I’ve always been a fan of memoirs. Perhaps this stems from my love of people and their stories. There is something so beautiful about a person opening up about the struggles and tribulations they have faced. Educated by Tara Westover is definitely a good example of this in her memoir.
We hold memoirs with open hands, not reading them to pick the details and pieces apart. That’s part of the reason a review of Educated has taken so long to make. While I have no reason to “pick this book apart”, it feels odd to even write an opinion on it. Nevertheless, I find it an important thing to do if it means another person might pick this story up.
Synopsis
Tara Westover tells her story with grace, resilience, and courage woven through the pages. Tara was born into a Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho. Her parents raised her through a survivalist lense. They distrusted the government. This distrust revealed itself in every action they took. Her childhood was stripped from her as she spent her days prepping for the “end of times”. Tara was 17-years-old the first time she stepped inside a classroom. Her mother provided her with all previous eduction utlizing outdated textbooks. Her father believed in a more fundamental and hands on approach to education, meaning Tara would spend winters working in the junk yard.
Tara recounts the various events of her childhood. The different experiences that provoked her to find change and seek her future. Tara is honest about her upbringing and the different ways her traumas seeped into her adult life. This paints a picture of how our backgrounds can shape who we become, but also how we are still able to mold ourselves to be the person we need to become.
Not only does Tara dictate the events of her life, but she does so in a very unbiased manner. She leaves footnotes for events she may have remembered incorrectly to include accounts of her family members. She does not shy away from difficult details. This helps reveal how dedicated she is to highlight the effects educational neglect and abuse can have on someone.
Her writing is deliberate. The memoir is in chronological order from childhood to adulthood. Each chapter sets up for the next, adding necessary information so future stories will make sense. Her writing also changes as she grows. The chapters focused on early childhood are simple and explain her childhood through her younger eyes while her writing style becomes more complex as you transition through her later years.
Review
Tara’s ability to tell such raw experiences with grace amazed me. Not only does Tara’s story shed light on the challenges of mental health and religious traumas, but it also reveals how important it is to address those things. Through the experiences she lived through, we see how deeply rooted family values can influence our perceptions of the world and Tara speaks on that.
This book intrigued me by being completely different from my initial assumptions. Based off a review I had read, I thought there would be more focus on religious trauma. While this definitely is evident, I believe Tara did a great job on informing the reader that while religion in it’s self is not inherently bad, the extreme application of it is. She explains how her fathers religious extremities led her to seek other education, while also shaping the way she approaches religion in her adult life. I do believe if you have any religious trauma, approach this book with that in mind.
I don’t have any negative things to say about this book, as it’s not my place to put opinion on other people’s lives. Tara has a very powerful voice. Her story is moving and her resiliency is astounding. From growing up teaching herself math and deciphering history through the lens of religion, to getting a PhD in history, Tara truly reveals the power of education.
Recommendation
I think many people can benefit from reading this memoir. Tara’s story offers a great moment to reflect. Some of my main takeaways were surrounding how impactful mental health is. Her father suffers from an untreated mental health disorder, and that ripples in how he interacts with his wife and children. It makes you wonder how different their lives may have been had there not been such profound distrust in healthcare providers.
There are heavy memories in Tara’s writings. These may provoke strong reactions for readers who share similar experiences as Tara with religious traumas. The accounts of verbal and physical abuse were difficult to read, so if you are sensitive to that, be mindful. I encourage you to check in with yourself as you read this memoir. Be aware of the different responses it evokes.
In the end, I’m glad I read this book.
10/10 unforgettable.
And as always, happy reading.