Educated by Tara Westover (5/5)

Tara Westover grew up in a strict Mormon culture by her parents, isolated from mainstream society. Her parents were strictly religious and paranoid of the government, so they homeschooled their children with things that are the complete opposite of what children typically learn in schools. To the average reader, Tara’s family would be perceived as dysfunctional, with a brother who went insane, a misogynistic household hierarchy, and a mother with an untreated brain injury. It was only when another one of Tara’s brothers decided to go to college against his parents’ wishes that Tara was intrigued by another source of education. Tara, with the help of her brother, passed exams and was accepted into Brigham Young University. She was seventeen by the time she first entered a classroom, which changed her perspective on what family and education truly mean.

My perspective has definitely changed after reading this book. Westover’s accounts of the difficulties of fitting into a “normal” society made me reflect on my own life and how different her learning experiences were compared to mine. She grew up so isolated from the rest of the world that she was not aware of major world events like the Holocaust, which was a significant turning point in the direction she wanted her life to go. Observing, through her words, the conflicting feelings between gaining independence and staying close to her family, made me question where my life would take me. Some parts were difficult for me to read through, like Westover’s struggles through different societal norms and her family’s decision to not get help when they need it because of their beliefs. I shared her pain when she felt ashamed of her past and would hide it from most people she met, and how long it took before she found the courage to open up. Over time, Tara and her family became more distant as Tara continued to learn about herself and what she truly wanted in her life. This memoir has changed my perspective on the world and I highly recommend it for anyone else struggling to find their own sense of identity.