“Educated” is at times a tough book to read. It is the memoir of a girl who grew up in a junkyard under the thumb of her abusive older brother and unconventional family who ended up escaping to study at the University of Cambridge and Harvard, eventually earning herself a PhD. This is a huge feat by itself, but for Tara Westover, college was the first time she had ever set foot in a classroom because her parent’s didn’t believe in public schools. Reading Tara’s journey from her isolated, brutal childhood to her refined, worldly, and educated adult life was a rollercoaster. I gasped, cried, and cheered at various points throughout the book. It was at once heart-wrenching and empowering. As you might expect, Tara’s journey was not easy. Growing into herself and away from her father’s rules and oppressive beliefs was her education in the ways of the world. She learned, through her ignorance, that her father’s perception of the world was not the one and only “truth,” but when she tried to confront her family about the pain she endured under her parent’s care, she was dismissed and pushed away. This for me was the hardest part of the book to swallow. Be aware, if you pick up this book, it contains graphic depictions of abuse and very few healthy relationships between family members. “Dysfunctional” is not sufficient to describe the poor family relations Tara grew to accept. Her writing is so immersive, I could barely put the book down for fear of leaving Tara alone without the support she needed. Thankfully, Tara grew into an adjusted and (hopefully) happy woman despite her traumas. I would highly recommend this book – a thoroughly gripping account of family, rebellion, ignorance, and the role of education in allowing people to discover that their own understanding of the world can be wholly different from the view imposed on them by their parents.

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Created Sep 13, 2019 at 9:30pm • Submit your own review...