peak with her sister and five brothers. Her mother was an herbalist and midwife, and her father was a scrapper who set his kids to work in his junkyard as soon as they were able. The Westover’s were survivalists, constantly preparing for the end of the world, which they believed was imminent. They were a family of fundamentalist Mormons who deeply distrusted the government and the medical establishment. Their theology and practices were skewed and dangerous. The four youngest children were delivered at home, without medical assistance or birth certificates. With no birth certificates, the government didn’t know that the children existed, and thus their parents did not have to send them to school; they distrusted the education system, as well.

Tara was the youngest of the siblings, though no one could even recall her birthday. She grew up quiet and careful and wary, and while she did her best to please her mercurial father, but something within her bucked against his iron-fisted control and wild mood swings. At seventeen, Tara entered a classroom for the first time, at Brigham Young University. She would struggle between her thirst for knowledge and her fear of losing her family until she reached a fork in the road, and would have to choose which to keep.
Tara’s thirst for education was driven by her desire to understand herself and her family, and how her parents could rewrite history time and again, convincing their family that this new breakdown of events had always been the truth. She wasn’t only fascinated by history, but by those who wrote it. She gradually came to understand the abuse she had suffered at the hands of a sibling, as well as the mania of her father, and how those experiences had broken bits of her and stunted her emotional growth. Even after everything she went through, she had a fierce loyalty to her family, but she also realized how perilous her relationship with them could be. She had to come to terms with the divide between family and faith, between real truth and the marred theology to which her family adhered.

There were so many things that happened during Tara’s childhood and early adulthood that sound almost too fantastic to be believed, and yet her writing has a ring of truth that is impossible to deny. I believe every word, though it hurts my heart to think of anyone having to live that kind of life. The injuries alone, sustained by both Tara and various family members, are appalling. And the fact that they never sought medical attention, relying instead on faith and essential oils, absolutely horrified me. I believe in God and in His ability to perform miracles, but I also believe that He has led our society to medical knowledge that He intends for us to use. The dangerous situations these children faced made me want to reach back into history and give them a safe home. There was also serious mental illness on the part of at least two of these family members, one of whom was Tara’s father. I’ve never been so thankful to grow up where I did, with the family I have, believing in the doctrine that I do.
Tara’s story is one of heartache, but it’s also one of triumph. It was a huge struggle, but Tara was finally able to create an identity for herself instead of letting her identity be dictated to her by the forceful personalities in her family. I have such immense respect for someone who could risk everything she knew like that for a chance at a better life, even without having any support system to catch her if she failed. Of the seven siblings, four never even attained GEDs, and their families all work for their parents. The other three not only went to college, but earned doctorates. Theirs is a family divided in more ways than one, and I pray that they will find healing one day. Educated taught me to never take the freedoms I’ve been given for granted. The freedom to pursue an education and to find and choose my own faith are incredibly precious, and this book reminded me to always value those gifts.

One of my earliest distinct memories of a time when I was a little girl, maybe 6 or 7, watching television and feeling completely terrified. I was sitting in a recliner, wrapped up in a blanket for comfort and protection, convinced that the end of the world, maybe just my world, was near. I remember footage of war, so maybe it was Vietnam, maybe the photo of Napalm girl Kim Phuc taken by Nick Ut. Whatever it was, it left me feeling helpless and alone. Later in my childhood, I remember being very, very depressed. I was probably around 12 years old, and the feeling was much like what I’d experienced in the armchair years prior. I distinctly remember telling myself that no one was going to help me. I was on my own, and if I could just figure things out, I would be ok. Reading Educated resurrected these feelings. I am fortunate to be able to reflect on those times from a healthy, successful, and loving place, many years on. I trust that Tara Westover is as well. I was struck by the early age at which she recognized her true self. I enjoyed this brave, inspiring, and heartbreaking story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC.

This book was gripping and emotional. I was swept away by this authors words.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I find it hard to rate memoirs because they are another humans raw thoughts and emotions that they are giving us the privilege to have a glimpse of. And this was quite the glimpse. Most of the book I felt a sense of rage, but there were also moments of lovingness. Tara wrote in a way that felt like I was in the room with her the whole time. Halfway through I started googling photos to see how the images in my brain compared. In the end this book was honestly not what I was expecting to read on the beliefs of Mormonism. I felt it leaned more towards family and domestic abuse, finding ones identity, and the privilege we still see in education.

