Educated By Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is a powerful memoir by Tara Westover, chronicling her journey from a survivalist family in rural Idaho to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. Raised without formal education in an isolated, strict household, Westover's story is a remarkable testament to resilience, self-invention, and the transformative power of education.

Plot Overview:

Tara Westover grows up in a strict and abusive household, where her parents reject traditional schooling, modern medicine, and government institutions. Instead, she spends her childhood preparing for the "End of Days," working in her father’s junkyard, and caring for her erratic and often dangerous family.

Despite never attending school as a child, Tara teaches herself enough to pass the ACT and gain admission to Brigham Young University. This opens the door to a world she never imagined—one of history, literature, and academic curiosity. As she continues her education at Harvard and Cambridge, she faces the painful conflict between her past and the new identity she is forging.

Why Educated is a Must-Read:

• Inspiring True Story – A real-life journey of determination and courage against all odds.
• Explores the Power of Education – Demonstrates how learning can transform lives and open doors.
• Thought-Provoking and Emotional – A deeply personal reflection on family, trauma, and self-discovery.
• Beautifully Written – Westover’s storytelling is raw, poetic, and deeply moving.

Key Themes in Educated

• The Power of Knowledge – Education as a tool for personal freedom and growth.
• Family vs. Identity – The struggle between loyalty to family and the pursuit of one's own truth.
• Resilience and Overcoming Adversity – Overcoming childhood trauma to build a new life.
• The Cost of Breaking Free – The emotional toll of leaving behind everything familiar.

Memorable Quotes from Educated

"You can love someone and still choose to say goodbye to them."

"The past is beautiful because one never realizes an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don’t have complete emotions about the present, only about the past."

"An education is not so much about making a living, but making a person."

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Physical Stores

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Book Details

• Title: Educated
• Author: Tara Westover
• ISBN: 9780399590504
• Publisher: Random House
• Published Year: 2018
• Number of Pages: 352
• Binding: Paperback