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A review by chemistreadingonthejob
Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Thought provoking, Inspirational, and Unforgettable
Uncultured is a riveting memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young. Daniella describes her experience being born into the Children of God cult (The Family), being excommunicated, and later becoming an officer in the U.S. Army. She draws parallels between the indoctrination of her adolescence by The Family and the indoctrination of her adulthood by the Army. Her story is brutally honest and unflinching, never hesitating to reveal the dark truths. She was the third generation of her family to fall in line with the religious cult. They had strict rules and believed in sexual liberation even for children. This resulted in her heartbreaking account of childhood sexual abuse. At 15 years old, Daniella broke free of the exploitation in pursuit of a better life. With no prior formal education she enrolled in high school and excelled. She graduated from college at the top of her class and decided to join the military. Ultimately, this decision led to an environment startlingly similar to the one she left behind years ago.
"How does a scholar, a strategist, or a soldier understand a culture well enough to predict future outcomes without being willing to understand that all humans, from their own perspectives, are living a truth and reality as valid as ours?"
Daniella's words are powerful and at times gave me goosebumps. She has experienced two worlds that I will never fully comprehend. She navigates these memories with courage and veracity. I have so much respect for this fierce woman who overcame inconceivable circumstances. My favorite part of this memoir is that she doesn't write from a place of hate. She tells it how it is and never gives up. This is eye opening, not just for the inner workings of a sex cult or sexism in a male dominated field, but also for how women mold themselves just to survive. So many uncomfortable questions are brought to attention. Why is it that it's the woman who must dress and act accordingly to prevent inappropriate actions by a man? These important social topics are guaranteed to stimulate discussion. This is a unique and well written memoir that will not soon be forgotten. Uncultured deserves a spot on my list of memoirs that everyone should read alongside Know My Name and The Glass Castle.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Daniella for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Uncultured is a riveting memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young. Daniella describes her experience being born into the Children of God cult (The Family), being excommunicated, and later becoming an officer in the U.S. Army. She draws parallels between the indoctrination of her adolescence by The Family and the indoctrination of her adulthood by the Army. Her story is brutally honest and unflinching, never hesitating to reveal the dark truths. She was the third generation of her family to fall in line with the religious cult. They had strict rules and believed in sexual liberation even for children. This resulted in her heartbreaking account of childhood sexual abuse. At 15 years old, Daniella broke free of the exploitation in pursuit of a better life. With no prior formal education she enrolled in high school and excelled. She graduated from college at the top of her class and decided to join the military. Ultimately, this decision led to an environment startlingly similar to the one she left behind years ago.
"How does a scholar, a strategist, or a soldier understand a culture well enough to predict future outcomes without being willing to understand that all humans, from their own perspectives, are living a truth and reality as valid as ours?"
Daniella's words are powerful and at times gave me goosebumps. She has experienced two worlds that I will never fully comprehend. She navigates these memories with courage and veracity. I have so much respect for this fierce woman who overcame inconceivable circumstances. My favorite part of this memoir is that she doesn't write from a place of hate. She tells it how it is and never gives up. This is eye opening, not just for the inner workings of a sex cult or sexism in a male dominated field, but also for how women mold themselves just to survive. So many uncomfortable questions are brought to attention. Why is it that it's the woman who must dress and act accordingly to prevent inappropriate actions by a man? These important social topics are guaranteed to stimulate discussion. This is a unique and well written memoir that will not soon be forgotten. Uncultured deserves a spot on my list of memoirs that everyone should read alongside Know My Name and The Glass Castle.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Daniella for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, War, and Child abuse