#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
more
True story of a girl growing up in an eccentric religious family. She had to work hard to remove herself from the situation. Book details her progress to freedom. Good story.
Tragic story of a dysfunctional family.
This kind of took me back to when I was reading “The Glass Castle” because of the plot and the way it was written. I really loved this story and how Westover told it. The whole novel was inspiring and intriguing, as most of us would not think of the lifestyle depicted in the story. it opened my eyes to a whole different world, but I’m happy I read it. I would highly recommend this novel.
Fantastic story. Fantastic Writing. Age-old story of yet another woman surviving.
Gloria Squitiro: A first lady of Kanas City and author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!
#YayWomenWriters!
Profound understanding gathering momentum!
Unputdownable memoir about a young woman’s emancipation from her abusive family.
Good book, but left a number of unanswered questions for a true story
This memoir wasn’t at all what I expected. Told with honesty and courage, at times horrifying, it held me spellbound. Tara Westover’s strength and growth as she breaks free from the bonds of her ultra-restrictive family is a true triumph.
Tara Westover has accomplished an impossible balancing act in this story of her life. She conveys the love she feels for her family while revealing the raw ugliness of the truth of her childhood experiences. She has been able to put into words the cunning and baffling shifting reality of growing up with abuse. As I read I wanted to shake her and yell at her to get out. I felt so much anger at the trappings of faith and godliness that surrounded the abuse. But the real accomplishment of this book is that it still does hold beauty and love. It is very possible that the author is a more generous soul than I am. I am a bit dismayed as a homeopath that alternative healing gets associated here with religious fervor and hope that readers can understand that this is not the norm with the use of homeopathy and essential oils – that they can be used in concert with allopathic medicine rather than being used as an attack on it.
Good for Lois
Tara Westover’s biography testifies to the strength and tenacity of the human spirit. A sad but compelling read.
This is such an interesting biography. It is beautifully written with such honesty. It will stay with me for a long time because of its intensity and heartbreak. This is definitely a must read for those who enjoyed The Glass Castle, another book that will stay with you long past its reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Random House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a fantastic book! It shows that no matter who you are or where you are from that nothing is impossible! A powerful and insightful book for women.
Amazing young girls triumphs over her father’s twisted eorkd view.
One of my top 5 favorite books ever. Tara story of courage, determination, and raw honesty was so inspiring. Highly recommend!
Tara’s story is remarkable and well told. I read this two weeks ago and I’m still thinking about it. Highly recommended!
Unfortunately I found this book VERY DISTURBING. I actually didn’t care for it. Did not care for it.
This is a hard book to read. Westover is a child who lives a harsh and punshing life. From the beginning, you’re hooked into Westover’s harsh reality. She is a brilliant, creative thinker but doesn’t question her father’s strict ways, or the brutal twists and turns of the lives of the children in thefamily. As a reader, you want to keep cheering her to step away from the chokehold of her family and yet you understand why it takes so long for her to find her own voice. The story is mesmerizing.
A story of a family living during the depression.
One girl, four brothers.
Inspiring, beautifully written.
An intelligent examination of a very unusual life. The author is extraordinary for having so successfully lived her life despite many obstacles and come through the experience with insight to share.