#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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I have read this book 3 times in the year I’ve owned it. What an amazing woman Tara Westover is. She is so honest about the struggles she faced growing up. She has become a brilliant woman overcoming a unique upbringing. A wonderful book!
Wow. Just wow, wow, wow. I grew in Idaho, but her life in a tiny town in a far corner of Idaho in a deeply… misguided (for a lack of a better word)…. family is far different from my life (or anyone else’s). I’m amazed by Tara Westover’s resilience, and while her book could be taken as a criticism on religion in general or on Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons), it’s important to note that her family practiced a very different, narrow view that most Mormons do not practice. Furthermore, Tara was explicitly clear at the beginning of the book that her book is not an attack on religion. I urge readers to view it through the eyes of a child as she recounts her childhood, and notice the fixture of her father and his mental health throughout the book. I was impressed by how the male professors and bishop have helped her repeatedly when she attended BYU and elsewhere.
I have recommended this book to many family members and friends, and the first statement we often make when we meet up to discuss the book is, “Wow… Whoa… Did that really happen?!?”
Run – don’t just walk – to download this book and read it for yourself. You’ll thank yourself, and you’ll understand why it keeps staying in the Times’ Non-Fictions Best Sellers lIst.
Over-rated!
It’s amazing what harm ‘religion’ has inflicted upon so many, and which usually falls heaviest on women and children because of it. Pretty grim in places, but worth reading.
The word “ educated” is key to this story. The main character’s education as a very young child was not a formal one. It was a scary, abusive, sterile, and inappropriate. The story of how she survived and overcame adversity is amazing.
This is such an amazing story and a glimpse into a hidden world most of us will never know. I couldn’t put it down.
Highly recommend, wonderfully written.
Amazing true story of a woman, her life, struggles and her will to overcome
The unconventional off-the-grid upbringing of the author and her need to expand her horizons is tragic as well as inspirational.
It’s unbelievable that she made a success of her life coming from such a dysfunctional family.
This is a very Intelligent, insightful and revealing book, very enlightening to read!
This was one of my favorite books to read this year. I loved the story of Tara. I thought she was a brave girl and really learned a lot from her childhood experiences. She was able to get beyond her challenging life and make something of herself, escaping from her horrible family life.
fits in the category with “Hillbilly Elegy and Heartland”. A very good book.
Sad to think that this is what she endured, a true life experience that transpired not so long ago.
Overall I liked it but I would not recommend it. She is very inspiring but I found her neediness and refusal to leave the abuse she complains about annoying.
The author overcame an impossible childhood and many obstacles to educate herself. I can’t imagine growing up in a family such as hers, and being able to emerge with an individual voice.
She paid a price for this, because she is estranged from her family, but that might be a good thing because she is remote from their odd philosophy and strange life style.
Initially, from what I heard it sounded boring so I didn’t want to read it, but glad I did. It was never boring. Can’t imagine why Tara Westover ever went back to visit her family after she left them, which was the best thing she ever did. Unfortunately, I don’t think her parents ever really loved anyone. Tara is much better off without them.
I have recommmended this book to everyone I know
Hard to read because of family dysfunction. Story actually hard to believe??
A must read.