Educated by Tara Westover

Trigger Warning

I usually try not to let myself read too many spoilers for a book before I get to read it for myself. I wish I’d done the opposite for Educated. I thought that, as a former educator, I would be able to enjoy and appreciate this book. After reading it, though I can certainly appreciate Tara Westover’s life story, I’m not sure that “enjoying” it is possible.

Here are the things I wish I’d known before picking up this book.

1. This is not a “nice” book about learning to love school. The narrator and author barely gets any education at all until she turns 17. When she does find her way into school, she almost leaves again because she lacks the fundamentals that so many children get in grade school.
2. Tara’s lack of education is not because it’s hard for her to get to a school; it’s because her parents are afraid of their children being brainwashed by the government. The Westover family’s conspiracy-filled life should not in any way be considered amusing; it’s terrifying.
3. Tara recognizes that her father is likely bipolar, and his unstable actions often take center stage, wildly rocking her family’s faith, determining her mother’s career, and heavily influencing Tara’s own thoughts and actions.
4. Tara’s father has no concern for the safety of his children. That negligence leads to innumerable injuries, which are described in vivid detail throughout the entire book.
5. Tara’s life is filled with acts of violence and aggression, mainly from her brother, who threatens, manipulates, and harms her, both physically and mentally.

Violence & Fear

Educated is not a book for the faint of heart. I seriously struggled to get through it, especially with the gory scenes. But I’m afraid you may misunderstand me. I wasn’t just grossed out by a few scenes here and there. There were examples of mental manipulation, physical violence, and/or the repercussions of that violence in almost every single chapter. Very sincerely, I wish I hadn’t picked up this book. The only reason I finished it was because I felt that Tara deserved to have her story heard, which is not necessarily the right or wrong reason to read any book, but still.

Tara Westover lives a chaotic life surrounded by negligent, unstable family members. Whenever she thinks she’s found someone who she can rely on, either that person leaves, or her family forces her not to see that person anymore, including her maternal grandmother.

Fear is the main factor of this autobiography. Tara is afraid of what her brother will do to her, what the government knows about her, what will happen if her mother listens to her, what God judges her for, and so much more. Practically every decision she makes is based on an underlying fear of being punished. The worst part is that it’s a true story. A few times throughout the book, Tara explains that she asked those involved for their memories of particular incidents. The fact that, often enough, her siblings can’t remember what actually happened when a tragic event occurred tells readers that either these events were so traumatic that witnesses’ memories were warped, or these events were such common occurrences that they all get jumbled together in their minds.

I believe that the title of this book is misleading; out of all the chapters in this book, only a handful actually link to Tara’s education. I don’t know what I would call the book instead, but just know that if you’re looking for an inspirational book about finding a passion for school in a community where an education is frowned upon, this is not really the book you’re looking for.

Rating: 2.5/5

Book: Educated

Author: Tara Westover

Publisher: Random House

Release Date: February 20, 2018

Genre: autobiography

Length: 352 pages, 12 hrs 10 mins in audiobook format

Setting: rural Idaho, 1990s