#1 NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER • One of the most acclaimed books of our time: an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University “Extraordinary . . . an act of courage and self-invention.”—The New York Times NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW … Times
NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW • ONE OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR • BILL GATES’S HOLIDAY READING LIST • FINALIST: National Book Critics Circle’s Award In Autobiography and John Leonard Prize For Best First Book • PEN/Jean Stein Book Award • Los Angeles Times Book Prize
Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
“Beautiful and propulsive . . . Despite the singularity of [Westover’s] childhood, the questions her book poses are universal: How much of ourselves should we give to those we love? And how much must we betray them to grow up?”—Vogue
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • O: The Oprah Magazine • Time • NPR • Good Morning America • San Francisco Chronicle • The Guardian • The Economist • Financial Times • Newsday • New York Post • theSkimm • Refinery29 • Bloomberg • Self • Real Simple • Town & Country • Bustle • Paste • Publishers Weekly • Library Journal • LibraryReads • Book Riot • Pamela Paul, KQED • New York Public Library
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Excellent book!! Loved how the author is able to overcome all odds to become successful!! Especially loved how her mom is the one who ends up making the money for the family!
Did not find it believable
Harrowing account of life in a very dysfunctional family, and overcoming its repressive and violent influence to grow into a cultivated, successful person.
Well-written account of an amazing true story.
One of my favorites..
I loved this book. It showed how a girl could succeed in life despite being raised in a totally dysfunctional family and still love them while being strong enough to set her own boundaries.
I am struggling with this because I realize that many people loved this book. The story is tragic with a good ending for Ms. Westover- as she did overcome her beginnings. But the accounting of the events is relentless and while I understand that this helps to paint the picture of what happened it was painful to read. And in some way the repetitive events of abuse by the brother, neglect by the father and a complicit silence by the mother become after a while almost normalized. It is well written but too much. She skims over her successes and time in Europe which was a bit of a let down. I recommend it with reservation, some people would find this all too intense.
An amazing, true experiences of overcoming tremendous difficulties and abuse. The author remained open and thirsty for life and education, struggling and succeeding in gaining a high degree of education. While strengthening herself, she remained humble, loving, and real.
While the writing was not stellar, the topic is one with which I’ve had personal experience. Unfortunately, this story is not unique. Many young people are brain-washed by ignorant parents. Worth the read.
I can’t even begin to imagine the courage it took Tara to finally break away from her family. it was difficult to imagine that there are people like her father and brother who could do such horrible things .It gives real meaning to the word, “survivor”
This book is fantastic!
I was amazed on what Tara was able to accomplish under the conditions in which she lived. I would recommend this book to show what can be accomplished with the will to learn.
I couldn’t put this book down although my emotions ranged from rage to sadness to incredulity to anxiety to fear and then back to rage. On the one hand, I totally get how abused individuals , especially abused and traumatized women, return to the abuse in the belief (hope) that this time it will be different, and on the other hand, I was flummoxed when, once again, our protagonist returns to the very people who perpetrated the abuse: her family.
Excellent read… very informative and moving
Truth is stranger than fiction as this book clearly demonstrates.
I read this and knew the family, so it was very interesting.
Very educational, had no idea of this life.
Amazing story……loved the characters a worthwhile read
This is a powerful memoir. Words can not adequately express the myriad of emotions this book triggers. A must read for those who want to get a handle on a way of life so foreign to most of us here in America, almost unbelievable. Tara is an inspiration, and I’d like to read about how her life plays out in the next couple decades. She has overcome nearly insurmountable obstacles through sheer determination and the help of a few caring souls who came alongside of her at significant points in her life. I will not forget this book.
What a main character! She went from such a dysfunctional family to Harvard by sheer determination! This is a must read!