Educated - Tara Westover

Educated

By Tara Westover

  • Release Date: 2018-02-20
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 19,485 Ratings

Description

#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 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

Reviews

  • Overwhelming but there are some flaws

    4
    By 🦊🐼🍯
    Tara’s wording and narrations are fascinating, however, I believe there are some made-up parts and exaggeration. This book is overwhelming and encouraging, but the ending is quite interrupt I think, especially when she break with her family members.
  • A gem

    5
    By Zulu Helicopter
    The narrative is fascinating and the prose is beautiful, but the insight is the real gem here.
  • Powerful

    5
    By Collettsix
    Such a real, raw unfiltered view of one's own life and education!!!
  • Beautifully crafted poignant memoir

    5
    By susannahermana
    I couldn’t put it down. Fascinating factual story ( being raised by survivalist narcissistic parents ). Definitely recommend!
  • Unbelievable and likely a fraud

    1
    By Cahierducinema
    Her story is likely a fraud like James Frey's Million Little Pieces. Incredibly three of the seven siblings get PhDs even though they have no education. She describes horrific scars and burns that go untreated but mysteriously don't kill and heal. Mysteriously, BYU accepted her with only an ACT score, which is completely unlikely and against policy. She says a professor at Cambridge thinks she wrote the best essay he read in 30 years and that she is "pure gold", which simply does not ring true. I went to Oxford, and dons and professors do not indulge in hyperbole like that. This is like a badly written Hallmark movie. I'd give zero stars if possible.
  • A new lens

    5
    By Cookiemunsterdinosun
    Wonderful book that makes you appreciate how changing your perspectives in terms to others upbringings, challenging, and overall importance of experiencing the world and education gets you much further.
  • Educated

    5
    By Clemsonreader2001
    One of the best books that I have read. A real page turner. Well written and so worth the read.
  • Eye opener

    5
    By Jamila_Mila
    This book really changed my mentality in different aspects in my life. Really a must read! Westover’s memoir is touching, so inspiring, a book you can’t put down.
  • Very good read

    5
    By MamaTof3Gingerz
    Totally worth the read.
  • Beautiful

    5
    By kk12343215
    A page turner

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