Reviews

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

leggup's review against another edition

5.0

I read it in a single day, it was that good. I highly recommend this book if you have a fascination with insular communities, families built in orthodoxy, or memory and trauma.

I didn't know what the book was about prior to reading it.

thisisuru's review against another edition

4.0

4.5

eapreske's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective

5.0

kjpollard71's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring relaxing sad tense medium-paced

4.5

miorinsa's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

4.75

This memoir is powerful, challenging, rage inducing, and transformative. Tara’s journey from an emotionally, mentally, and physically abused child to a strong, confident, educated woman is awe-inspiring. The way she tells her story of how she grappled with being loyal to her family versus loyal to herself is difficult to witness, but something we can all identify with, even if on a less severe level. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, and Animal death

meirysza's review against another edition

5.0

So proud of Tara. This book was thrillingly written in rage but somewhat beautiful as we walk through Tara’s journey of proving herself’s worth.

kwagner's review against another edition

3.0

Educated was well written, inspiring, and when I came to the last chapter I felt a heaviness in my chest because I knew it was the end. After finishing the book I wanted more updates on Tara's life and family. Overall a great read although I do think it was hyped up quite a bit. The most memorable aspect of the book was the shock factor that people live like this in our modern society. Educated is a book worth reading but the kind of book you should check out from the library rather than purchase.

modern_day_wonder's review against another edition

I do not like to star rate Memoirs as it often seems like I am rating their trauma which feels insensitive. The writing here though is 5⭐️s! The lines often felt very poetic and poignant - some of my favorites being: 
"I was still ignorant enough to be surprised" 
"never again would I allow myself to be made a foot soldier in a conflict I did not understand" 
"drawing shame from me like a healer draws infection from a wound" 
"Curiosity is a luxury reserved for the financially secure"
"even gold appears dull in some lights - but that is the illusion."


This was a fascinating read. I am going to use it in with my Gifted English students next year. Tara's story of how she broke away from her family's ideologies was harrowing and engaging. The realizations about family, education, loyalty, and faith were remarkable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good memoir to read about autonomy of thought and what obligations one owes to oneself over ones family. 

sweetbeetle's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

dbrosend's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25