Educated: A Memoir

by Tara Westover

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Book Overview: Educated: A Memoir

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 Ph.D. 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 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

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: 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

ISBN-13	97803995905289780399590504
ISBN-10	03995905280399590501
Publisher	Random House Trade PaperbacksRandom House
Publication Date	2022-02-082018-02-20
Edition	ReprintFirst Edition
Language	enen
Pages	368352
Dimensions	in x in x in
Weight	lbs

Editorial Reviews

“Westover is a keen and honest guide to the difficulties of filial love, and to the enchantment of embracing a life of the mind.” —The New Yorker

“An amazing story, and truly inspiring. It’s even better than you’ve heard.” –Bill Gates

“Heart-wrenching . . . a beautiful testament to the power of education to open eyes and change lives.” –Amy Chua, The New York Times Book Review

“A coming-of-age memoir reminiscent of The Glass Castle.” —O: The Oprah Magazine

“Westover’s one-of-a-kind memoir is about the shaping of a mind. . . . In briskly paced prose, she evokes a childhood that completely defined her. Yet it was also, she gradually sensed, deforming her.” —The Atlantic

“Tara Westover is living proof that some people are flat-out, boots-always-laced-up indomitable. Her new book, Educated, is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, best-in-years memoir about striding beyond the limitations of birth and environment into a better life. . . . ★★★★ out of four.” —USA Today

“[ Educated] left me speechless with wonder. [Westover’s] lyrical prose is mesmerizing, as is her personal story, growing up in a family in which girls were supposed to aspire only to become wives–and in which coveting an education was considered sinful. Her journey will surprise and inspire men and women alike.” —Refinery29

“Riveting . . . Westover brings readers deep into this world, a milieu usually hidden from outsiders. . . . Her story is remarkable, as each extreme anecdote described in tidy prose attests.” –The Economist

“A subtle, nuanced study of how dysfunction of any kind can be normalized even within the most conventional family structure, and of the damage such containment can do.” —Financial Times

“Whether narrating scenes of fury and violence or evoking rural landscapes or tortured self-analysis, Westover writes with uncommon intelligence and grace. . . . One of the most improbable and fascinating journeys I’ve read in recent years.” –Newsday

About the Author

Tara Westover

Tara Westover is an acclaimed American memoirist, celebrated for her audacious journey from a secluded, survivalist upbringing to becoming a Cambridge University scholar. Born to staunchly independent parents in rural Idaho, Tara’s early life was rooted in hard labor and home-schooling, devoid of formal education. Her highly-praised memoir, “Educated”, tells the inspirational tale of her transformation, a testament to the power of resilience and relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Despite her non-traditional upbringing, Westover’s thirst for learning was insatiable. She taught herself enough grammar and mathematics to earn admittance into Brigham Young University where her intellectual curiosity intensified. Garnering numerous accolades for her academic prowess, she was awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, earning her a doctorate in Intellectual History from Cambridge University in 2014. Her academic journey, steeped in an exploration of family, loss, and the struggle for a better life, is a remarkable contrast to her early years.

Westover’s debut memoir, “Educated”, published in 2018, received multiple awards and was a constant fixture on The New York Times best-seller list. Drawing acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of her journey from isolation to self-discovery, it continues to inspire readers across the globe. Tara’s story is not just about academic achievement but is a poignant narrative of courage, self-invention, and the transformative power of education. Despite her early hardship, Tara Westover has emerged as a shining beacon of perseverance and unwavering self-determination.