#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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It was an amazing read. Very well written and highly thought provoking. I’m amazed at what Tara Westover had to overcome to achieve her goals. Hers is a phenomenal story!
This is a book I could not put down. I had no knowledge of the religious background so I learned a lot. The lead character was amazing and thought for herself. Everyone should read this book.
This is a memoir and it would be almost unbelievable if it wasn’t true.
This book was inspirational because of the educational and life successes of Tara and some of her siblings. Also, so sad for the failures of others, and particularly for the failure of the parents to educate, prepare them for the world, and keep their children safe. I don’t doubt any of the experiences and hardships Tara describes, as I have read many books about Mormon Fundamentalism. I was only surprised that the family didn’t practice polygamy, which is so much a part of Mormon Fundamentalist practices. The book receives (only) four stars from me as I felt it was longer and more descriptive in places, than it needed to be. Overall, though, it was an excellent read which I definitely recommend.
Amazing accomplishments for such unbelievable family dynamics A first novel. Autobiography
A tragic true story.
Absolutely unique memoir by an amazingly bright y woman.
As a memoirist myself, I was enthralled with Westover’s story of escaping the confines of a survivalist upbringing. It struck me, probably because of my own perceptions as a child, that her parents’ strict, often harsh, mandates and reactions to calamity were normal to her. Then, when she escaped and was able to go out into the “real world,” she realized how incredibly sheltered and warped her father’s world view was. You can’t put this one down.
Amazing life, amazing story!!!
Could not put it down
This book was gripping. The author’s life story is truly an inspiration.
This is an inspiring story of a woman’s journey from an abusive backwoods family to find her true self and discover the world.
Beautifully written and inspiring. Great book.
Well written and a true story. Must read..
Amazing, hard to take at times, but what a triumph of the human spirit!
This memoir opens the reader’s eye to the education the author who never attended school until she was 17. SHe then educated herself on many world events such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights movement. Her family’s religious background kept her isolated from the modern world, so she had to educate herself on social norms and boundaries. Education is the key that unlocks her door to the world. Haunting and yet, hard to put down.
This is a memoir . I could hardly put it down. The author and her family will stay with me for a long time. The way they lived and the dynamics between members of the family are unforgetable. I don’t usually read nonfiction, but this is a book I have recommended to many friends. It is a must read.
Very interesting book. Since I also live in Idaho it was especially so. I like learning what motivates people, like her parents, who have radical lifestyles. I like reading about people overcoming trials.
Westover helped educate me to better understand the world of secluded Mormon, home-schooled folk, from which she came. There is beauty and ugliness as there is in everyone’s background, and both tug on her always. What makes her story memorable and remarkable is that she was able to educate herself beyond her background, that she sought to find fact and discern truth from those facts, despite going against her family’s beliefs. It is a story of courage, and the power of education, and for that extremely worth reading. Moreover, it is well written.
Powerful family dynamic dealing with mental illness and dysfunction. Tara Westover is able to educate herself against incredible odds.
I can’t stop thinking about it!