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Tara Westover
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Educated Paperback – January 1, 2018

by Tara Westover (Author)
4.5 on Goodreads
1,641,693 ratings
Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs
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  1. National Book Critics Circle AwardWinner, 2018
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Tara Westover grew up preparing for the End of Days, watching for the sun to darken, for the moon to drip as if with blood. She spent her summers bottling peaches and her winters rotating emergency supplies, hoping that when the World of Men failed, her family would continue on, unaffected.

She hadn’t been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she’d never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn’t believe in doctors or hospitals. According to the state and federal government, she didn’t exist.

As she grew older, her father became more radical, and her brother, more violent. At sixteen Tara decided to educate herself. Her struggle for knowledge would take her far from her Idaho mountains, over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far. If there was still a way home.

EDUCATED is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes with the severing of the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, from her singular experience Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes, and the will to change it.
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  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    WINDMILL BOOKS
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    0.94 x 5.12 x 7.83 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0099511029
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0099511021
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  1. But vindication has no power over guilt. No amount of anger or rage directed at others can subdue it, because guilt is never about them. Guilt is the fear of one’s own wretchedness. It has nothing to do with other people.
    Highlighted by 30,955 Kindle readers
  2. I had begun to understand that we had lent our voices to a discourse whose sole purpose was to dehumanize and brutalize others—because nurturing that discourse was easier, because retaining power always feels like the way forward.
    Highlighted by 27,861 Kindle readers
  3. The skill I was learning was a crucial one, the patience to read things I could not yet understand.
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From the Publisher

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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WINDMILL BOOKS (January 1, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099511029
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099511021
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.94 x 5.12 x 7.83 inches

About the author

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Tara Westover

Tara Westover

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Tara Westover is an American author living in the UK. Born in Idaho to a father opposed to public education, she never attended school. She spent her days working in her father's junkyard or stewing herbs for her mother, a self-taught herbalist and midwife. She was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom, and after that first taste, she pursued learning for a decade. She graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University in 2008 and was subsequently awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. She earned an MPhil from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2009, and in 2010 was a visiting fellow at Harvard University. She returned to Cambridge, where she was awarded a PhD in history in 2014.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
218,188 global ratings

Customers say

Readers find the memoir compelling, interesting, and amazing. They describe the writing quality as well-written, evocative, and immersive. Readers also find the content insightful, empowering, and a testament to the power of education. They describe the story as heartbreaking, emotional, and relatable. They praise the author as a shining example of sheer resilience and courage.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ReadabilityWriting qualityInspirational contentHeartbreaking storyStrengthHonestyPacingDifficulty to put down
5,825 customers mention "Readability"5,576 positive249 negative

Customers find the memoir compelling, interesting, and amazing. They appreciate the accurate detail and short, meaningful chapters. Readers describe the story as well-written, inspiring, and well-documented.

"...But Tara Westover has written a powerful and heart-searing story about the abuse and dysfunction she experienced growing up with her wildly..." Read more

"...Her story is harrowing, compelling, redemptive, and believable. It is so compelling and so fluently written that it was impossible to put down...." Read more

"...enjoy exploring the complex dynamics of families, “Educated” is a compelling read...." Read more

"...There's a reason the NYTimes said it was one of the best books of 2018. I can't wait for my book club to read it so we can discuss...." Read more

2,908 customers mention "Writing quality"2,426 positive482 negative

Readers find the writing quality of the book very well-written, evocative, and fun. They say the prose absolutely glimmers and is immediately sucked into Tara's story. Readers also mention the raw honesty of the writing makes them reflect on the complexities of family. They describe the book as surprisingly easy to read and the best autobiography they have ever read.

"...book was a selection for our book group and it lead to a very interesting discussion...." Read more

"...A compelling memoir that I could not put down, beautifully written. There's a reason the NYTimes said it was one of the best books of 2018...." Read more

"...This is a page-turner, surprisingly easy to read, despite its content, because of the author's skill and vision. Really worth it." Read more

"...I feel Tara did a beautiful job putting her life into words...." Read more

1,829 customers mention "Inspirational content"1,801 positive28 negative

Customers find the content insightful, empowering, and relatable. They say it's encouraging to read and surprising to learn. Readers also mention the book helps clarify some things in their decisions over the last few years.

"...Educated is solidly, well written and exquisitely told story of survival and ultimately, success...." Read more

"...Her story is harrowing, compelling, redemptive, and believable. It is so compelling and so fluently written that it was impossible to put down...." Read more

"...raise herself from her unorthodox, fraught beginnings into a profoundly intelligent, wise, and emotionally balanced person seems miraculous, but it..." Read more

"Educated by Tara Westover left me utterly fascinated and profoundly moved. It also is inspiring and it desverves 4 out of 5 stars...." Read more

1,112 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"889 positive223 negative

Customers find the story amazing, honest, and relatable. They say it's intensely personal, fraught with both love and fear. Readers also mention the portrayal of horrific trauma and abuse is remarkable.