This is a tough book to rate for me. I certainly enjoyed reading it and I learned a lot about Westover and the trials and triumphs she faced based on her upbringing. I appreciate how difficult it must have been for her to write this story and share it with the world, especially based on the backlash she has received from her family for doing so.

Despite enjoying it, I find it really difficult to rate someone's true life story. I expected this one to be more of an emotional read for me based on the reviews I've read, but Westover's life is so different from my own that I couldn't fully relate. It's a great memoir that will encourage you to open your eyes to other ways of life, and will probably make you mad while doing so. Educated is a motivational, important story that will definitely cause you to reflect on your own life and the privileges you may or may not have had.

This was a good book and a read it pretty quickly. I don't know if it was all of the hype but I expected it to blow my socks off (it didn't). Overall, a good read and always interesting to look at life from some else's perspective.

I loved this memoir. The main character's upbringing and her resilence to such troubles were profound. This true story reminds readers that you determine your path. It doesn't matter who or where you come from, but how you make your choices, and strive in life.

I received this book "Educated" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I read this book as part of a virtual book club this month. I probably would not have read this book on my own. I did not like this book or the story. I didn't look forward to reading it and found some parts hard to get through. I didn't connect with Tara at all. It was just one disaster after another in the family. This book is basically about their family drama. I also really didn't believe that everyone got better by the mother snapping her fingers and healing people. Her father really survived after being burned so badly without medical help? I just have a hard time believing this is a true story of her life and the events as she described. The events are hard to believe but I suppose this is how she remembered it.

Educated was not what I was expecting. The buzz on this book was absolutely insane last year, and like any good faux-rebel, I decided I would read it later when all the hype died down... And when it never died down I just snagged one of my libraries 15 digital copies when one became available.

And it was...woof. It was truly a lot to take in. For some reason I assumed it was more aspirational in nature, something like Girl, Wash Your Face of last year. It ended up being more like The Glass Castle, a memoir I deeply love. Maybe the giant pencil cover threw me, idk. Whatever the reason, I wasn't ready for Tara Westover's devastating recollections of her childhood.

The Westovers are not bad people. It's not like they set out to actively harm their family. But they are also not fit to be in charge of children. The saddest thing about their story is that these situations are more common (to varying degrees) than we want to admit. How can we mediate situations that we don't know exist, by people who are naturally adverse to involving any type of 'outsiders'? There's a terrifying and dangerous amount of intentional ignorance and seclusion in some parts of the US & the rest of the world. I don't know the solution to problems like this.

Almost as concerning is some of the negative reactions to this memoir. How someone can call this "fake" or "exaggerated" is beyond my understanding. I actually saw a review that said "I've heard of worse upbringings". It's not a contest. And that just adds credibility to Westover's story. Some even doubted the education she received, despite the professors & institutions being Google-able. Good God, I hope those people aren't ever approached by a cult. If they are, they'll be hiding in their own bunkers, stockpiling weapons and canned fruit with the rest of them.

I found Tara Westover's chronicling of her own self-doubts and criticisms her best asset in warding off nay-sayers. The gas-lighting by her family and constant purposeful regression really drove home how deep the trauma goes. The entire family is stunted, and even after Tara and some of her brothers have 'gotten out', their father (and to an extent mother & brother) still have such a strong grasp on them.

At one point she mentions not wanting to be referred to as 'impressive' by an academic audience. I can understand that, but it's really all I can say to sum up her harrowing life. She's impressive not just for her higher education or subsequent career, but her resolve. Her resolve that even when broken several times, had come back together, propped her back up and carried on.

I was provided with a free copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping from start to end. A magnificent story of coming of age and also breaking free from assumptions thrust upon one.

This was also an incredibly difficult book to read; I may have benefitted from a content warning.

Tara Westover’s Educated is one of the books that is praised. Her words are inspiring, encouraging, full of courage and compassion. I can’t help but cheer every word in this book. Educated is my third non-fiction read, but it is one to cherish forever.
Thank you NetGalley, Tara Westover and the publisher for the ARC. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way!

