#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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one of the best – a must read
Fascinating.
Against incredible odds she overcame
It is amazing what Tara Westover accomplished while dealing with so many obstacles in her life. Very inspiring story. Highly recommend.
Amazing story of determination and grit!
The best piece of non-fiction that I’ve read in a very long time. The story is so off the grid, that in reading it, you can understand the characters and their connection to one another. It is a very vibrant story of struggle, and I didn’t put it down until I was finished.
Very interesting. Enjoyed the read.
Excellent writing! Fascinating story.
I read this after it being recommended by a friend. I found it inspiring and tragic all at the same time. That she escaped her old life was a joy.
One of the best books I’ve read this year!
Though it is amazing that Tara went from no education to being accepted at Cambridge I was very disappointed in her “education”. She spent 4 years at BYU and apparently didn’t learn anything about the Latter-day Saint church while she was there as her memoir is filled with her crazy dad’s teachings which are completely incorrect teachings of the church. For all her “learning” she never learned how to separate herself from a toxic environment such as her family. She just kept going back to be abused over and over again. I am happy for anyone who is able to better themselves through education but there is more to college and education than things you get out of books. You would think if she was as “smart” as she wants you to believe she would have seen that what her daddy taught her and the way she was raised was not the way a family should be. I was not impressed at all!
I got angry reading this book especially at her parents for not standing up for their daughter.
What a tale. . .
The story of her lack of education and her incredible accomplishments in academia is an interesting and inspiring one, but it’s unclear how that unfolded. Most of her book is about her terribly sick and sad family, and I feel she did them terrible harm by exposing their personal, and very private, mental health problems. I guess that sells more books than inspirational stories.
I love non fiction books. Inspiring read
This book does a great job of showing how things that happen in one’s childhood are so tough to put aside, even if you know that would be best. Interesting read of a crazy childhood.
The white, Mormon version of “Piece of Cake” by Cupcake Brown. Tough, rough, harsh youth expands through tragedy and pain to become successful and write a book about the horrors and pain.
You will not want to put this book down. The subject of abuse is hard to stomach in parts, but this inspiring woman makes reading-to-the-End worth it.
Mental illness in families is so destructive. Hope this message is not lost because of the religious overtones
Loved this memoir. Tara is someone to be admired, and has a story to tell about self-determination in the midst of adversity.