"...beginnings into a profoundly intelligent, wise, and emotionally balanced person seems miraculous, but it wasn’t a miracle...." Read more

"...I loved how accurately she described emotions and how someone going through her situation would feel and react. A 5-star book" Read more

"...It is on another level—its portrayal of horrific trauma and abuse, its remarkable journey towards healing and informed compassion, and its exquisite..." Read more

"...Overall it was an amazing book with so many emotions, that showed me how much we can achieve no matter how many NO's and walls life and..." Read more

467 customers mention "Strength"447 positive20 negative

Customers find the book a shining example of sheer resilience and courage. They are impressed with Tara's mental and physical strength. Readers also mention the book is honest, gritty, and forgiving.

"...Westover is extremely forgiving - noting that her early life wasn't all bad...." Read more

"...Westovers story is a breathtaking testament to resilience and the transformative power of education can hold on someone...." Read more

"...Tara westover is brave and amazing." Read more

"...and self teaching takes a special person with an enormous amount of courage and strength! Tara Westover's childhood and adolescence was..." Read more

395 customers mention "Honesty"376 positive19 negative

Customers find the book honest, believable, and candid. They appreciate the raw description of years of abuse and the frankness and humility with which the author tells her story.

"...She’s raw and honest about her own self and shortcomings, she turns the lens on herself many times in the book, shining a light on her own bad..." Read more

"...Her story is harrowing, compelling, redemptive, and believable. It is so compelling and so fluently written that it was impossible to put down...." Read more

"...This daughter, extremely intelligent and determined, pays the price of leaving her safe, sheltered, and strange life to pursue being educated...." Read more

"...Westover's writing is evocative and brutally honest, which makes it difficult not to feel a deep sense of resentment toward her family, but it's..." Read more

240 customers mention "Pacing"222 positive18 negative

Customers find the pacing captivating, powerful, and intense. They appreciate the author's beautiful job of describing the struggles of breaking free of the mold. Readers also mention the book is vivid and the prologue is stunning in its description.

"...at first and confusing but it gets better as the story goes on and flows smoothly. This is a great read!" Read more

"...Her story is moving, powerful, downright elegiac. I highly recommend this book." Read more

"...melodic, symphonic, sometimes almost poetic, transparent, trustful, humble, sometimes doubtful of her own memories and thoughts, vivid, dramatic,..." Read more

"Excellent. Moving. Insightful. Raw. Humanity in the microcosm of the Westover family...." Read more

235 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"124 positive111 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some mention it's beautifully written, while others say it's not an easy one to get through.

"...It is so compelling and so fluently written that it was impossible to put down...." Read more

"This was truly an enthralling book, but not an easy one to get through...." Read more

"...that that was captivating and shocking at times, and was hard to put down until finished. I wish the author all the best. I would love for a sequel." Read more

"This book is, in some occasions, hard to put down, in others, a must put down...." Read more

Almost made me cry but then i remembered that queens never cry
5 out of 5 stars
Almost made me cry but then i remembered that queens never cry
Almost made me cry but then i remembered that queens never cry
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Top reviews from the United States

FilmMuse6
5.0 out of 5 stars Educated is worthy of its acclaim. Tara Westover is worthy of admiration.
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020
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There are two types of popular books, one is the kind that gets a lot of hype and fanfare and sits on bestseller lists for months but ultimately falls short of all the acclaim. Second is the kind that simply lives up to your greatest expectations -- even if you were skeptical of all the aforementioned hype and fanfare to begin with. Educated is solidly, well written and exquisitely told story of survival and ultimately, success. I was skeptical because Educated stares at me from The New York Times, week after week on the bestseller list—everyone seems to have either heard of it, has read it or wants to read it. How can it be that good? Or is it just good, in the common mainstream way that some books are? But Tara Westover has written a powerful and heart-searing story about the abuse and dysfunction she experienced growing up with her wildly eccentric and religious family. Her upbringing is a far cry from what a normal childhood looks like; Tara never went to public schools and yet managed to study at Cambridge and complete her PHD at Harvard. Who wouldn’t want such a success story? But more on that in a moment.

Tara Westover’s emotional story broke my heart even as she tells it in a very matter of fact style. She’s raw and honest about her own self and shortcomings, she turns the lens on herself many times in the book, shining a light on her own bad behaviors and choices. Her story is shocking, infuriating and at times just plain, disturbing, but I couldn’t stop reading it. I didn’t feel it was redundant at all, although you can say, many of the same bad things happen to her over and over again; car accidents, freak accidents in the junkyard, physical and verbal abuse from her older brother and worst of all, the sheer lack of protection she had from her parents. The hardest thing to grasp about Tara’s story is how easily her parents did not protect her from so much, time and time again. To come from all that and to be as articulate as she is and as grounded as she seems is astonishing. Just pull up an interview of Tara Westover talking to Oprah or Ellen DeGeneres and you’ll find yourself thinking what a lovely person she appears to be. She doesn’t seem fueled with anger or overcome with emotion, she holds herself upright gracefully and tells her truth, straight. She doesn’t even talk badly about all of the ones who have hurt her so deeply. I believe that is a testament to who Tara Westover is as a person.