Before this book I had only read a few non-fiction books and always found them slow and boring. However, this book completely changed my mind on the genre. Educated is the story of Tara Westover who grew up in Idaho with her family that were survivalists. Her parents didn't believe in doctors, school, or any government interference in there lives. Despite her lack of resources, Tara yearns for knowledge and essentially cons her way into Harvard. Tara's is an inspiring and courageous person that you can't help but to root for. This book had me crying and cheering and I highly recommend this to everyone. After this book, I can't wait to pick up more non-fiction books!

Educated – I’ve seen so many conflicting reviews of this book. While we can debate the validity of the memoir all day long, I will assume for the sake of this review that what was published was either true, or Westover’s best version of true.
I found the book to be well written, captivatingly paced, and utterly astonishing. Westover shares of her life growing up without any formal education or access to traditional medical care. She was raised by a pair of fanatical doomsday-ers who feared the power of the government. Somehow, she makes it out alive and eventually becomes a successfully well-educated and seemingly well-adjusted member of society.
The stories will floor you. The realities of the world she lived in will break your heart. Whether or not the details are perfectly accurate or not, you will get a real sense of how some “hidden” children are still living in the US today. There are many things that divide us, and Tara’s story is about the divides we so often assume are not there. I’d definitely recommend this one to a friend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this e-copy in return for my honest review. Heartwrenching tale of a girl growing up in a house surrounded by mental illness. A story that needed to be told.

An incredible memoir. Since I read this a couple of years ago, I’ll do my best to share my lasting impressions.Tara’s childhood was unlike nearly every American’s. There was mental illness, abuse and little influence outside her family. She wasn’t allowed to go to school. The family was dysfunctional to say the least, but it was what she knew.
So, to read her account and realize all she had to overcome was a little mind blowing. Few of us could truly relate, but it still feels inspiring to recall her strength, courage and her ability to trust her own thoughts and drive to make her way out, to seek and find knowledge and answers and forgiveness.

An incredible story of a girl growing up in a house full of mental illness and abuse. Highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, to the publishers, for providing me with a copy of this title.

Good, solid book about a way of living that I previously had no knowledge of. Some parts of it did not even seem real, which is why they say real life can be weirder than fiction. This book really demonstrates how influential parents are in the raising of their children-they can totally create the lenses that kids look out of as they enter the real world. 4 ⭐️.

First thought: so many people should have died in this book.

Ok, sorry, my brain was stuck there for a while in utter shock. Moving forward, this book is so well-written and the narrative style is extremely engaging. This memoir is a page-turner. In fact, at times it felt so much like a novel that I had to remind myself that these were real people and events. When I would remember that though, it blew my mind even more.

For my Enneagram One self this book made me mad. I am mad that there are people engaging in this kind of abuse out there and, by the end of the book, I so badly wanted justice. I so badly wanted to reach through the pages and protect somehow. This book, possibly more than anything, is a gut-wrenching and insightful read into the psyche of abuse and manipulation; it was not what I was expecting. Yes, it is about a girl paving her way from nothing into the halls of Cambridge, but it is actually more about the mental trials and impact familial abuse has upon a life. The fact that she did find such success and yet still had this burden of abuse hits home that point even more.

So many people have already sung this book's praises so my little review in the year 2020 is not really going to add much to the conversation. But I will say that it is more than worth the read as it is a book you will not easily forget.

This is a brilliant and heart-wrenching memoir, and the audio narration by Julia Whelan makes it even better. I read the entire book with my heart in my throat. Excellent prose and pacing.

Educated by Tara Westover is an excellent autobiography of the life journey of a young woman that has literally overcome every hurdle to obtain her current status.

To see how this woman was brought up in such extreme circumstances in an “off the grid” survivalist/fundamentalist family in rural Idaho, and know that she does not carry the weight of those burdens that she has shed was very moving. It was truly heartbreaking to see all of the hurt and struggles she had to experience. This was not a rosy story. It was real, gutting, and brought tears to my eyes several times.

Excellent read. 5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.