Educated by Tara Westover book cover

Educated

by Tara Westover · 2018

Tara Westover's take on memoir, the honest verdict is below.

Worth reading? A staggering memoir of escaping a survivalist family through education. Read it; it earns its acclaim. Skip only if you find accounts of family abuse too heavy. It's memoir, not a how-to despite the category.

AuthorTara Westover
Published2018
CategoryBiographies & Memoirs

ISBN: 9780399590528ISBN10: 0399590528ASIN: 0399590528

The Verdict

A staggering memoir of escaping a survivalist family through education. Read it; it earns its acclaim. Skip only if you find accounts of family abuse too heavy. It’s memoir, not a how-to despite the category.

Read it if

anyone weighing whether Educated belongs on their memoir shelf

Educated by Tara Westover: book review and summary

Top 8 Lessons from Educated

  1. Education can radically expand a world once kept small.
  2. Family loyalty and self-liberation can pull violently against each other.
  3. Memory is contested; truth within a family is fought over.
  4. Leaving a controlling environment costs relationships you love.
  5. Self-invention is possible but never clean or painless.
  6. Abuse is often normalized until you see outside it.
  7. Learning to think for yourself is its own kind of freedom.
  8. You can honor where you came from and still refuse to stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Educated worth reading?

Yes; it's a powerful, beautifully written memoir. Be aware it covers family abuse.

What is the main idea of Educated?

Westover's pursuit of education frees her from an isolated, abusive family, at great personal cost.

Who should read Educated?

Memoir readers and anyone drawn to stories of transformation and resilience.

Ready to read it?

Get Educated on Amazon