Educated
Tara Westover’s memoir Educated is a compelling exploration of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of education. Born in 1986 in rural Idaho to survivalist Mormon parents, Westover grew up in a world defined by isolation, extreme religious beliefs, and distrust of formal institutions. Her father, a domineering figure, opposed public education, believing it to be a tool of government indoctrination. As a result, Tara and her siblings were homeschooled haphazardly, if at all, and spent much of their time laboring in the family’s junkyard. Formal records of her birth didn’t even exist until she was nine, underscoring the extent of her family’s detachment from society.
Despite this unconventional upbringing—or perhaps because of it—Westover’s curiosity and determination drove her to educate herself. At 17, she taught herself enough math, grammar, and history to pass the ACT and gain admission to Brigham Young University. There, she encountered a world vastly different from the one she’d known, grappling with both academic challenges and the psychological weight of questioning her family’s beliefs. Her journey continued through prestigious institutions like Cambridge and Harvard, where she earned a Ph.D. in history, but it came at a cost: estrangement from her parents and some siblings, who saw her pursuit of knowledge as a betrayal.
Educated, published in 2018, is more than a rags-to-riches tale. It’s a meditation on memory, identity, and the tension between loyalty to family and the pursuit of truth. Westover’s lyrical prose captures the raw beauty of her Idaho upbringing alongside its violence, both physical, from an abusive brother, and intellectual, from a life devoid of formal learning. The memoir resonates widely, offering a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity through education, while raising poignant questions about the price of breaking free.
5 Key Takeaways
The Power of Self-Education:
Tara’s journey underscores the transformative potential of self-directed learning. Despite lacking formal schooling until age 17, her determination to teach herself opened doors to Brigham Young University, Cambridge, and Harvard, proving that education can be a personal endeavor fueled by curiosity and grit.
The Cost of Breaking Free:
Westover’s pursuit of knowledge came with profound personal sacrifice. Her education distanced her from her family, particularly her parents and some siblings, highlighting the emotional toll of challenging deeply ingrained beliefs and choosing an independent path.
The Complexity of Family Ties:
The memoir explores the tension between love and loyalty to family and the need to confront harmful dynamics. Tara’s abusive brother and her parents’ denial of reality forced her to navigate a painful rift, showing how family can be both a source of strength and struggle.
The Impact of Isolation:
Growing up in a survivalist household cut off from mainstream society shaped Tara’s worldview and limited her early opportunities. Her story reveals how isolation—physical, intellectual, and cultural—can stunt growth, yet also how resilience can overcome such barriers.
The Fluidity of Truth and Memory:
Westover grapples with differing accounts of her past, as her family disputes her recollections. This takeaway emphasizes the subjective nature of memory and the challenge of reconciling personal truth with conflicting narratives, making her story a broader reflection on identity and perspective.