Educated
“Educated” by Tara Westover is a gripping and deeply personal memoir about a woman’s quest for knowledge and self-invention in the face of extraordinary adversity. Born into a survivalist Mormon family in rural Idaho, Westover was raised without formal education, medical care, or even a birth certificate. Her parents distrusted the government and public institutions, choosing instead to isolate their children from the outside world. Tara spent her childhood helping in her father’s scrapyard and preparing for the end times, with little exposure to books, school, or society.
Despite this isolation, Westover developed a fierce desire to learn. At the age of 17, having never set foot in a classroom, she taught herself enough math, grammar, and science to take the ACT and gain admission to Brigham Young University. The transition was jarring, she was exposed for the first time to concepts like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement, which had been absent from her upbringing. As Tara pursued her education, she struggled with feelings of guilt and loyalty to her family, especially as her growing awareness clashed with their extreme beliefs and denial of abuse within the household.
Her academic journey took her far from Idaho, first to Cambridge, then to Harvard, where she earned her PhD in history. But Educated is not just a story of academic success; it's about the emotional and psychological toll of breaking free from a controlling and deeply rooted identity. Westover wrestles with what it means to love a family that refuses to acknowledge her truth, and what it takes to forge a new self when the cost is nearly everything you’ve ever known.
At its heart, “Educated” is a powerful meditation on the power of education, not just as a means to a better career, but as a transformative force that can challenge beliefs, heal trauma, and redefine a person’s entire life. Tara Westover’s story is a testament to resilience, courage, and the human capacity for growth. Her journey from a secluded mountain in Idaho to the halls of Cambridge stands as a reminder that education is not simply about knowledge, it's about liberation.