As far as her education, I read the many naysayer comments barking about her “too good to be true” Ivy League education and dismissing or denying how she could have not gone to public school and gotten a high school education before going off to these colleges based on what little education and home schooling she did have. I admit, it does sound too good to be true…but in some cases, some people just have what it takes; the talent, the brains, the drive and determination and the luck to get far in life. I think Tara always had it in her and the people who met her, the bishop and the professors who supported and encouraged her, felt very strongly about what Tara was capable of and I think they helped her as much as they could along the way. I think they wrote recommendation letters, persuaded her numerous times to apply for grants and funding and to take her knowledge as far as it could go. I think it was easy to see in Tara, a success story of sorts. She’s someone who transformed themselves into who she was meant to be, someone who could change her life (if not her story or her past) and transcend even her wildest dreams. I admire Tara and her success and applaud her for telling such a raw story—even if it meant risking estrangement from the people she loves.

Tara Westover has written a brilliant story and proves what a good writer she is. A good story in the hands of a bad writer would not end up being as beloved and popular as Educated is. As far as I can see, she was meant to have all her success.
57 people found this helpful
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Constant Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Perceptive, Compelling, Articulate, Harrowing, and Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Tara Westover is the youngest child of survivalist, fundamentalist, parents. It would be inaccurate to say that she was home-schooled since there was no effort at home to educate the children beyond teaching them to read. There was access to a very limited supply of books and most of the children were self-taught. The education provided by her parents was more an indoctrination into the father’s paranoid view of the world and his condemnation of any actions that did not conform to his rigid interpretation of Mormonism. Her story is harrowing, compelling, redemptive, and believable. It is so compelling and so fluently written that it was impossible to put down. This book was a selection for our book group and it lead to a very interesting discussion. The discussion covered the immediate topics of emotional abuse, physical abuse, mental health, religious extremism, political extremism, education, and families. Our discussion also covered more wide ranging issues such as how we are failing children who are removed from society, school, and view. We want to believe that parents should be able to love and care for their children without interference, but we know that not all parents will keep their children safe or provide what the children will need to fully function in this world. Tara deserved better, those children who were driven off a cliff deserved better, and there are thousands of invisible children who still deserve better. There are also very perceptive aspects of the book dealing with the role of women, and some scholarly discussion of the issue. Tara had to struggle to find her role as a woman after growing up in an environment where women are meant to be obedient and submissive. When she went to Brigham Young, she intended to study music so that she could lead a church choir. It sounded like an acceptable role for a woman to her. When her world opened, not only did she have no idea of her abilities, she began to reconsider her choices. At one point, she spoke with to a male student who was from a more mainstream Mormon family and applying to law school. She asked him if he would study law if he were a woman. He replied, “If I were a woman, I wouldn’t want to study it.” The conversation went downhill from there as he continued to insist that women are made differently and should only aspire to care for their children. Downhill again it went when he concluded that if he were a woman and wanted to study law, “I’d know something was wrong with me.” This thinking is not historic thinking, it was contemporaneous thinking. It was an enormous step for her to leave the mountain for the first time and she faced enormous objective challenges in both school work and personal behaviors. How heartbreaking is it that even after learning to succeed at the university, there were powerful forces at work to make her ”know her place” and stifle her basic right to be an adult in modern society? Fortunately, not everyone at the university shared that view of gender inequality and she received encouragement and sponsorship to go to Cambridge University. Tara Westover’s story is compelling. There are some who will read it and see elements of their lives and feel that they are not alone and perhaps encouraged that things can get better. Many of us will read it and wish that our parents were still alive so that we could call them and tell them thank you one more time for the loving, safe, environment that we took for granted. Her writing skills are extraordinary. She is an exceptionally perceptive person and she is able to express those perceptions in a way that helps the reader fully understand her thought processes. She is not just throwing out conclusions, indictments, or diagnoses. Her thoughts are worth reading, pondering, and remembering.
28 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Dave Bottoms
5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Remarkable Story
Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Period. The writing is second to none. If you're considering it as your next read, I promise you won't be disappointed.

I think it's too big a story for a film to do it justice, but a 10 part mini-series might.
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Omega
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and unforgettable
Reviewed in Mexico on August 16, 2024
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A memoir written in the most honest way I have ever seen, touching and unforgettable. Thank you Tara, God bless you 🙏🏼
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Ramiro
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Germany on November 20, 2024
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This book is just fabulous. A must read to everyone. Quality of the printing was great!
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Me
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
Reviewed in Spain on November 17, 2024
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The writing is excellent
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Andreas Johnsen
4.0 out of 5 stars Fight and determination
Reviewed in Sweden on September 1, 2024
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It's not a feel good book and you probably won't feel better at the end either!
The amazing tale of a little girl and her path/fight to get what she has!
Read it !!!DET
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