#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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A difficult story told with grace and clarity.
For the people who, like me that go through life on a road less traveled, bumpy and unpaved, it served to bouy me. There are some incredible people in this world that defy their past, yet dont fall victim to bitterness and
Mediocracy. Tara, is one of these superb humans. Read this flinching, raw story of humanity at it’s worst and best
Somehow, this doesn’t inspire, as it tries to do. If “educated” why does the author return to the dysfunctional compound she called home? Child abuse, obvious psychosis in the family, constant threats to safety — yet she returns again and again. She doesn’t lift a finger to help her nieces and nephews escape the abuse she experienced. PhD from Cambridge? One wonders what their criteria are.
Amazing true autobiography
Overcoming immense childhood difficulties, this author gets her doctorate and teaches us life lessons in a most appealing manner!
This is a must read for everyone.
A true story about the ability to overcome difficult parenting and educate yourself. Truly inspirational.
A very very difficult book to read.
Eyeopening, shocking and inspirational – a must read!
Could not put this down. Tara’s awakening and evolution are so engaging and impressive and her interior thoughts on her relationships helped me understand a family that is outside my ken.
Educated is among my top ten books ever! It’s hard to believe that this is a true story. Well-written and AMAZING!
Interesting book, especially since it is a memoir about a way of life in America that is so far removed from how most of us live. The author has lived in both worlds and was able to make her experience accessible and intriguing to me.
An inspiring story that will make you think about the value of determination and education.
Amazing story of overcoming challenges from uneducated to a PHD from a very unusual family to the beginnings of self realization.
A Cinderella story, but so much darker.
Fascinating read
Awesome book that challenged everything I thought I knew!!
I don’t know what adjective best describes this book – it is definitely shocking in some ways. Made me appreciate my parents more than ever.
It is sad story about a dysfunctional Mormon family but could not put it down as hopeful about the ending.
Didn’t like it.